shanson 0 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Gidday I'm sure this would have been discussed before, however the search comes up blank! My fuel filters are stuffed, it turnes our that the previous owner had glued the lids on for some odd reason! So I'm looking for a reasonably priced alternative suitable for an offshore yacht, i.e. switchable filters etc. Has anyone built anything simalar or even have something laying around in their garage? Cheers SHANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clive 13 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 My fuel filters are stuffed, it turnes our that the previous owner had glued the lids on for some odd reason! Jeez! seals must have gone I guess. Don't skimp on your filters. Go for the glass bowl type and have them easily seen/accessible so you can check/change them. There are probably some other surprises in your fuel tank too... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanson 0 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 yea I've gotta re-do the fuel system end to end, be a good project for winter I guess! SHANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Most used fuel filters are just that, they have become second hand for a reason. Racor would be by far the most popular filter in NZ, Separ are equally as good (Ovlov) but lesser known, both reasonably expensive but it is money well spent. 10 micron is a good number for filter size, you can go finer but it isn't really needed. You could probably bring either in from offshore but by the time you add the freight there probably wouldn't much difference in overall price. Buy a pair and set them up so you can change them with out stopping the engine, with a simple guage connected into the system you can soon see when the one you are using is getting clogged and requires switching. You can then change the clogged on at your leisure at your next anchorage / mooring etc. There are simpler / cheaper ones as advertised on Trademe with a small water trap that will do the minimum, if that is all you need. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 This is the thing you want Shane. There is nothing else cheaper and they are a good little unit, with cheap replacment filters. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 377727.htm The smallest and cheapest Racor is up around 200 or 300. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atom Ant 0 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 I second Wheels's comment. I have had one of those in my boat for a few years now and it is excellent. And waaay cheaper to buy and waaay cheaper to buy the replacement filters. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanson 0 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Yep That exactly what we are going with, and I'll install a second one with a switching system over winter! At the risk of hijacking my own thread, is there any reason I cannot just bring the diesel return back into the supply on the far (tank) side of the filter? The reason I ask is that I have 3 tanks supplying the engine through valves and 3 returns also through Valves SHANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rigger 47 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Wheels covered that one before - in some engines the returned fuel can have a bit of heat in it. So might be best to avoid it. How is it dealt with now? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 The only concern is if you have an external electric fuel pump fitted before the filter, pressurising it. That can be a problem for the return. If it sucks from the filter or you are using the engine lift pump, then not a problem with that mate. Just plumb into the other "in". Be aware of the arrows on the top of the filter housing. You will have an in and out on each side. It is not a major issue, but if you plumb into the other inlet, then the return fuel gets re filtered. It's only a dribble, so you are not polishing as such. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanson 0 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Cheers mate, makes sense to me! BTW the BIG trip still on? SHANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 You used the word "offshore" in the first post. I've heard that glass bowls are not acceptable for Cat 1. Just a heads up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanson 0 Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 yea thanks for that. We'll use the glass bowl in the short term and I'll look at a new system over winter. Cheers SHANE Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 You used the word "offshore" in the first post. I've heard that glass bowls are not acceptable for Cat 1. Just a heads up. You're kidding me right?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Surely not. Racor is a polycarb bowl and surely would be even worse in a fire. I can not remember reading anything about that in the rules, can anyone confirm that?? Shane, I have the Top and bottom parts both in metal if you want it, you can have it. I just assumed you would want glass. Yep trip still on. Fly down Friday, provision boat Saturday, head around to Havelock Sunday, haulout Monday and then start the trip north hopefully tuesday or Wednesday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fusion 0 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 Arriving at this post a little late. For a little extra money get the RACOR with the primer pump attached. Its excellent you can manual pump fuel thorough the system and also achieve good pressure to bleed the system. I have a day tank plumed into the system so in the event of a lift pump failure the day tank will gravity feed the injector pump and the Day tank can be filled using the Racor filter pump Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marinheiro 352 Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 You can also get the Lucas - CAV 296 with the head mounted manual fuel pump, however Racor with its spin on filter is less likely to leak than the CAV (the latter perhaps reinforcing its English heritage). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 As a simple manual pump I have fitted an outboard motor bulb/pump into the inlet line, it is so simple to use if/when you need to bleed your diesel system, it can be installed in an easily accessible place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 The CAV's don't leak. Fusion, do you have any idea on cost of those Racors?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fusion 0 Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Its a while ago my guess is $125.00 with Primer and $90 without? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 If that is the case then that is cheap and far cheaper than the price I was told a year or two back. I was told around $275 without the pump. Maybe I asked the wrong person. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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