[C320-list] Changing Racor Filter

[jonvez at comcast.net]

One additional note on the fuel shut off. You may not have a handle (petcock) depending on the hull number to shut the fuel off at the tank. When I purchased and installed my new tank, it came with an anti siphon barb in place of the petcock that my '99 had. I prefer the petcock, but because it is bronze and the new tank did not come with a stainless sleeve to keep it from the aluminum tank, I will have to stick with the anti-siphon. 

Regards,

Jon Vez

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com> 

> Opinions on changing filters are like the nose: everyone has one. 
> 
> I had to re-read Herb's part about the fuel cutoff valve a couple of times to 
> realize that as a "cutoff valve" he turns it on to stop the fuel. In my mind, I 
> turn the valve off to stop the fuel. Either way, you don't want fuel to flow in 
> the line when opening the Racor unit. 
> 
> I don't concern myself with the screw-on bottom until I get the filter off. To 
> do that, I first loosen the filter slightly but not enough to leak. Then, I 
> place a small plastic tub under the filter, unscrew it and drop it into the tub. 
> Dump the rest of the fuel, top and bottom, and remove the bottom part. Be sure 
> to clean well the bottom part. Take the black "O" ring out from the bottom 
> part, wet it well with fuel, replace it and screw onto the new filter hand 
> tight. Be sure you can remove the bottom by hand at this point. Wet out the 
> new seal with fuel, fill the new cartridge nearly to the top with fuel and screw 
> it into place, also hand tight. Open the fuel line shutoff. (Filling the new 
> cartridge with fuel means that much less fuel to pump from the tank, and much 
> less fuel to dispose of.) 
> 
> My engine is a Perkins M30 so the bleeding procedure may be different; but, if 
> you have the hand pump on the Racor, I can bleed the entire line to the 
> secondary filter from the Racor. As Herb described, loosen the bleed screw on 
> the secondary (on Perkins it is a hex bolt; you can tell if this is the right 
> one because a couple of threads down there is a hole through the screw. When 
> you can see the hole, it's unscrewed enough.) Of course, use plenty of rags or 
> absorbant towels. Pump the Racor pump until only solid stream of fuel comes 
> from the bleed screw, and close it. I have never had to bleed the HP pump using 
> this procedure, and I've never bothered with the lift pump as it has it's own 
> set of issues. 
> 
> Warren & Pattie Updike 
> C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar" 
> Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River 
> Chesapeake Bay