Nate0918
Well-known member
I need to move the oil filter on my garden tractor engine. My plan was to make a simple aluminum block with barbed fittings to mount to the engine case and a separate block for the oil filter, connected with oil rated hose. This is a small 18hp twin cylinder engine with a small oil filter. The problem is that the oil ports and the mounting holes on the case are close together, too close to use NPT threaded barb fittings. See pics for the engine and the oil filter boss as well as my block idea. I'm looking for ideas on how to get the hoses from the engine to the oil filter boss so I can relocate it. I have a couple ideas:
1. Forget using a threaded fitting and use couplers that are barbed on both ends. Drill the oil port holes in the adapter block just undersized for the barbs and press them in with some JB weld. The barbed end is smaller than a 1/4" NPT fitting and there would be enough room. Heat the aluminum block while I'm at it.
2. Machine passages in the aluminum adapter block so that the oil passage exits out the bottom of the adapter block, I can make the block longer to accommodate. This would leave me enough room for the 1/4" NPT fitting to 5/16" or 3/8" hose.
While option 1 sounds janky, I can't see the fitting ever coming loose with those barbs, it would be easier, and less restrictive since the oil would have to make a sharp 90deg turn in the block with option 2. The oil pressure is low in the small engines. You can see the three oil ports and the two mounting screw holes in the oil filter boss. I'm open to other ideas, just as long as it works.
1. Forget using a threaded fitting and use couplers that are barbed on both ends. Drill the oil port holes in the adapter block just undersized for the barbs and press them in with some JB weld. The barbed end is smaller than a 1/4" NPT fitting and there would be enough room. Heat the aluminum block while I'm at it.
2. Machine passages in the aluminum adapter block so that the oil passage exits out the bottom of the adapter block, I can make the block longer to accommodate. This would leave me enough room for the 1/4" NPT fitting to 5/16" or 3/8" hose.
While option 1 sounds janky, I can't see the fitting ever coming loose with those barbs, it would be easier, and less restrictive since the oil would have to make a sharp 90deg turn in the block with option 2. The oil pressure is low in the small engines. You can see the three oil ports and the two mounting screw holes in the oil filter boss. I'm open to other ideas, just as long as it works.
