BLee

hp500efi

Been there before. I had luck using the screwdriver through the side of the filter and some of those "choice words" and luckily it came off.

I like the grease instead of oil method, I will try that next time.

McGary911

If you have room, a strap wrench might help. I have an old steel one with about a 1" strap, which has never failed me. Good luck....Next weekend i have to change the fluids in both boats......3 motors, 3 transmissions, 1 TRS drive and 2 v drives.....hope i have better luck than you...

Playn

That's the method I use but the strap is actually a seat belt. If it starts to slip at all I've laid a small piece of rubber between the filter and the strap wrench. works every time (so far)

cuda

Makdaddy, that was my first thought too, but I didn't want to say anything.

rbtnt

I had one where I ended up tearing all the filter off except for the base. I took a piece of 1" angle iron about 9" long, drilled two holes in one side of angle to match two holes in filter base, inserted bolts in holes with nuts on both sides of angle, inserted bolts in holes of filter base and turned. Looked similar to a spanner wrench.

Good luck.

Mr. Demeanor

Those Craftsman strap wrenchs really do work and are perfect for this type of thing. I would try this before making a mess pnching holes in the filter. Thats the last resort method. You should have one in the tool box anyway so nows a good time to get a set. You get a small and a large and there fairly inexpensive. Obviously not Coast Guard approved.

Back4More

bingo... the sears one worked in my situation.

mopower

As I was reading all these great answers I was thinking the same thing. K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple Stupid.
Since your doing it from the top of the filter instead of the bottom it's an easy enough mistake

Sydwayz

Righty-tighty;
Left-loosey.