Changing fuel filter bowl to transparent

Laysula said:
As others have said, bin the lucas?cav abomination and fit a Racor 500 copy.
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I contacted Parker Racor technical services direct a while ago regarding the fitting of a 500FG assembly and their advice to me was to fit their version of the 'Delphi / CAV' type cartridge filter as the 500FG is designed for a fuel through put of 60GPH whereas the nominal 50hp Perkins engine I quoted only required a 8GPH throughput. Though of course the 500 would and does work they also recommended that if fitting one then the fuel supply should be mounted above the level of the filter! The unit recommended was the 120RMAM unit which to all intents and purposes is identical to the Delphi/ CAV unit except its in the screw on version as seen here...https://www.racorstore.com/PDF/12945_Rev_A_120RMAM_Series.pdf
If the 15GPH is insufficient then the next along is the same but with greater capacity...200RMAM !
 
tillergirl said:
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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Wouldn't a washer or two under the bolt head solve that problem?
 
tillergirl said:
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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Are they not the same filter reference number so you just buy two of the same filter, ie 296 like this
1660756209601.png

.......or did yours come in a 'kit' form?
 
Laysula said:
As others have said, bin the lucas?cav abomination and fit a Racor 500 copy.
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Absolutely agree - except I fitted the genuine Racor.
I added an ASAP glass bowl to the existing CAV filter but it was a right pain to hold all the pieces and sealing rings in the right places to do it up after changing a filter. Cue lots of mess and swearing. And that was when doing a planned filter change during the engine service - in harbour, tied to a pontoon and stern locker cleared out for the purpose. Near impossible at sea.
By comparison the Raccor is a dawdle to change the filter, from above with zero mess. Just keep a small bottle of clean diesel to top up the holder after fitting the new filter, and probably won’t need to do any bleeding through.
 
dunedin said:
Absolutely agree - except I fitted the genuine Racor.
I added an ASAP glass bowl to the existing CAV filter but it was a right pain to hold all the pieces and sealing rings in the right places to do it up after changing a filter. Cue lots of mess and swearing. And that was when doing a planned filter change during the engine service - in harbour, tied to a pontoon and stern locker cleared out for the purpose. Near impossible at sea.
By comparison the Raccor is a dawdle to change the filter, from above with zero mess. Just keep a small bottle of clean diesel to top up the holder after fitting the new filter, and probably won’t need to do any bleeding through.
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Personally I find I just bleed though the diesel using the lift pump on the engine doesn't take long and less messy than a can of diesel at sea.

I replaced my bleed fittings with brake bleeding nipples and have a bit of hose on it, then you can see it run clear and direct the excess to a bottle.

Thought about an electric pump then decided to have beer instead and that's as far as I got!
 
Wow, I only came here looking for advice about adding a clear bowl the filter I've got! That said... it hasn't been without the occasional headache so I can see the merits of the alternatives, which raises some questions:

I'd struggle with space for a top-loading filter and I really don't want to get into finding a new location for a taller filter, changing pipes etc. So ruling them and CAV filters out, it there any other alternative with a clear bowl but a Racor spin-on type?

Are there any clones of spin on Racors? Or alternative brands? Likewise the filters themselves which seem a lot dearer than CAV filters. I'm trying to rationalise the possibility of spending money (that could be spent on beer, or other bits of the boat) on replacing something that works tollerably well already. And even more so, spending time on it (when I could be sailing)...
 
mullet said:
Wow, I only came here looking for advice about adding a clear bowl the filter I've got! That said... it hasn't been without the occasional headache so I can see the merits of the alternatives, which raises some questions:

I'd struggle with space for a top-loading filter and I really don't want to get into finding a new location for a taller filter, changing pipes etc. So ruling them and CAV filters out, it there any other alternative with a clear bowl but a Racor spin-on type?

Are there any clones of spin on Racors? Or alternative brands? Likewise the filters themselves which seem a lot dearer than CAV filters. I'm trying to rationalise the possibility of spending money (that could be spent on beer, or other bits of the boat) on replacing something that works tollerably well already. And even more so, spending time on it (when I could be sailing)...
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In my long term experience (over 35 years!) with the CAV filter that you have, if you have good access to it and take a bit of care to get the parts and seals assembled, then the CAV filter is not a problem. If it is not in a good position, can you move it? Can you fit a shelf about 150mm below it onto which you can place a container to catch anything while changing the filter? Yes, changing the filter element is not as easy as the Racor 500 but I only do it once per year at the most. Suggest you stick to your original plan to fit the clear bowl so you can visually inspect.

Edit: if you can't find the longer rod that fits to the bottom section I am sure you will be able to source a suitable longer bolt instead to reach the existing rod when you insert the glass bowl.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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mullet said:
Wow, I only came here looking for advice about adding a clear bowl the filter I've got! That said... it hasn't been without the occasional headache so I can see the merits of the alternatives, which raises some questions:

I'd struggle with space for a top-loading filter and I really don't want to get into finding a new location for a taller filter, changing pipes etc. So ruling them and CAV filters out, it there any other alternative with a clear bowl but a Racor spin-on type?

Are there any clones of spin on Racors? Or alternative brands? Likewise the filters themselves which seem a lot dearer than CAV filters. I'm trying to rationalise the possibility of spending money (that could be spent on beer, or other bits of the boat) on replacing something that works tollerably well already. And even more so, spending time on it (when I could be sailing)...
Click to expand...
Just keep your eye on ebay for a complete cav type including glass bowl.

cav fuel filter housing | eBay
 
jwfrary said:
Yes there are clone racor spin ons availible on amazon, I bought one to see what it was like, honestly you can't tell the difference except that the ports are metric rather than bsp or npt soemthing more conventional.
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Thanks, not sure how I managed to overlook those...
 
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