Racor Filter Maintenance

[Dan Mapes]

We have had a discussion or two here and perhaps elsewhere about Racors and the use of 2 micron filters. Ever since we bought Freedom back in 1999 I have used 2 micron filters. Once after shocking the tank with BioBor prior to lay up, in the Spring, we floated her and wound 'em up. She made 1000 RPM and gagged. Back at the dock sure enough the 1000MAs were choked.
Fast forward maybe 8 years from that event which was probably back around 2006. I was bringing the boat back from a bottom job after we had done 1400 NM from Ft Myers to Great Exuma and back. The stbd engine faded a couple of times on me so I decided it was time to pull the racors and clean them up.

I should have taken photos.

The lesson learned here, is when you pop in new filters, make sure you drain the canister and perhaps flush it out with some clean diesel and air. Get the rebuild kit, drop the see through bowls and blow them out.

The crud that came out of ours was beyond comprehension. Suprisingly Freedom still pulled 21 knots inspite of all the jam in the filter housings. The bowls look good and clean now with fresh fuel in them. If you see any cloudyness or dark color, as well as some debris on the turbine difuser, drop the bowls and clean the assembly out.

 

[Mike36c]

After dropping the bowls I also unscrew the turbine, remove the ball check valve then smack the turbine upside down on a soft rag. All kinds of nasty crud hides in there.

 

[Dan Mapes]

I never realized how simple these things were inside until I pulled it all apart.

 

[seasalt]

Just like field stripping your rifle. Blindfolded will work.

 

[Boatsb]

But the rebuild kits come with lots of extra parts. Don't be fooled into thinking you missed something.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Indeed. They had me wondering.

And- The new style see through bowls fit over and with all of the hardware from 30 years ago. Just make sure they give you the plug for the sensor hole.

One of ours had some weird striations in it. If you have worked with lexan etc. you may have seen what looks like cracks forming. We had those in one of them and I chucked it in favor of a new one. Pricey yes but worth it IMHO.

 

[ddctech]

I recommend doing this yearly to my customers. I drop the bowls, take all the guts apart and clean out with crc chlorinated brake clean. The crc does not destroy the plastic and makes it look shiny and new!Rebuild kits aren't necessary. i just keep extra lid o-rings and use those.