1975 450B Oil Filter Housing Leak

[Jrog]

I have just purchased a 1975 450B Crawler with Loader. I was working the first day in clearing some land. I believe a tree/limb must have snuck between the loader arm and the engine on the right side and slammed against the oil filter that sticks out slightly there. I stopped working when I noticed a bit of smoke and what seemed the engine running pretty hot. I shut her down, hopped off and immediately saw oil pouring out underneath. It took a short while to isolate the leak. Oil was pouring/pumping out from behind the oil filter housing on the upper right side (forward). {Tried to attach photo but not successful} I looked through the service manual and really nothing stood out to help. I started to loosen the oil filter to have a closer look but the housing moved with the filter. I have read that there are some sort of bolts attaching the housing to the case but it isn't very clear. So, I felt I should ask here before proceeding and possibly making matters worse. My worry being I've somehow sheared off bolts? Or do I simply need to remove the filter and then the housing and possibly just replace a gasket? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Jim B]

Welcome to the boards.

When you say the housing moved with the filter it sounds like your engine has the engine oil cooler that mounts between the filter and block. It likely bent/deformed and you will need to get another. The link below should take you to the parts catalog page with the oil cooler and coolant plumbing for you to review. See if the little "can" with two tubes on the side is what you are calling the housing. It seats on the block where the oil filter seats if a cooler is not used on those engines. That can, the seal between it and the block, and possibly the pipe that holds it maybe the things you will need to replace. Check the coolant hoses at the ends of the tubes and replace them if needed, the time will be right as you will need to drain the coolant to change the oil cooler.

Oil cooler parts page

[Jrog]

That looks to be exactly what I was talking about. Looks like everything is available except for the cooler itself. Given no coolant leaking from it, my hope would be that is okay to reuse at least until I can source a replacement. Now the one question is how the cooler is actually mounted to the block as oil is coming out from behind it? Any ideas? I mean, honestly it all looks great outside of the oil leaking from behind it. But, I get your point on replacing the ends of the hoses for sure. Again, main thing is how does the cooler actually mount to the block?

[Jim B]

#8 the threaded nipple holds it. Remove the filter, it threads on to that nipple. The nipple has a hex below the filter threads to use a wrench on.

You can ask your dealer to do a system search and see if they might locate one someone has setting on a shelf. Also the dealer might be able to find out if JD has a substitution not shown in the parts catalog.

Using the part number, it looks like Wengers of Myerstown has a used one available.

[Jrog]

Super helpful. Can’t thank you enough. You make it sound all too easy. Haha. Thanks again.