Moving down my list of things to accomplish this season I have a new Racor filter to install on my 1985 Hunter 31. I know there is a primary filter in the deep cockpit lazerette as well as a secondary filter in the engine compartment. Because of its location (and my size), I have never actually seen the primary filter, nor changed the element. Judging from the dirt I find in the folds of the secondary filters that I have replaced, I am sailing on borrowed time! Anyway, I plan to install the new Racor and remove the old primary filter in the lazerette. My questions are: 1.Where is a good location for the new Racer. It is important that it be located in a place where it is easy to service, so it does get serviced regularly. My best idea is under the galley sink. Any other good ideas out there with respect to location? 2.I will have to send someone with limited technical knowledge down into the lazerette to remove the old fuel filter. Can someone describe to me what is truly there and what I’ll need to remove it? Is it a metal fuel line with rubber pigtails that tie in the filter ends? Will a long piece of rubber fuel line tubing with stainless hose clamps do the job? Anyone know the diameters of fuel line we are talking about? Any special tricks to remove the old filter casing? Do I need to drain the tank? Are there shutoff valves anywhere? Any help is greatly appreciated. Paul
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Location
I'm sure that you will get a lot of opinions on the location for your new filter and here are mine. First of all you are indeed living on borrowed time and should get rid of your old filter. I would also suggest trying to clean out your tank. There should be a fuel shut off valve on the top of your fuel tank - right where the fuel line exits. I would recommend placing the new filter at a level lower than the tank - so that fuel will have a gravity assist. That will also make it easier to bleed the filter when you change the element. The danger is that any leak in the filter or gaskets will drip-drip-drip. If your new filter is higher than the tank, you will need a primer pump to fill the filter and any leak will suck air. Some Racor filters have such a priming pump or you can install a outboard type primer bulb between the tank and the filter. Most of the fuel lines I have encountered on Hunters are rubber hoses with 1/4" ID.
I'm sure that you will get a lot of opinions on the location for your new filter and here are mine. First of all you are indeed living on borrowed time and should get rid of your old filter. I would also suggest trying to clean out your tank. There should be a fuel shut off valve on the top of your fuel tank - right where the fuel line exits. I would recommend placing the new filter at a level lower than the tank - so that fuel will have a gravity assist. That will also make it easier to bleed the filter when you change the element. The danger is that any leak in the filter or gaskets will drip-drip-drip. If your new filter is higher than the tank, you will need a primer pump to fill the filter and any leak will suck air. Some Racor filters have such a priming pump or you can install a outboard type primer bulb between the tank and the filter. Most of the fuel lines I have encountered on Hunters are rubber hoses with 1/4" ID.
Clean the tank
Absolutely. I did the job this weekend. My 83 H34 had about a half cup of REALLY gungy crud in the bottom. The pail I put it in looked like I had been claening the eavetrough. There was plenty to overload the filter at the worst time.
Absolutely. I did the job this weekend. My 83 H34 had about a half cup of REALLY gungy crud in the bottom. The pail I put it in looked like I had been claening the eavetrough. There was plenty to overload the filter at the worst time.
