Stuck Fuel control cell canister

I'm winterizing my '99 nautique with the GT-40 engine. During the process I was trying to remove the canister that holds the fuel filter so I can replace the filter. I had left the 7/16" drain screw in place in the bottom of the canister and was just loosening the whole canister with an oil filter wrench.

Anyway, as I got it loose and am turning it with just my hands, gas starts to seep out the top. So I go to get a rag and a container to drain the gas into.

By the time I get back the canister went from freely turning by hand to being completely seized up. The fuel must have gotten into the threads and caused it to get stuck.

Even with the oil filter wrench I have no luck getting the canister to turn either direction.

What can I do?

It was a bit stuck at first and I had to turn pretty hard.

I tried turning as hard as I could, to the point where the oil filter wrench seems to be bending a bit.

Is there any way of loosening it up?

Also, talking to the marina where I may have to take it to get it fixed, they claim that the fuel would definitely not cause it to lock up, and if anything the fuel would help lubricate it.

Do you guys agree with this?

Did you ever get it off. I too am having a problem on my 2001. Never had a problem with my 1992. If so what did you do

As soon as the weather warms up that is what I was going to try. A strap wrench. But have not been able to find one. Also I'm a little worried about the mounting bracket twisting. Thanks

Its the worst when you can barely touch the filter under the engine next to the stringer let alone spin it off. I always use white lithium or oil on the o-rings or seal and never use a wrench to tighten, always hand snug

79nautique wrote: the problem is you guys are installing it too tight

The FCC is notorious for being overtightened from the factory. Ive heard many people destroy them while attempting to replace them for the first time.

79nautique wrote: that's something you cann't control tim just besure not to re-install it that way.

The problem is it's aluminum on aluminum threading, and quite a bit of it. I've tried to be easy on it when threading it back on but yet it is always a real PITA to get off.

An oil filter is always hand tightened and has far smaller diameter, completely lubricated threads with a lubricated gasket, so it's not really apples-to-apples. I think the pure surface area of thread-to-thread contact on the FCC is just huge. Even the old Fram Long fuel filters just had a narrow diameter threaded rod inside that held them together, rather than the actual housing threading into the top.