Changing oil filter Grrr

[MXRod]

You would thing a simple thing like changing an oil filter could cause no problem , for once , for the life of me I can’t see how to unscrew the filter on my Mk 2.5 Sport , almost totally inaccessible.
Youtube is not much help , bit like the Haynes Manual , simply ……….
I can get fingers on it from below , remove the crossbrace and I can touch from above .
Using a strap wrench I can get on the filter but I cant turn it ,
So what is the trick to getting the filter off .
Its not as though I have no mechanical knowledge .Used to prepare and rally a Mk1 Mexico

[MXRod]

buzzer said:

Get a set of these off Ebay... Take the wheel off, you can get on the end of the socket with a long extension. If you damage to top of the filter, its a real bugger to get off!

Have you got a link for this,ta

[MXRod]

LeoZwalf said:

What type of oil filter removal tool are you using? Granted mine is an NA so maybe there's more in an NB's engine bay but with one of these I'm just about able to tighten it onto the filter and turn it enough to get it going. Once it's a bit loose, I can just about get my hand in there to undo it the rest of the way. Get a rag underneath the filter as oil will drip down.

My removal tool is exactly like this one. At its tightest, it just about grips the tiny MX5 filter enough to undo it...

https://www.toolspecialist.nl/adjustable-oil-filte...

I am trying with a strap wrench , but am having trouble getting it to stay in position , as you need to wind the tension up so it grips , difficult one handed
Access is also a serious issue , the car is a Mk2.5 sport , so has a factory fitted strut brace , with the accompanying mounting struts ,and may also have other components not on other variants this just about blocks any access from above , I did release the brace but that was not a lot of help , the plan next w/e is to remove the brace and the turrets , and with my sons help , one above and one below, try again .
All the youtube videos are either US LHD cars where the steering column is the other sides, or cars with a different engine layout , so not a lot of help .
The removal kit looks interesting , and I may look some more to see if I can get a single wrench
The view from above

[MXRod]

Removing strut brace and turret,will be my next move,then with son ,the various suggestions made ,hopefully the strap wrench with the two of us above and below should do the trick,he has slim arms unlike me 😁
To be continued......

[MXRod]

Finally sorted , removed strut brace , and mounting turret , and with the strap wrench done in no time , look closely and you can see the shiny new filter

[MXRod]

Oh this thread had woken up !
The strut brace and support tower took no time at all and additional access made all the difference.