What I did
I cut a hole in the top 5"X5" positioned so I could reach anywhere inside the tank. First I syphoned as much of the fuel out and into a garbage pail and my extra 5 gal container( of course the tank was filled for the winter!). I did this by running a piece of garden hose out thru the cockpit drain hose which on the 34 is right above the tank in the starboard locker.The boat is on the cradle on the hard. I cut the hole with a utility knife- it is a poly tank about 3/16 thick. Easy cutting. I dipped out the muck that was left- about 1/2 gal- then sponged the rest out. I then wiped with paper towels until the towels came out clean I covered the square opening with a piece of 1/8 Lexan that was 7 1/2 square. Drilled 3 holes between each corner hole- so the holes are about 1-2 in apart. Cleaned the tank top around the hole with methol alchol and used two beads of Permatex automotive gasket sealant and 1/2" screws. I drilled holes in the Lexan about 5/8" from the edge just larger than the screws and holes into the tank top quite a bit smaller so the threads will cut in to the tank plastic. I fitted and screwed down the Lexan without the gasket sealer first so as to cut the threads. I then cleaned the tank thoroughly again to get all the plastic bits from drilling and screwing. I did not tighten the screws down hard,because the Lexan is clear I can see that the gasket sealant has made a good seal with the Lexan When it is dry ( this week) I may snug it down a bit. You will feel the job well worth it when you see what is in your tank!! Good luck
I cut a hole in the top 5"X5" positioned so I could reach anywhere inside the tank. First I syphoned as much of the fuel out and into a garbage pail and my extra 5 gal container( of course the tank was filled for the winter!). I did this by running a piece of garden hose out thru the cockpit drain hose which on the 34 is right above the tank in the starboard locker.The boat is on the cradle on the hard. I cut the hole with a utility knife- it is a poly tank about 3/16 thick. Easy cutting. I dipped out the muck that was left- about 1/2 gal- then sponged the rest out. I then wiped with paper towels until the towels came out clean I covered the square opening with a piece of 1/8 Lexan that was 7 1/2 square. Drilled 3 holes between each corner hole- so the holes are about 1-2 in apart. Cleaned the tank top around the hole with methol alchol and used two beads of Permatex automotive gasket sealant and 1/2" screws. I drilled holes in the Lexan about 5/8" from the edge just larger than the screws and holes into the tank top quite a bit smaller so the threads will cut in to the tank plastic. I fitted and screwed down the Lexan without the gasket sealer first so as to cut the threads. I then cleaned the tank thoroughly again to get all the plastic bits from drilling and screwing. I did not tighten the screws down hard,because the Lexan is clear I can see that the gasket sealant has made a good seal with the Lexan When it is dry ( this week) I may snug it down a bit. You will feel the job well worth it when you see what is in your tank!! Good luck
Best Thing Since Cold Beer
Best thing I ever did to our 87 Hunter 31. I installed the Racor R200R filter housing with the see-thru bowl on the bottom of the filter, and the primer pump, (Racor# 215R2). I use the 120 2 Micron filter. The see thru bowl on the bottom is great. You can see if you have any junk or water in your fuel. Location, I put mine on the wood bulkhead between the engine room and the starboard lazerette. I have to suck up, but can get down in there to service it. My advice is to put all new fuel lines while you are at it, and most important of all, CLEAN the TANK. You will not be sorry. Under the galley sink sounds like a good place. Let us know how it comes out.
Best thing I ever did to our 87 Hunter 31. I installed the Racor R200R filter housing with the see-thru bowl on the bottom of the filter, and the primer pump, (Racor# 215R2). I use the 120 2 Micron filter. The see thru bowl on the bottom is great. You can see if you have any junk or water in your fuel. Location, I put mine on the wood bulkhead between the engine room and the starboard lazerette. I have to suck up, but can get down in there to service it. My advice is to put all new fuel lines while you are at it, and most important of all, CLEAN the TANK. You will not be sorry. Under the galley sink sounds like a good place. Let us know how it comes out.
New Yanmar fuel filter and mount
I can just barely fit in out lazarette so I did not want to go in there more than necessary. I put two sister beams vertically on the bulkhead between the lazerette and the rear berth. Then I cut a 12" round hole in the bulkhead between the beams. Now I can reach the new Yanmar Fuel Filter that Racine Riverside Marine installed in my lazarette. The Yanmar is a Racor and takes Racor filter elements but it also has a built-in pump for bleeding the fuel lines. I can lay on the rear berth, remove the cover of the port and see the clear reservoir under the filter, drain any water, or pump to bleed the lines. Works great.
I can just barely fit in out lazarette so I did not want to go in there more than necessary. I put two sister beams vertically on the bulkhead between the lazerette and the rear berth. Then I cut a 12" round hole in the bulkhead between the beams. Now I can reach the new Yanmar Fuel Filter that Racine Riverside Marine installed in my lazarette. The Yanmar is a Racor and takes Racor filter elements but it also has a built-in pump for bleeding the fuel lines. I can lay on the rear berth, remove the cover of the port and see the clear reservoir under the filter, drain any water, or pump to bleed the lines. Works great.
