Tool - Remove Air Filter

[dante53]

What tools do you use to remove/reinstall BC or WRD air filter? I can't get enough room for ordinary wrenches (230 late IP).

[Jordan]

There are some wrenches you can purchase that are very narrow and will fit to remove the air filter.  I don't remember the size, 17 or 19mm, but I took an older wrench I had extra to a grinding wheel to make it narrower.  Worked out fine.

[rogerh113]

Cycling wrenches are narrow and well built (and not particularly expensive).  They come in a variety of mm sizes, and I have used them for car repair in a number of cases like this (BMW fan clutch removal, for example) where spaces require a narrow tool.

Regards -- Roger

[dante53]

Thanks for the hints. Tomorrow I will look for cycling wrenches. I know at least a couple of places where I should find a complete set.

[ja17]

Dante,

Your W113 should be 19mm (3/4" can be used), latter W113s used 22mm (7/8" can be used).

[rogerh113]

Didn't notice that you live in Italy......  Careful you don't return home with a nice bike along with the wrench !!

Ciao -- Roger

[alchemist]

Mine uses 22 mm, I bought a regular wrench from Harbor Freight and grinded it until it became the same thickness as on the air filter nut. It worked fine.

[rb6667]

Hello Dante, These pictures should give you some ideas on how to make your own wrench.  This wrench started life as a 14mm wrench.  After many trips to the bench grinder, it was opened up to 22mm.  Works great.

Check your progress often as you can't go back!

[garymand]

Get used to modifying your tools to do the job.  I miss-place tools a lot so I typically have 2 to 4 of everything, so it doesn't hurt me to cut or grind one.  Have a container of water handy to cool it off.

[69280sl]

Grinding down an end wrench, which is what I did is a lot of unnecessary work. Buy a bicycle (what is called a cone wrench here in the US) wrench. Very economical and it works fine. Be sure it has a 19 mm opening.
Gus

[Novamonte]

I rarely open my original MB toolkit, but the original wrench is actually narrow enough for this purpose. It is also short enough to remove the BC - standard wrenches tend to be too long to fit.