Okay, so I decided to do a bit of preventative maintenance on my newly purchased 1979 H33... After changing my oil, my oil and air filters, and installing a new raw water strainer. The engine ran fine. Then, I decided it was time to clean the fuel system. I tossed the primary Racor fuel filter upon discovering it to be completely filthy. This led me to pump-out the 3 gallons of remaining diesel (and accumulated sludge) that was in the tank and replace with fresh diesel. Likewise the element on the yanmar fuel filter was beyond it's time. Now this is where my problem arose. I went to my yanmar parts supplier and was certain to purchase the correct filter element (104500-55710). However, upon attempting to install the new filter element I discover that it is very tiny bit longer than the old one. Guessing I'd say 2-4mm. The thing is just a wee-bit too long to enable me to thread the filter bowl onto its base. I went at it for a good 10 minutes to no avail. I returned to the Yanmar parts store and purchased another filter element (thinking of course that there must have been some minor manufacturing defect with the first). The second is exactly the same and my problem remains. I cannot get the bowl to fit over the existing element. I know the filter must fit exactly in place and I'm certain that it is. ANY IDEAS? Will the new paper filter shrink a tiny bit if I let it soak in diesel? -Marvin