Experienced the "fun" of replacing my fuel filter yesterday. I picked up a number of useful tips from many different threads and I thought it would be helpful to compile them in one place, since so many .orgers experience the same problems.

For an overview of the procedure check out this link:
http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/fuelfilter.html

Here are some tips:
After following the directions in the link to release pressure in the fuel line, remove the gas cap to release extra pressure.

Part of the reason this job is a pain is the lack of room to work. It helped me IMMENSELY to remove the top of the air filter, the mass air flow (MAF) sensor, and the box between the sensor and the throttle body (forget the name right now). This is the start of the procedure to clean the throttle body. Directions on how do this are here...
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/517
I left the bottom half of the air filter housing and the air filter in to make sure I didn't drop anything down into it.

The other reason this job is a pain is that the tubes are often difficult to remove from the old filter. Mine felt like the tubes had been glued in place. Try twisting them by hand first, instead of trying to pull them straight off. If that doesn't work try twisting them with pliers. I wrapped the end of my pliers in duct tape to keep the teeth from marring/cutting the rubber.

Be warned that quite a bit of gas can leak out once you get the tubes free. Have some rags ready to soak up the gas, or even a plastic bottle if you have room.

If you try getting the tubes off with pliers and it still doesn't work you have some options left. If the tube is long enough you can cut it off the old filter. Obviously you want to cut as close to the tip of the filter as possible so you don't shorten it too much. I ended up cutting the top tube and still had plenty of slack left over. If you don't have enough slack you could always replace the tube altogether. Seems to me that this would be easy for the top tube, but a pain on the bottom.

 

Good thing my hands were able to reach down from the top!
Yep, I got lots of gas when I twisted off the hoses to the filter. I had a rag catch all of it. I used a pair of pliers on the lower hose and was able to twist the filter off.

 

Unplug fuse for the fuel pump. Run the engine until it stalls, there should minimal to absolutely no fuel in the hose or fuel filter. Replace fuel filter.

I don't remember all the problems you are stating and I've replaced my filter already 3 times (log book).

 

I found that getting the bottom hose off the fuel line was a lot easier than getting it off the actual fuel filter. Then I had the entire fuel filter and bottom hose outside of the engine bay and I could more easily work on getting the hose off the filter.

 

i replaced mine at like 119 thousand miles, jus for fun open your fuel filter and see how dirty it is. i think its important to check this as it will give you a good idea on what is goin on in your engine. mine was dirty as hell, the fuel was actually brown and thick with dirt. i immediately stopped purchasing fuel from the shells station. i wil change the filter again in about a year and see what goes on. have fun guy

 

I've been buying from Chevron since I got my Max. The residue gas from the fuel filter was dirty, just like when you turn on the kitchen tap and the water runs through the Waterpik water filter for the first time. You can see the gas as grey.