14 replies to this topic

[mk=john]

Hi

As some of you know, I have my 850 mini on the road after its engine rebuild. There is something that is worrying me.

The car has the original type paper oil filter, and the bowl is the aluminium type, I have used the rubber washers, and o-rings to make a good seal, and they do when I torque everything up.

The Haynes Manual says to torque the centre bolt up to 16 lb/ft. But it doesn't take long to start working loose. For example, half an hour of driving and I had to then retorque the bolt as it was holding less than 16 lb, something like 10 lb/ft.

Is this a common problem with these bowls? I did try adding loctite to the female part of the thread (in the filter housing), but it doesn't help. I can't add it to the bolt, becvause before I put the filter bowl assembly on the engine, it should be filled 3/4 with oil which covers the threads.

Any ideas?

Thanks
John

[bmcecosse]

Not normal at all! But - is the spring and base plate present inside the bowl - under the paper filter - so you have to push up quite hard to get the long bolt to engage ? I have never known one to come loose !

[mk=john]

Everything is there as it should be, the spring, rubber washers, base plete under bowl etc etc. All o-rings etc. It a mystery.

[minikidx14]

maybe tighten it as your doing, run the engine and torque it up again when its warm.

[MrBounce]

That sounds like the thread maybe damaged then. Take it off and have a close look. Is the whole setup still available? If so, I can't imagine them being too expensive - get a new one.

[mk=john]

Well, the filter housing is the very early 1960 original one of the car, and has a completely round mating face (with the oil hole in the middle), The later ones had a figure of 8 type of shape. Would they also fit my car? Also, would a spin on filter housing fit my engine?. I have taken a photo showing the mounting surface on my engine, and also another photo showing the oil feed pipe going to the original housing see below

Thanks
John

Attached Files

•  filter housing surface.jpg   240.68K   6 downloads
•  Oil Filter Feed Pipe.jpg   23.35K   8 downloads

Edited by mk=john, 18 December 2011 - 10:01 PM.

[bmcecosse]

Just tighten it up more - I never worried about torque for something like this - belt it up good and tight!

[mk1leg]

are you sure you have it in the correct order....................

http://www.scparts.c...oesserungtop=30

[tommy13]

As aboveby bmcecosse these filters were never a problem providing you use a new O ring when you replace them. Tighten with a brace and socket almost as tight as you can ( probably 25 to 30 lbs/ft ) and you should have no problems.
You can fit the spin on type if you wish, you will need a different gasket and you will need to remove the mounting studs and replace with shorter 3/8 unc bolts.

[Dan]

Overtightening the bowl is not the answer, all it usually does is crush the ally bowl and deform it so it will never tighten fully again and will just leak. From the sound of it, that might be what has already happened to your bowl.

[bmcecosse]

I'm not suggesting 'overtightening' - but 16 ft lbf sounds distinctly low for what is (I think) a 3/8" unf thread.

[mk=john]

Hi
The bowl is actually a NOS item, but the housing is not, its the original one from the car. All components are in the correct order in the assembly, I triple checked and had installed filters countless times before.

If I do what Tommy13 suggested, will the filter head interface still work? The spin on type shown on the Minispares website doesn't have a round shape, but something quite different (see below). If it works I will order it. But I have to be sure this can be used in conjunction with the round mating face as on my engine (see previous photos posted)

Thanks

Attached Files

•  spin-on-1.jpg   19.85K   0 downloads
•  spin-on-2.jpg   19.15K   0 downloads

Edited by mk=john, 18 December 2011 - 10:36 PM.

[mini13]

the spin on housing will fit the block, but make sure you get the right gasket.

I would say that I'd expect the rubber to give/relax on the current housing, and as long as it dosent start leaking I would'nt wory

[liirge]

If you are struggling to track down the old filter system, its the same as used on Massey Ferguson 135 or/and 35 tractors.

[bmcecosse]

Just tighten it up properly - I dunno where you got the 16 ft lbf from , but it's pathetically low!