Clean Fuel
Yesterday’s project: Change primary and secondary fuel filters in both engines.
I find it hard to imagine how someone a lot larger than my 5′ 8″, 160 lb. frame could do jobs like this.
Time to be changed? I would say so!
Unfortunately, I ignored my “don’t touch it” policy and ended up breaking off a bolt. The screw extractor did not do the job for me. 🙁
Time to research Diesel and Biocides.
Your FB today mentioned an attack in Tobago! Not Trini? I’ve always felt that Tobago was safe from what I’ve read. And Union Island? Which anchorage – we’ve stayed off Frigate Island and in Chatham Bay. Was it one of those?
Anyway, not good to hear. Stay safe and have fun!
Why would you ask this question here when I posted about it on Facebook?
Yes, Tobago, in Bloody Bay.
Ashton Harbor, Union, behind Frigate Island.
I don’t have FB Mike, just noticed it on Twitter. A bit scary and a good reminder to keep your awareness level high. Thanks.
That makes since then. Sorry.
I’m sorry about the screw extractor. I had the same issue with the, so I avoid them like the plague. The screw extractor is always harder to drill out then the original bolt.
Is this on the Racor housing?
Can you take it to a machine shop (ha!) and have them drill it out?
Yes, it was on the Racor housing. One of the 4 bolts which hold the bowl on sheered off when I tried to remove it. The problem with removing it is that the screw bit kept wanting to go to the material around the bolt and not the bolt itself. I ended up drilling another hole and using a self-tapping screw to hold it on. All is well now.
Thanks for your daily posts! You provide a little sunshine in my day. Been following you for about 1.5 years.
Thanks, Sam. That’s nice.
Yes– There’s been times when I’ve been working on boats that I wished I was a small china man… I’m 6’3 & 210…
Being tall is an advantage in some situations. Just not when trying to squeeze into little lockers.
Oh, tall and big guys can manage these jobs too, they just involve way more swearing and banging your head. Not necessarily in that order.
I can imagine. 🙂
Some times you just have to be a contortionist!!
So it seems.
I’ve had my share of screw-endectomies! I once owned a 1980 Triumph TR7. For a car coming from a rainy land like the UK you’d think it wouldn’t rust as much as it did!
🙂
Do you have a vacuum gauge on the Racor? Otherwise, what makes you decide it’s time to change the filter?
Vacuum gauges: no, but I plan to install them.
Why change: there was visible sludge in the bowls plus I have no idea when they were last changed. Now I have a starting point.
That’s an excellent reason. I used to change them based on a time interval. With the gauges I found that I was changing them way too often (and they aren’t cheap). I like watching them get used properly now and if I get some cruddy fuel somewhere, it’ll get picked up quickly where I would have missed it previously.
So, you feel the vacuum gauges led you to change them TOO frequently? Interesting. I thought it might be the opposite.