Changing fuel filter bowl to transparent

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mullet

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I’d like to add a clear bowl to my fuel filter (pictured). My local chandleries don’t have the parts (“supply chain issues”) so it leaves me buying online.

Am I right in thinking all I need is a glass bowl the same diameter of the filter, an additional seal, and potentially a longer bolt to hold it all together? I’ll change the other seals and filter element while I’m at it.

I did speak to ASAP who said they only have parts to convert from glass to solid, not the other way round; and they pointed me to buying a whole new filter/separator. They also said that it would be an improvement on the current arrangement which is filter only. I was under the impression any water would accumulate in the metal bowl of the current system, and could then be drained off. Is that a misapprehension on my part?
 

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mullet said:
I’d like to add a clear bowl to my fuel filter (pictured). My local chandleries don’t have the parts (“supply chain issues”) so it leaves me buying online.

Am I right in thinking all I need is a glass bowl the same diameter of the filter, an additional seal, and potentially a longer bolt to hold it all together? I’ll change the other seals and filter element while I’m at it.

I did speak to ASAP who said they only have parts to convert from glass to solid, not the other way round; and they pointed me to buying a whole new filter/separator. They also said that it would be an improvement on the current arrangement which is filter only. I was under the impression any water would accumulate in the metal bowl of the current system, and could then be drained off. Is that a misapprehension on my part?
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That is strange as the ASAP website shows they have two in stock Replacement Glass Bowl for CAV Fuel Filter

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
For £30 you can get a racor copy (facors as they seem to get called) top loading unit with clear bowl that take the regular racor filter elements, with a top loader as long as you shut the fual valve first you don't need to bleed at filter change just top up the unit before putting the lid back on.
Racor Type Diesel Filter FG500
 
Plum said:
That is strange as the ASAP website shows they have two in stock
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That’s what I thought too. I emailed them specifically to check whether that part was compatible; whilst they didn’t specifically say it wasn’t they said they don’t sell parts to covert from metal bowl to glass. Hence my slight confusion.
 
mullet said:
That’s what I thought too. I emailed them specifically to check whether that part was compatible; whilst they didn’t specifically say it wasn’t they said they don’t sell parts to covert from metal bowl to glass. Hence my slight confusion.
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Mine has the transparent section which inserts between the filter and the original metal bottom. You just need an extra seal and a longer bolt.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I changed that same filter for a Facor at the start of the season. Well worth it in my opinion changing the old filter used to be a pain for my dad! Now I can do it. Very easy to see what is going and no probs with quality. I went for the cheapest one I could find and it only came with 10mm tails and I have 8mm fuel pipe so it actually cost me more than £30 having to buy some genuine Racor tails. Also the flow was the opposite way to the old filter so I had to replace the fuel pipes.
 
mullet said:
That’s what I thought too. I emailed them specifically to check whether that part was compatible; whilst they didn’t specifically say it wasn’t they said they don’t sell parts to covert from metal bowl to glass. Hence my slight confusion.
Click to expand...
Have a word with these people or indeed any diesel workshop/ agricultural outlet in your area......
22D1501 Square Shaped Glass Bowl
 
We had to change from transparent to solid following an insurance survey. I thought we would have been in more trouble if the plastic had melted from onboard fire before it melted to add to the fuel on the fire.
 
And just to lob in a new spanner: when I changed the primary filter this year, I found that one 'make' of filter was a few mm small. Which meant that the long bolt which the secures the glass bowl and filter couldn't fully tighten the whole assembly. A different make of filter was that few mm larger and sealed the assembly. the slightly smaller filter fitted the secondary filter which has no bowl.
 
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