Click for Burger Click for Perko Click for Abeking Click for JetForums Click for Delta

Question for the Old Salts

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by nealkeith, Sep 26, 2009.

Page 2 of 2
  1. Marmot, Sep 29, 2009
    #21
    Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2007
    Messages:
    3,300
    Location:
    9114 S. Central Ave
    It does sound a bit weird. Racor (Parker) still says to fill the cannister before putting the lid on. On the older Racor "turbine" units, the center tube had the outlet opening at the top. I see that newer models have the outlet at the bottom of the tube so depending on the part number, fuel either exits top or bottom of the interior of the element.

    Leaving air in the cannister is an invitation to admit air to the fuel system downstream of the filter, especially if the outlet is at the top. I don't see what is gained by not filling it. As far as the fuel level being down when opened, it had to leak back or get sucked in because fuel doesn't make air and Racors don't collect "off gassing" from fuel.

    I have changed a lot of Racor elements but have never seen one half dirty. One left to sit for a long time with nasty contaminated fuel in it will be dirtier on the bottom just because crud is heavier and it settles there.
  2. NYCAP123, Sep 29, 2009
    #22
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,210
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Leaving the canister 1/2 empty is an invitation to vapor lock. It always has to be filled. But it sounds like Capt. J was saying that the fuel is only drawn through the bottom half. I can understand the theory, but I've never noticed it and it doesn't sound efficient.
  3. Capt J, Sep 30, 2009
    #23
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,594
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    No, always fill the racor to the top when changing filters. Everytime I check a racor that's not dirty, fuel is never to the top of the canister and only about the bottom half of the filter will be black and the top half will be clean. The level always seems to work its way down. The racor uses the bottom half of the filter to filter, then as the filter gets dirty the fuel works it's way up the element and it uses more and more of the filter until the entire filter is dirty and the fuel level is at the top. Where the air comes from in the filter housing I have no idea.......but on tons of racors, the only time I see the fuel level at the top is when the element is totally dirty. I always shut the fuel valves over before breaking open the racors, so the fuel isn't draining back......
  4. Henning, Sep 30, 2009
    #24
    Henning

    Henning Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2009
    Messages:
    940
    Location:
    Ft Lauderdale FL
    There is no such thing as a 2 week weather window. Best you can predict with any certainty is 4 days. You have plenty of places to tuck and hide along your route that you are never more than about 6-10 hrs from a secure enough anchorage in your boat and 2 days from a proper hurricane hole, and that much notice you'll have from a major storm. Just go, keep your eyes and ears open and keep tabs on your barometer.... SSB is good for weather as well, Sci Tex makes a nice little receiver that lets you get all the weather products including weather faxes if you have the little demodulator to hook it to your laptop.
  5. Loren Schweizer, Sep 30, 2009
    #25
    Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2004
    Messages:
    1,352
    Location:
    Coral Gables/Ft. Laud., FL
  6. nealkeith, Sep 30, 2009
    #26
    nealkeith

    nealkeith New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    Messages:
    27
    Location:
    Houston Bay
    Fresh water

    The fresh water polishing was a joke. Ha. Ha. As a Diesel and gas boat mechanic I am aware of using the biocidal treatments, but do to having to leave fast I didn't put any in. So polishing may be the way to go, as far as when she is running she drinks it so fast there is no time for growth! :)
  7. Loren Schweizer, Sep 30, 2009
    #27
    Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2004
    Messages:
    1,352
    Location:
    Coral Gables/Ft. Laud., FL
  8. nealkeith, Oct 3, 2009
    #28
    nealkeith

    nealkeith New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    Messages:
    27
    Location:
    Houston Bay
    On the boat!

    When I came aboard nothing worked! I got 2 ACs going, all the battery chargers going, one fridge for cold beer, you have to have your priority's right! Now have five ACs going all the lights, music, no water but I should have that fixed today. The Marina here has a new manager and they are going to haul my boat for free! So clean bottom, clean raw water intakes new prop shaft packing! Fuel looks good! I can get away with new filters.
    Should be motoring by Wednesday, Thursday at the latest.
    Neal
  9. NYCAP123, Oct 3, 2009
    #29
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2008
    Messages:
    11,210
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Don't forget a good shake-down cruise before heading out on your journey.
  10. nealkeith, Oct 3, 2009
    #30
    nealkeith

    nealkeith New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    Messages:
    27
    Location:
    Houston Bay
    On the Boat

    I always do sea trials before heading out, except for the last time. One engine 14 ft seas at night! But I had lost a week in Venezuala for paper work when I bought the boat, and wasn't allowed to take the boat out (paper) so when I lost an engine 3 hours out, I said piss on it, Trinidad has to be better, and it was! God takes care of drunks and idiots!
    Neal
  11. nealkeith, Oct 7, 2009
    #31
    nealkeith

    nealkeith New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    Messages:
    27
    Location:
    Houston Bay
    Update on "Cleared For Take Off"

    Just had my boat hauled here in Saint Lucia, Rodney Bay Marina/Boat Yard, Edwin took good care of us. We had to tow her into the boat yard, I had only the port engine going to get us to the boat lift. We hauled her out on the second try, just lifted her enough to make sure we weren't on the shafts, didn't realize the keel would keep the nylon lifting slings away from the shafts. Had to replace three zincs, got a good hull, prop cleaning, replaced the packing with new 5/16 in teflon packing. Started at 10:00 a.m. finished at 2:30 p.m. back in the water no leaks, not bad for a 60 footer! Both gennies going, still have a fresh water pump problem, we'll get her sorted. Got some weather out there we'll keep an eye on the situation. Thanks for everybody's help getting this far!
    Regards,
    Neal
  12. hat4349, Oct 29, 2009
    #32
    hat4349

    hat4349 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2005
    Messages:
    249
    Location:
    Tampa, Florida
    Still in Saint Lucia or have you moved on?

    What is your current status, still motoring, made it to home port, or in still in Saint Lucia?
  13. dennismc, Oct 29, 2009
    #33
    dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2009
    Messages:
    1,178
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    My Racors are always full when checked, even when the element is clean, the only time I seen a partially full racor was when I had air leak in the system and the filter drained down about 2 ", generator quit, logic would dictate that a partially full racor has air in the canister, death to diesel engine running unless all I was told by DDA and Parker Hannifin tech support was incorrect.
    Just my 2c, ....
  14. nealkeith, Nov 12, 2009
    #34
    nealkeith

    nealkeith New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2009
    Messages:
    27
    Location:
    Houston Bay
    Still on the way!

    In St. Croix going to Puerto Rico.
Page 2 of 2