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[OhmyOmega]

My my this is iturning into a saga.  Needing still more advice.

I need to remove the two oil cooler pipes at the oil filter housing to get the cooler out.  One nut undone no problme the the second just won't turn.  This is the one with the tighter turn.  I have tried open ended spanner but there is no enough room for a 19.  Even tried a cut 19mm ring but still can't get movement.  Finally got some crow's foot spanners but this is just springing round.  It looks like some one at some point the past has flattend the nut a bit with the result that it is no longer round - if you see what I mean.

Next step would seem to be to cut the pipe and try and get a ring spanner on it.  Failing that I can see me have to get the engine take out!

Any suggestions would be great at this point.  I would paricularly like to know if I will be able to get a replacement pipe and ends and whether this can be routed into place without taking the engine out.

Been without the old girl for a month now.   

John

[tunnie]

19' Crows foot usually does it, but if its spinning your a bit stuffed.

You could bend the pipes out of the way, but they can be a bit of a pig to bend back. Make sure you use brand new banjo bolts, old ones tend to sheer when re-fitting.

[alank46]

Hi
My crows foot wrenches are shaped like a flare nut wrench to resist slipping, if yours are not like this it may be worth acquiring some that are.  Sorry, cannot remember where I got them from.  You could also then put a hose clip round the crows foot to further help it resist opening up.
Best of luck.
Alan

[OhmyOmega]

Thanks guys.  I wasn't sure about bending it out of the way but that seems the best option from here.  Like the suggestion of the crow's foot with a clip but given the lack of space I don't think that will be viable.

Thanks
John

[dbug]

19' Crows foot usually does it, but if its spinning your a bit stuffed.

You could bend the pipes out of the way, but they can be a bit of a pig to bend back. Make sure you use brand new banjo bolts, old ones tend to sheer when re-fitting.

Now thats a big spanner - 19 ft!!!!

[albitz]

I had exactly the same problem.One came undone ok but the other wouldnt.I sought advice from someone who has lost count of how many times they have done this job and they said they never undo them at the bottom but just gently bend them out of the way, but dont bend them any more than you have to.I used this method and it was fine but there is an element of risk involved so its your call. Having said that if your considering cutting the pipes off and replacing them it sounds like youve got nothing to lose by trying a bit of gentle bending.Hth.

[Matchless]

If you use an open-ended spanner on the pipes it distorts the nut and then even proper flare spanners wont fit.

The problem seems to be rust or corrosion forming between the nut and the pipe, penetrating oil (plusgas) followed by heat might do it.
If you go for bending the pipes try to get the pipes square with the cooler again before trying to fit the banjo bolts.
You have removed the oil filter canister for more space havn't you?

[feeutfo]

had a few thoughts when in the exact same spot your in now, heat, seem to remember its the block needs heating and the pipes look like they wont take much temp. or make them brittle if you have to bend them,albeit at the other end... didnt fancy that.

Cut them and replace with either new or goodridge braided hose, but wasnt sure re the fittings on the oil filter end and where to get paets for what would be custom made oil lines, also the stock oil pipes are attached to the block half way down so almost impossible to remove fully without removing the engine and making replace with new stock lines almost impossible....or...bend the pipes...carefully as mentioned above.

[OhmyOmega]

Thanks guys. 
Carfully bent the pipes successfully out of the way and we have the oil cooler out.  It looked in good condition but there was a hard white deposite around where the pipes enter and leave the cooler.  A pressure test confirmed that there was a leak here so it is time for a new cooler.

Incidentially - once I had the cover plate off and cleaned things up there was a fair bit of deposit where the sealant had been.  I suspect that I was getting a git of a water leak here too.

So thanks once again.  Will keep folks posted as to what happens next

John

[OhmyOmega]

Now thats a big spanner - 19 ft!!!!

Well at least that explains why I could got get it to thurn the nut!

[Debs.]

If you use an open-ended spanner on the pipes it distorts the nut and then even proper flare spanners wont fit.

The problem seems to be rust or corrosion forming between the nut and the pipe, penetrating oil (plusgas) followed by heat might do it.
If you go for bending the pipes try to get the pipes square with the cooler again before trying to fit the banjo bolts.
You have removed the oil filter canister for more space havn't you?

I`d try some (gentle/localised) heat.

[Bionic]

The tool you need is a Pipe wrench which is shaped like a combo but has a slot cut in one hex flat to slip over the pipe then down onto the pipenut. Any decent tool supplier has them. Try Machine Mart, Halfords or any of the mobile tool selling vans (Snap-On etc) that visit garages cos they definitely have them. Their popular use is for diesel injector/ pump pipe nuts. Perhaps a friendly garage fitter may lend you one?
Another little dodge is to try to slightly tighten it first then loosen again.
GudLuk