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Dual Racor fuel filters for 900 Mans

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by CSkipR, Sep 16, 2012.

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  1. CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

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    I change my racors approx every 100 hrs. Today I decided to remove the bottom brass plug on the racor to drain some diesel out to see if it had much sediment or any water. After removing the plug nothing came out of the hole so I screwed it back in. Do you have to remove or loosen the top of the cap to vent it for diesel to come out?
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    No, chances are you have a Blob of Algae blocking the drain hole.......take a wire tie and stick it up there, wiggle it around, and be prepared for the heavens of diesel fuel to open up and drain out.
  3. missnmountains

    missnmountains Member

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    Just an FYI: I added pep cocks to the bottom of my Racors so that I can easily drain an water without having to take that silly bowl off. You may have to remove the top anyway to top off the diesel.

    Ken
  4. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Hey Skip
    Was wondering what level of filtering you use on da mud filters. On the newer SeaRays with the Mans and dual Racors, I push for dual 10mic, 1000s.
    It's taken a few years of use but were using dual 10s on our ol Bertram now also.
    I'm a big believer in vacuum gages also.

    A pet-cock on the bottom of the filters with a hose or tube attached really makes life neater. Easy to drain down the Racor before changing elements.
  5. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I like the normal Racor thumb screw for safety reasons. I've seen many people bump the petcock while in the engine room and dump many gallons of diesel into the bilge......always connect the hose to the other racor or plug the hose......
  6. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    SkipR

    Shining a flash light behind the bowl helps to identify any contamination in the bowl aside from water. BTW do you ever feel your fuel flow is restricted with the racors at 10mm? My spin on is 10, but my racors are 30
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I have the dual 1000 Racors, then the original Detroit primary sock in a can or paper element filter, then the original Detroit spin-on secondary.
    I used the 30mics for years. Rigged up a polishing pump with a 12 hour timer that polished the fuel thru the 30s.
    A couple of years ago the 30s stayed clean but I started showing vacuum on the sock filter before the fuel pump. Went thru a few of those old filters, then started thinking about filtering more at the mud filters.
    20 mic are not available so went to the 10s.
    Life has been good since. I run with both 10s open, then the sock filter, then the spin-on. High flow, low vacuum all the way up.

    On the mans, I try to pass the same idea, 10s in the Racors, Factory spin-on filter with it's bowl, then the twin secondary elements. That Man primary is expensive so if the tanks are clean, save them and eat the 2020s if any trash is picked up.

    Of course, any good boy scout carries plenty of filters on board and knows how to quick service the filters when needed.
  8. CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

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    I have the twin 900 racors on both engines and normally run 10 micron filters although when I first got the boat I used 30 micron. I set the valve so the engine is pulling from both filters. From there is goes to the 10 micron spin on and then to the twin secondary 1 or 2 micron filters.
  9. CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

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    Based on a recent discussion with a Man rep I have gone to the 2 micron racor filters since they push the same amount of fuel through as 10 or 30 just have to change more often. This allows me to not have to change the 10 and 2 engine fuel filters on the engines.
  10. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I ml not a big fan of running dual racors with the valve set to both. If you suddenly get a batch of contaminated fuel you re going to clog both filters and end up dead in the water whereas if you are running just one, you will be able to switch on the fly and hopefully have time to come in or anchor out.

    I run 30microns racors on 3412Es and gensets one at a time and change them at every main oil change. I change th used one and switch to the one changed at the previous change.

    I change secondaries at every oil change too... Not sure how expensive MANs filters can be but if you're going to burn a few thousand gallons of diesel in 100hours, I don't see a few $ worth of secondaries to be worth saving.
  11. CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

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    Understand and many people do it that way. Man rep was the one suggesting using the 2 micron to save having to replace the engine fuel filters. They are approximately $400.
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You can use the 2 micron, but like Ralph said I would run off of 1 of the 2 filters. I would then have a 10 micron or 30 micron in the other. 10 at least. That way if the 2 does clog, the 10 or 30 should get you home.

    If you cannot see through the racor bowls and fuel won't drain out of the drain. You can stick a tie wrap up there and get them to drain a lot of times. I would highly recommend taking the bowls off and cleaning them, unscrewing the turbine assembly and cleaning that out, and then putting them back together with all new gaskets.
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Skip, That $400 for all filters and labor, rite?
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Just the filters (both motors) if they're common rails....... You have 2 secondaries for each motor at about $65 each ($260), then you have 1 primary/intermediate filter that is around $72 each. ($144 +/-). I haven't bought these filters in a year so I'm going off of memory

    Now I bet you really love those $28 D.D. secondaries you have 1 of don't you Ralph???
  15. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    If i m not mistaken, I paid $300 to $350 or so at the cat dealer for a full set of oil (2 per engines) and secondaries ( also 2 per engines) filters for the 1400hp 3412Es

    $400 for fuel alone is ridiculous.
  16. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I had to look the filters up.
    51.12503.0052 list $73.65 2 required
    51.12503-0061 list $46.62 4 required
    2020-TM-OR list $19.99 4 may be required

    So, With a little foot-in mouth, Over $400 in filters (list price) is rite.
    Sorry Skip

    Now, Shopping on the web, all can be had less than half price.

    I use the Donaldson filters on my Detroits. About half the price and in spec. Even cheaper when I can take my time and shop the web.
    Still use the Racor mud filters.

    If you shop and stock, you can save a lot.
    I shop and sell also.

    ,rc
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Well keep in mind you're paying the Euro exchange rate......so there's 40%, plus the shipping in customs duties. So there's something to be said for buying American! Don't forget the common rails have to have the Delvac full synthetic oil at $40 a gallon!!!!!!!!!!!! At the annual service for the 1100 Common rails I manage, the Racors are crystal clean as we have no algae in the fuel, I almost cry when I throw all of the secondary Man filters away and put new ones, but that's what's called for!!!
  18. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    How many gallons do they use. At $40 a gal I hope they don't use 20usg each like the 3412s...
  19. CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

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    My CR900s use 9 gals each engine, plus I use it in trans and generator. Yep expensive. Delvac 1 Mobile 5-40w
  20. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    The 1100's between 11-12 gallons per motor. Plus the oil filters aren't cheap either along with the necessary gaskets and crush washers etc......They're good if they're in a commercial setting as the book calls for the oil to be changed every year OR 400 hours........

    You should be using straight 40 weight in the gears.