Fuel filter water separator

C

C-Wolfe

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Location
Anchorage
C Dory Year
2008
C Dory Model
255 Tomcat
Vessel Name
Valhalla
I have a racor 120R-RAC-01 with the S3240 filter element. I do have a replacement filter on board in case it needs servicing away from port, but I do not carry a spare bowl. I know the easiest answer will be, well, why don't you just carry a spare bowl. But I'm curious to know if there is a filter cartridge with a seal bottom that i can have as a get me home fix. I tried to search the net but did not came up with anything. Thanks
 
C-Wolfe":1vlxsheq said:
I have a racor 120R-RAC-01 with the S3240 filter element. I do have a replacement filter on board in case it needs servicing away from port, but I do not carry a spare bowl. I know the easiest answer will be, well, why don't you just carry a spare bowl. But I'm curious to know if there is a filter cartridge with a seal bottom that i can have as a get me home fix. I tried to search the net but did not came up with anything. Thanks
Click to expand...

You could just get another filter and another bowl. IME, getting the bowl off the filter is a HUGE PITA and is not something that you can probably do afloat. Last time I tried to change the filter element I ended up buying a whole new filter assembly. It was totally worth it vs. trying to take the old one apart.
 
I had to drive a big nail through the filter to get it off the bowl last time I changed one. Good idea to get a second bowl.
 
I have always been able to use a strap wrench to get the filter element and bowl off the upper bracket. Then two strap or one strap and one set of chain vise grips Weil also work. When replacing filters, be sure that the "O" rings are also changed.

I have carried a spare aluminum bowl so if the plastic was cracked or damaged. The aluminum bowl is for inboard boats, where if a bowel broke that there was a very high risk or an explosion and fire.
 
thataway":2jy5lujr said:
I have always been able to use a strap wrench to get the filter element and bowl off the upper bracket. Then two strap or one strap and one set of chain vise grips Weil also work. When replacing filters, be sure that the "O" rings are also changed.
Click to expand...

Bob is spot on. :thup
 
thataway":39t9qqrz said:
I have always been able to use a strap wrench to get the filter element and bowl off the upper bracket. Then two strap or one strap and one set of chain vise grips Weil also work. ...
Click to expand...

Last time I tried a strap wrench. Ended up crushing the metal filter casing and the plastic bowl still didn't budge.
 
I always coat the o rings with 90wt oil before installation and hand tighten. I have not had problems with removing the cartridge or plastic bowl. After purchasing the boat the first time I changed it was a b****, but not since. That said, I do carry a spare bowl and cartridge.
 
Thanks for the response.
At home, I have always managed to separate the bowl and filter, but I also have access to a lot more tools then what I carry on board. If I ever have issues with the filter while on a trip, I would prefer not to deal with the bowl. I know that there is filter/separator that do not use a bowl and would be simpler to deal with in an emergency, I'm just not finding if one will fit my application.
 
Because of the design of the Racor filter system (same for other systems of the same design)--the spin on type of filters will not work. Racor could make one--but it would in some ways defeat their design criteria of a checkable fuel water separator/ filter.
 
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