Installed a fuel polisher

[bugbitten]

When I first changed the Racor's filter on my 2GM20F, it was so loaded with sediment, I couldn't understand how any fuel was getting through to the engine. I promptly bought a then new Parker polishing system, which has a small pump and another Racor filter. It sat on the parts pyramid for about two years, while I worked on other things. I'm happy to report that I installed it last week and it's working well. Part of my reluctance to tackle the job was my thinking that I had to cut into the hard fuel line coming from the tank. I finally found a way to modify the original fuel tank to accept a second pick up and return, so that the polisher runs completely independently of the engine's lines and filter. When done this way, you can run the polisher while the engine is running without affecting its performance.

I had the boat out for about ten hours last Saturday in pretty bumpy conditions. The tilt-o-meter was reading well over 30 degrees much of the time, so it was a great time to have the polisher running and taking advantage of all that agitation.

I'll attach a shot of the tank mod. More pics and details coming.

I know Maine Sail has said this system is no longer supported, and Defender has the Parker pump on closeout, but I was able to get support from the Parker folks when I had some questions during the install.

Here's the source for the tank pick up:

http://www.suremarineservice.com/

They also have the shut off valve that fits the bottom of the Racors for less than half what the official part goes for.

Forgive the wire nut in the background and the lack of double clamps on the hoses. I'm still cleaning up the install.
John

 

[woodster]

well looks like you have come back from the dead BB.....glad to see ya on here.....thats a hard place to work for sure is that pic taken from the quarter berth access hole....

regards

woody

 

[bugbitten]

Thanks, Woody. It's good to hear from you, too. I never seem to get email about new postings to the forum anymore. Don't know why.

I did work through the quarterberth access to do the tank bits. My Ryobi right-angle drill came in handy.

The new Racor 500 got mounted in the engine compartment, to starboard, running the bolts through the cabinet under the sink. The pump is perpendicular to it mounted on the panel adjacent to the engine cover. It was all pretty simple once I figured out the new pick up in the tank.

 

[bugbitten]

Here's the part number for the fuel pick up and return assembly.
W005-913-KIT Stainless Fuel Syphon Tube

 

[bugbitten]

Here's a shot of the new Racor (there's an old one that came with the boat that's mounted below the quarterberth's access - that one's still being used to filter the fuel going straight to the Yanmar) and the Parker pump.

 

[BobM]

A bonus feature of my new 12 gallon tank is that I can pull it in about 15 minutes if I ever need to clean out sediment.

 

[bugbitten]

A bonus feature of my new 12 gallon tank is that I can pull it in about 15 minutes if I ever need to clean out sediment.

I figure I'll go your route sooner than later, but I'd bought all this junk a couple of years ago when I was even more of a tyro than now, so I figured I might as well put it in there.

I am sort of looking forward to yanking that aluminum tank, as I really want to get the old water heater out and put in a new one that will take advantage of engine heat. I like to get the boat out year-round, and hot water would be nice!

John

 

[BobM]

Sounds like a plan. I need to do something to help with cold starts. I was out so late that I am in pole position and going in whether I like it or not!

 

[bugbitten]

Made one modest modification to the fuel polishing set up. I'd lost the prime to the pump during some rather raucous sailing conditions (may just have been coincidental). To make it easier to reprime (and this is something I think Parker recommends), I put a Sierra priming bulb in the line just above the pump's output port. Took just a few squeezes to refill the system with fuel, and off she went.

Got in a nice sail with the wife yesterday. A lot more subdued than last month's ten-hour marathon, thank heavens.

As far as cold starts go, I have a small heater aimed at the engine for when it's really cold. Generally keeps the block close to fifty degrees, even in the coldest weather (and here in Virginia last winter we saw single-digit temps). I open the throttle just about all the way, usually have two of the three battery banks online, and the Yanmar will generally start w/o too much fuss.

John