Racor 500 port moan

stuartwineberg

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Along with others I am on the campaign to ditch my awful CAV setup with a Racor 500 (or clone thereof). The moan is the 2 port design. The CAV has 4 ports allowing you to choose which side the inlet and outlet go and of course with the unidirectional Racor they are the wrong way round for my engine room. So I might be heading for an ungainly loop the loop of fuel pipes because the filter set up can't really go anywhere else. Any suggestions? I would love to know I have made a muppet mistake and there is an obvious solution. I want the centrifugal water separator and top loading filter etc so a spin on adapter for the CAV isn't what I am looking for
 
As others have said, if you buy the genuine Racor the housing can be rotated in the clamp. I'm not familiar with all of the clones, but it seems that a lot have a cast bracket, which means you don't have any choice - sorry.
 
Alternatively, a Separ filter (SWK2000 series) has 4 port allowing inlet & outlet options the same as CAV.
Both Racor & Separ are excellent filters.

Edit to add - Separ do a very nice option of a metal, cleanable filter btw - it's a 60 micron element, but would be in my emergency spares kit if I had Separ.
 
Along with others I am on the campaign to ditch my awful CAV setup with a Racor 500 (or clone thereof). The moan is the 2 port design. The CAV has 4 ports allowing you to choose which side the inlet and outlet go and of course with the unidirectional Racor they are the wrong way round for my engine room. So I might be heading for an ungainly loop the loop of fuel pipes because the filter set up can't really go anywhere else. Any suggestions? I would love to know I have made a muppet mistake and there is an obvious solution. I want the centrifugal water separator and top loading filter etc so a spin on adapter for the CAV isn't what I am looking for
There appears to be two designs of Racor 500. The later/current design has a clamp around the body so it can easily be rotated to switch the ports around. The earlier design (as is my 21 year old model) has the mounting integral with the lower casting and this is the design that most(all?) the clones are based on and although i have not tried, it looks like you can remove the 4 screws, rotate 180degrees and reassemble the main casting.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Alternatively, a Separ filter (SWK2000 series) has 4 port allowing inlet & outlet options the same as CAV.
Both Racor & Separ are excellent filters.

Edit to add - Separ do a very nice option of a metal, cleanable filter btw - it's a 60 micron element, but would be in my emergency spares kit if I had Separ.
Lovely but £369 !!
 
As others have said, if you buy the genuine Racor the housing can be rotated in the clamp. I'm not familiar with all of the clones, but it seems that a lot have a cast bracket, which means you don't have any choice - sorry.
So you can. Didn’t know that. Thanks all. Might have to buy the real thing
 
How difficult would it be to cut the plastic lugs off and fashion a new mount, out of wood say, so that the body can be turned?
 
There appears to be two designs of Racor 500. The later/current design has a clamp around the body so it can easily be rotated to switch the ports around. The earlier design (as is my 21 year old model) has the mounting integral with the lower casting and this is the design that most(all?) the clones are based on and although i have not tried, it looks like you can remove the 4 screws, rotate 180degrees and reassemble the main casting.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
The latter looks favourite - I have contacted parts4engines and will let the forum know the outcome
 
Brilliant .... a thread title moaning about Racor ..... when actually the OP's concern is about a cheap clone :)

PS Very happy with my genuine Racor from ASAP Supplies
and indeed, if that is the necessary solution, I will go there but if a good quality clone from a reputable supplier will do, I would rather spend the money on some genuine racor filter elements. Do remember that when I started this thread, I did not know you could rotate the genuine article so a degree of thread drift might have given the impression I am wedded to cheap clones which is not the case.
 
When I fitted my facor a couple of years ago just unbolted the flange bolts and rotated 180 degrees, the same flange holds the bowl so I would have thought same possible on most.
 
When I fitted my facor a couple of years ago just unbolted the flange bolts and rotated 180 degrees, the same flange holds the bowl so I would have thought same possible on most.
Just to follow up on this - within 12 hours of asking the question on email I got a reply from a director of parts4engines who has gone into the warehouse and examined one for me - good service I think. On external examination there is no reason not to undo 4 bolts and rotate the housing So that lines up with Daverw experience.
 
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