Thanks, Richard!
I've been pondering the fuel tank cleaning problem for a while - we suffered engine cutout in rolly seas a couple of times last year - and now I have a tested process
Did you remove the tank? (I'm assuming you didn't) Your 1/2" screws - that's 1/2" long - I'm assuming stainless #10? Thanks. Robert, I can't remember where I saw it, but when I was replacing the filter on my Racor R200R I remember reading several places that I should use the 10 micron filter. Sorry I don't remember where. Cheers, Bob
I've been pondering the fuel tank cleaning problem for a while - we suffered engine cutout in rolly seas a couple of times last year - and now I have a tested process
Did you remove the tank? (I'm assuming you didn't) Your 1/2" screws - that's 1/2" long - I'm assuming stainless #10? Thanks. Robert, I can't remember where I saw it, but when I was replacing the filter on my Racor R200R I remember reading several places that I should use the 10 micron filter. Sorry I don't remember where. Cheers, BobSo I went and looked and found it!
I was bothered by not knowing where I saw the 10 micron filter recommendation, so I looked. Here's the link. The whole site is great info on Yanmars, too. Cheers, Bob
I was bothered by not knowing where I saw the 10 micron filter recommendation, so I looked. Here's the link. The whole site is great info on Yanmars, too. Cheers, Bob
I didnt want to test that way!
I was pretty sure mine was dirty but had no idea it was THAT dirty!! No did not remove the tank- difficult inthe H34 - but if you could it would make the job very easy I used 1/2 pan head sheet metal screws- I think they were 6 or 8. the wall of the poly tank was only about 3/16 and the cover was 1/8 lexan. I did not need them sticking way down in the tank. Dry fit the cover and screw it down, then remove and claen out the bits of plastic from the screws cutting their own threads.
I was pretty sure mine was dirty but had no idea it was THAT dirty!! No did not remove the tank- difficult inthe H34 - but if you could it would make the job very easy I used 1/2 pan head sheet metal screws- I think they were 6 or 8. the wall of the poly tank was only about 3/16 and the cover was 1/8 lexan. I did not need them sticking way down in the tank. Dry fit the cover and screw it down, then remove and claen out the bits of plastic from the screws cutting their own threads.
Thanks, Richard
I took a look today, and there's only about 8 inches above the tank to work with... I don't think that will be enough. The tank isn't coming out through the starboard cockpit seat - the tank is 12" x 16" and the opening isn't that large. So I'm stuck with going in through the lazarette locker.... I didn't have time to pull all the dive gear etc out of it, but I"M sure the floor will come up... yuck! More fun with the boat! Cheers, Bob
I took a look today, and there's only about 8 inches above the tank to work with... I don't think that will be enough. The tank isn't coming out through the starboard cockpit seat - the tank is 12" x 16" and the opening isn't that large. So I'm stuck with going in through the lazarette locker.... I didn't have time to pull all the dive gear etc out of it, but I"M sure the floor will come up... yuck! More fun with the boat! Cheers, Bob
Thanks for the site info
Bob W. Thanks for the site info. on Diesel. I have a Raycor 110 with a 10 micron filter. I'm thinking about putting a larger Raycor filter with a see thru bowl,I was over at Beacon Marine Sunday looking at them. Went to Catalina last summer was about six hours out and plug the primary filter in calm seas? I sail/motor to Santa Cruz anchor for the night and have never clog a filter?
Bob W. Thanks for the site info. on Diesel. I have a Raycor 110 with a 10 micron filter. I'm thinking about putting a larger Raycor filter with a see thru bowl,I was over at Beacon Marine Sunday looking at them. Went to Catalina last summer was about six hours out and plug the primary filter in calm seas? I sail/motor to Santa Cruz anchor for the night and have never clog a filter?
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