TOPIC: Should I add an oil filter?

I got to thinking. Should I add an oil filter to my 62 Homelite 55? There is a place to put one on.
The oil seems to get black pretty fast. Any advantages? Disadvantages?
I did hear the oil filters can loosen up from vibration if not tightened properly. What a nasty mess.

I plan on running a filter on our Homelite but will fabricate some sort of bracket where I can run a gear clamp(large hoseclamp) through & around the filter to secure it once it has been tightened.I don't think it would take much.

I finally got a photo of where my filter would go.
That clamp idea sounds like a good one.

heres the oil filter i use on mine a diesel just put a good sealant on the base and use a large channel lock to tighten

Thanks a lot for that info. I have a filter wrench. Would that work OK to tighten the filter enough? I do have a large set of channel locks too.

Dave you can't get it tight enough with a filter wrench put a rag at the rim at the top of the filter and don't squeeze to hard so as to crush it and tighten with channel locks thats how I do mine and it has never come loose

That sounds good. Thanks for the tip.

I took that NAPA filter # to work with me today, tried to cross ref. or change over from a fuel filter to an oil filter but no luck. The mounting threads on that filter are 1-14 UNF-2B, which appears to be unique to fuel filters, not found in oil filters.

I was however, able to come up with some of the other brand's part numbers on the same filter, in case you have trouble sourcing at NAPA.

Fleetguard (Cummins) FF5454
Baldwin BF7609
Wix 24104

Thanks Mark,
I'll put those numbers in my Homelite file.
I got an inline fuel filter from Wix that I want to use on the Homelite. Got it at Auto Value. The photos are from the lake I live on. 250acres. Just right for a nice Homelite cruise.
The center house is mine where the flag pole is.

Some people just have it to nice. What a place to live. Im in Nevada in the desart.
Mike aka pathfinderz1
PS
Heres my lake at the end of Aug


Kind of sad looking

Looks like a beautiful place Dave, very nice!

Thanks for the comments guys. Mike, We get snow here too. I see you like to ride snowmobiles when there is snow. I hope you get alot so it can fill up your lake for next boating season.
Our lake usually doesn't go down more than a foot on the average. The winter snow melt and spring rains brings it up pretty good again for boating season.
I have a lot of boat related projects to do during the winter months. I need to clean the garage/workshop so when I set a tool down it isn't hide in with all my clutter. Then it takes me awhile to find it. It's rough.
Hope everyone who has a Homelite/Bearcat can get it going for next season.

here's the factory filter vs a 24104, both new in the box.

Do you have any stock on those Bill, (for the guys who need 'em), or is that just one you have left over? With the tightening issue they're talking about, you can sure understand the O.E. having the "nut" in the housing - would make life easier.

Hi Mark,
The guys that do the museum quality restorations get the originals.
Truth be told, the 4104/24104 is fine, just use a large set of channel locks to tighten them. Both Scott Stewart and myself have been running them since 1997 (way longer for him!) and have had zero trouble.
The factory changed to the cap from the filter for a couple of reasons, but one of them was cost cutting per an internal document.
So my recommendation for everyone is run a filter even if your engine had a cap, and the wix 24104 is the right one.
Funny, just two weeks ago I had a customer take those numbers to the auto parts store and the computer showed this to be an air filter, and the box was stamped 24104 with an air filter inside acc to my customer! Anyway, we got him fixed up, and that's why I took this pic so he could run it into his parts guy.

Well, That answers my question. I'm going to run an oil filter next season and get Wix filter from my local Auto Value store.
Hey Bill,should I run Synthetic Oil or Reg 30wt .
Right now I'm just running reg 30wt.The Homelite seemed to smoke less starting with synthetic That one time I used it. It was free oil from my daughter Quicksilver brand. No thermostat Normal lake temp 60-75 deg.

straight 30W from walmart is fine.
synthetic is best, depends on your budget.
I run synthetic in mine but ran one on 30W wally world for a couple years and saw no issues at all.
i don't want to get into the zinc in the old oils vs none in the new oils debate etc. (sheesh)
Look at the print on the side of the factory filter, they were recommended to be used on the later engines with no filter in event of rebuild or replacement during breakin. Bottom line, the filter increases oil capacity, and running one is the right thing to do. Biggest thing is don't run 40 or 50w, and change your oil every 50hrs at minimum or at least every season, and check it everytime you launch and when you flush at home.
Most of these motors have outlived their original owners, and even the son, now the grandson's are running them. Without a rebuild. Kinda like a lot of our glassics.