I've seen to run across another normally simple task that is giving me headaches 

 

Are there any tips or tricks to removing the crankcase vent on the timing cover?  My vehicle has the plug (12) and not the actual vent (20) with the puke bottle.  Being thin, it is quite difficult to grab onto and it just wont move at all.  I see there is an o-ring that goes along with it.  Are these notorious for being difficult to remove?        

I have the vent on mine. The po had siliconed it up good. Iirc I used a strap wrench to get it loose. You have to unscrew it about a quarter turn, assuming the plug is same as vent. 

Typically grab it with my hand and twist it off towards the left. I've only used a strap wrench once to remove a vent. Now you never want to put anything in the hose neck to twist it loose. It will break the vent cover as a poor gent did in my driveway last year. 

24 minutes ago, Royal Squire said:

I have the vent on mine. The po had siliconed it up good. Iirc I used a strap wrench to get it loose. You have to unscrew it about a quarter turn, assuming the plug is same as vent. 

The plug does in fact have threads on it.  I'm not sure why it's being so stubborn.  I use a different style oil filter wrench which unfortunately wont work in this situation.  But that was the first thing that popped into my head was a strap wrench.  

Edited March 8, 20178 yr by sooxies

Where is your vent now? Maybe it's in a better place and you don't need to mess with it 

10 minutes ago, Dieselfuture said:

Where is your vent now? Maybe it's in a better place and you don't need to mess with it 

He has to have the 12v style tappet cover vent. He's trying to remove it so he knows when the engine is at TDC and adjust the valves. 

                         Sometimes a big pair of water pump pliers works.

 

One of the rigid strap oil filter wrenches might if it is that thin. I have had to use one mine every time I take it off. It is just like a strap wrench with a metal band. It is has always blown my mind I have to use one because I am the one that reinstalls by hand, but need a wrench to get it off.

Strap wrench did the job.  Once I saw that notch in the bottom where it screws into I thought the P.O. went Conan the Barbarian trying to get it back on or something.  Then I realized it is supposed to be like that.   

Edited March 10, 20178 yr by sooxies

Funny... When I was swapping injectors today I figure I'd go the extra step and do the valve lash today too. I couldn't get that darn vent off by hand so... I grabbed an oil filter wrench and it turned it right off easy as pie.