Oil Changing Problem

[JHunter]

I'm a new owner of a 1977 P35 and wanted to change the oil. Well, I had relatively no trouble evacuating the oil through the dip stick holder. However, removing the old NAPA oil filter was another story. I unscrewed the oil filter but could not remove it from the area without removing the alternator. It wouldn't squeeze between the spaces that were available. Next, I wanted to put on a new Westerbeke oil filter for the Westerbeke W30 engine. The oil filter could not be lined up properly with the screw because of the housing for the centerboard cable. The Westerbeke oil filter was just longer than the NAPA filter and couldn't be used. I thought about getting a pipe bender and putting a 1/2" curve in the cable housing to correct the problem but then I was concerned that the housing may be part of a through hole and I could break the integrity of the joint. Is there a fix to this problem so that I can use the engine manufacturers filter or do I need to continue with NAPA?

[Harris]

Oh....don't bend that tube. Major problems.........Can't get the filter out? Are you using the correct filter? Sometimes when the alt belt is worn the alternator slips out making it hard to align up the filter screws. Check that. If need be loosen the alt.

Check the Projects for Oil Change. I have done it many times and just did last week.

Keep me posted on your results..............

-Harris

[JHunter]

I got the correct Westerbeke filter from the local Westerbeke supplier. The tube is just too close to the engine. The previous owner used a NAPA filter that was shorter and it worked. Am I the only Pearson owner that has this problem? Is it possible to slightly bend the guide tube for the centerboard cable? I don't need much of a bend, maybe 1/2 inch. I don't know how the guide tube exits the hull so I don't want to risk a water leak.

Your help is appreciated.