410DA Racors

I have a question about the Racor elements. I understand that they have an Aquabloc coating to help sepearte the water from the fuel.

Does this Aquabloc coating have a shelf life? The reason I ask is because I have a few spare elements where the plastic bag that they are stored/shipped in is torn open. I was wondering if the tear in the packaging would compromise the effectiveness of the Aquabloc coating.

thanks,
 
Dominc-

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Those bags never struck me as being there for anything other than to keep the o-ring kit together with the filter. In fact, most of the ones I buy have small penetrations in the bag.

The aquablock is engineered to repel water, not absorb it.


And by the way...referring to the Teflon tape - no Teflon tape question, how about this:

I was on a 42' Carver at the boat show a few weeks ago. Carver didn't use threaded fuel lines at all. All of the fuel lines were connected to the engine and Racors using barb fittings and hose clamps! I know how often I tighten hose clamps on my cooling system. I can't imagine the risk of developing a leak in my fuel system. Fuel in the bilge is no good, and air in the fuel system is no good either. Risky business??

Jeff
 
Just raising up an old thread.....

I took on my first load of Diesel fuel this weekend. Sea Gull...thanks again for those air seps...filling up was a pleasure. No spurting out of the side vents and the nozel shut off just like filling a car. Oh, and Pulling up to the fuel dock and saying "Diesel Please" ....priceless.... :grin:

Anyway, I plan to change my Primary and Secondary filters this week after work one day, possibly tonight, so I re-read this thread. I've noticed a little of the black stuff floating around in the Racor housings. Do I absolutely need to clean this out, or is changing the filter good enough for now. The reason I ask, is that I have limited time to get the job done and I don't want to turn a 1-2 hour job into an 8 hour job! I'm going away for the weekend, and I wanted to start the trip with clean filters.

Also, as for the Secondaries (engine mounted filters), when I filled up at the marina yesterday, after I emptied the two containers of diesel Kleen, I refilled the jugs with diesel fuel from the pump. I plan to fill the secondaries filters with that fuel, add a little oil to the seal, and then spin them on.. Does this sound right?

I also bought vacuum gauges to replace the T-Handles, and I'll see how well the filter change is going before I tackle adding the guages. I hope I can get the gauges (with tell-tale needles) installed also.

I don't why it is, but I am just so "nervous" about changing the filters.....must be from all the horror stories I've heard about losing prime, and banging valves. I'll sure be happy after I have one change under my belt....!!!!
 
Dom-

I wouldn't get too worked up over a small amount of debris in the sight bowl. If it gets stringy and clumpy, or just accumulates to more than just a few particles, then break them down and clean them.

CAT does not recommend pre-filling the secondary fuel filters. You are basically introducing un-filtered fuel driectly into the engine and injectors. That is why you will find manual primer pumps located above each secondary filter mount. Remove the threaded plug next to the primer, place a small cup or rag under the hole, and prime away. When the filter is full, fuel will drain out the hole. Replace the plug, give it a few more pumps, and close the primer valve and re-tighten the plunger. This ensures that the fuel that you filled the secondaries with has been filtered to the 2 micron spec.

Let me know how those filter gauges work. I'm considering getting a pair. I forget, did you put petcocks on the bottoms of your primaries? If not, you should on your next change (after this quick change). That would also be the time to remove the sight bowls and guts for a good cleaning.

Jeff
 
Thanks...one last question....do I have to close the Fuel valves up in the cockpit?

Previous owner already installed the petcocks under bowls...
 
I don't know if you HAVE to, but I do. Fuel could continue to gravity drain into the Racors during the filter change, or air could burp back up into the fuel lines. Shutting them off is certainly the best way to do it whether it's mandatory or not.

Petcocks make a breeze of the job. Have fun! I'm doing mine this weekend.
 
Dom, what tc410 said.

Additionally, it is over kill to install t handle vac gauges and a manifold tattletale gauge.

Install petcocks, so you can drain off water and debris a little easier rather than just the nut on the bottom, which will always seem to require a third hand and make a mess..

oh, here is a tip. be sure to open all fuel lines prior to using the primer pumps or you will get airbound.
 
OK....ALL done....installed new primary 30 micron Racors, vacuum gauges with telltales and new secondary 2 micron CAT engine mounted filters. Having the Racor petcocks certainly made the job cleaner (thanks again Sea Gull)...... :thumbsup:

The only snafu I had was getting the CAT filters off the engine. I first used a regualr oil filter wrench and the filters wouldn't budge....actually they started to "bend". That was when my heart fell into my stomach. Without panicing, I got out my jagundo big a$$ channel locks and grabbed the filter close to the top. Other than scratching off some paint on the raw water tubes, they came right off. I'll touch up the paint tomorrow.


Thanks again for all the help and advise.....I'll post some pics of the vacuum gauges next time I'm in the ER with a camera.

Oh, the Racors.....they were black. There is still some visible black "strings" in the Racor bowls, but next change, I'll completely dismantle and thoroughly clean.....just nice to have my first ever diesel filter change behind me...... :smt038...

I started the clock when I took off the canvas and stopped the clock after clean up....total time....2 hours....next time it'll should probably only take an hour or so.
 
Dom, you did do the genset also didnt you? and you used a sharpie and indicated date and hours on the spin ons, right? along with your initials. :wink:
 
I didn't do the genie as they were done when I picked up in April. I haven't really used the genie, except for starting it up a few times to keep it running...less than 2 hours so far since I brought her home.

YES, I put the date and hours on the filters with a sharpie...no intials....that's in the log book.
 
Dancin Dave said:
I just noticed the inflatable, looks great. is that the 290?
Click to expand...

It's a PVC 270 Airdeck...check out my "Dinghy Davit" post in the Dinghies Forum..
 
One more question....(probably not, I'm sure I'll have more)......but my question is, is it required/adviseable to change both the Racor and the CAT filter at every change?

Now that I have a guage on the Racors, I am assuming that I would change that filter when the readings indicate, but I'm curious if I should also change the CAT filters at that time. Changing the Racors really wasn't that difficult and I can see myself, should the need every require, getting down there with the engines still hot. I can't see changing the CAT filters with the engines anymore than warm.
 
Dom-

I don't change the secondaries everytime I change the primaries for two main reasons:

1. It's no secret on this forum and the old one that I have been accused of "over-filtering" my fuel. I run 2 micron primaries so my secondaries don't get as much a workout as yours will running 30 micron primaries.

2. My climate in Northern Michigan doesn't promote aggressive fuel "growth" like hotter southern climates. And my boat's only in the water about 4 months as opposed to 12 months in other areas.

Therefore, I change the secondaries every other season, and the primaries twice each season, whether they need it or not.

By the way, I wanted to check out your Dom Dinghy Davit in the dinghy forum, but there are no pictures. What's up with that?

Jeff
 
tc410 said:
Dom-
By the way, I wanted to check out your Dom Dinghy Davit in the dinghy forum, but there are no pictures. What's up with that?

Jeff
Click to expand...

The pics are there...I see them....
 
Dom, unless your having a problem with the fuel, you should only have to change the cat spin on filters at the end of the boating season when you put her away. this way in the spring it is ready to go.
 
Not sure its the right way but I change both the filters after the first tank of fuel of the new season. My thoughts are that any "crap" that builds up during the winter and anything left in the tank from the previous year will be trapped early on. It's worked thus far.
Just my $.02.
 
pics of my 500MA Racors with the telltale vacuum gauges and the petcocks...
 

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I have to do that petcock thing.... I have dual 900's on each engine. Is it still 1/4" NPT on those?
 
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