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Old 04-17-2016, 04:35 PM   #1
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Topping off Racors Low-Clearance

Hi All:

Question... what do you use to back fill the Racor filter housing when changing filters?

Not much clearance above the Racors on Satori...

Where do you tap in to get the fuel?

(Yes, I did try the search feature)
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Old 04-17-2016, 04:44 PM   #2
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Get a Walbro primer pump or even use the squeeze bulb kit SBmarine sells.

Squeeze Bulb Priming Kit - Seaboard Marine
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Old 04-17-2016, 05:10 PM   #3
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Just use a polyethylene drink cup to top up.

And how do you get the filter elements out? Maybe there is just enough room??
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Old 04-17-2016, 05:17 PM   #4
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I close both the supply side and feed side valves on either side of the filter casing before changing filter. Then drain a bit of fuel from off bottom of casing. Remove filter. Then put in new filter. Then open those valves with the filter casing top on but not tightened down. Wait for fuel to rise in the casing then tighten the top. Works for me. YEMY. Not sure I really need to close feed side valves, but I do it.

Turkey baster might work in your case as well.
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Old 04-17-2016, 05:30 PM   #5
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Greetings,
Mr. CLA. All good suggestions thus far but is there any chance you can relocate the filters? All well and good to use a drink cup or a turkey baster while at the dock but what about in a rough seaway to both change the elements AND top up?
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Old 04-17-2016, 06:41 PM   #6
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Take a look at the link below and then figure out how to adapt it to your setup. Just an idea.


Squeeze Bulb Priming Kit - Seaboard Marine
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Old 04-17-2016, 06:55 PM   #7
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Squeeze bottle will do it and easy to control
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Old 04-17-2016, 07:55 PM   #8
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I do similar to dwhatty but have a selector on my racor manifold that you don't have and I can see your issue in the confined space. I did ( as Per C lectric comments) plumb in a squeeze bulb last summer (with multi-step filtration system). It works fine for purging all the downstream filters including the racors. I "tapped in" my squeeze bulb between my racors and the feed from my tank. I find that purging the racors with the lid on and the T-handle off until all air was purged allowed the inevitable diesel overflow to accumulate on the lid cavity with less spill to clean up. Obviously space is an issue. Sorry too wordy!
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Old 04-17-2016, 08:18 PM   #9
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I would also suggest relocating the racor's. Mine are located low enough that after putting in the new filters I leave the T handle off and slowly open the supply side valve. Gravity works every time, when the racor is full of fuel I just have to shut off supply valve and put in T handle. Could not be easier.
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Old 04-17-2016, 09:28 PM   #10
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The first thing is that your filters are for automotive or truck use. The metal cups mounted under the plastic bulbs are not installed. Plus you do not have the drains located on the bottom to make it easy and cleaner to drain both water and dirt from unit. Can you move the unit to a better location? Some insurance companies will give you grieve about using automotive filters on a vessel. Bad installation.
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Old 04-17-2016, 09:34 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Ron T View Post
The first thing is that your filters are for automotive or truck use. The metal cups mounted under the plastic bulbs are not installed. Plus you do not have the drains located on the bottom to make it easy and cleaner to drain both water and dirt from unit. Can you move the unit to a better location? Some insurance companies will give you grieve about using automotive filters on a vessel. Bad installation.
The drains are there and there is no need for the metal shields.

Other than the clearance there is nothing different about that installation then the hundreds or more just like it.
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Old 04-17-2016, 09:38 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CarlinLA View Post
Hi All:

Question... what do you use to back fill the Racor filter housing when changing filters?

Not much clearance above the Racors on Satori...

Where do you tap in to get the fuel?

(Yes, I did try the search feature)



As mentioned, do they fill from the weight of the fuel in the tank/s if you open the lid and open the incoming fuel valve?

If so, there's your answer.
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Old 04-17-2016, 10:12 PM   #13
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Is that silver hose above the Racors just the hose for the engine room exhaust vent?


Why not relocate it to provide more clearance above the Racors?
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Old 04-18-2016, 07:53 AM   #14
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If you go to the Racor web site you will see they sell a brass replacement drain for the bottom to replace the cheap plastic unit. They leak with age and use. That why they sell the better brass on/off unit. With out the metal bowls she will not pass insurance inspection. If a vessel manufacturer installed that cheap unit in that space, I would question the rest of the engineering on the vessel and further inspect for more blunders.
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Old 04-18-2016, 08:41 AM   #15
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Fuel may not gravity or siphon flow of fuel level is low
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Old 04-18-2016, 08:46 AM   #16
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Google "lab wash bottle"

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Old 04-18-2016, 09:07 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ski in NC View Post
Just use a polyethylene drink cup to top up.
?
Exactly what I do!!
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Old 04-18-2016, 09:12 AM   #18
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On some boats, like my Hatteras, the tanks are below the filters.
Another good use for the priming pumps is when changing the secondary filter and/or bleeding the system. Very handy; I was thankful to the PO who had installed them.
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Old 04-18-2016, 09:44 AM   #19
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I too would relocated the filters, but I note there's very little total clearance between the diamond-plate and the overhead. The aqualift next to the diamond plate shows that there's a few more inches to the bilge but I'll bet there isn't another bulkhead location that will work. If you can pop the flex duct and there's room to remove the filters, then probably best off to leave them.

But I doubt they will fill via gravity, so a pump will be in order. As noted, not just for pushing fuel into the filters but (with appropriate fuel plumbing) for transferring between tanks and for polishing.

And...I think these are probably the wrong filters anyway - they look like 1000 series, and I have to believe that the 500 series would be appropriate for the fuel flow for the engine(s) that would fit in this space.
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Old 04-18-2016, 09:49 AM   #20
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Post #3 & 4, in conjunction with the priming pump.(that little switch by the pump is for local manual use)

Filters will not fill by gravity alone.

they should be good for 2 years.
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