rounded oil filter out of ideas?

On my 82 maxim 650 the filter bolt is rounded of very badly i've tried everything pipe wrench vice grips with the engine warm and cold and I'm running out of options I think I might have to grind it off and if I do grind it off any pointers or what to look out for. Any other suggestions or ideas would be great

 

Commence grinding. Just don't get into the metal of the housing itself; stop while you still have some hair-thin metal left and then use a file to carefully get the last bit.

Or, pound the next-size smaller socket on it and hit it with an air wrench.

 

Or weld an extra socket or a length of steel rod to it and remove it with that. The heating and cooling of the welding will also often help loosen seized threads.

Keep a wet rag handy for quick cooling. Make sure there's no leaking oil or gas that might ignite. To be safe, you may want to disconnect the TCI and regulator as well, though I've never been very convinced about welding causing damage to electrical components that are nowhere near the short circuit of the weld process (assumes you're putting the ground clamp right at the work spot and not at the other end of the frame or something).

 

I dont have access to a welder so I think my only option is to try to grind flats on it hope another wrench will fit or grind it off might just do the spin on oil conversion kit after its all said and done anyways. Do the kits go on pretty easy i'm not that great of a mechanic?

 

Treat yourself to an impact driver. Not an impact wrench as used by the tire guys. This is a Canadian site, but item 9 is the one. They are available from discount tool suppliers in the US. Sockets can be used instead of driver bits. Won't help much this time, but in the future it will save all sorts of headaches. Use it before the bolts are rounded.

http://www.princessauto.com/view-all-pr ... act+driver