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09-01-2018, 06:57
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#1
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Moderator

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: The boat: Cowes (Winter), Above 60N (Summer); me: somewhere in the air!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 23,108
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Racor Copy made by Katsu?
Anyone used these Chinese copies of Racor 500's?
https://www.aimtools.co.uk/products/...l-filter-fg500
I would not think it would be difficult to make a quality filter housing. These will apparently take the Racor 500 filter elements which I already use for my main engine.
I'm considering one of these for my generator as I'm having difficulty sourcing the spin-on filter elements for the existing filter. It would make sense to harmonize the filters so main and generator can use the same elements (and I keep a couple of cases of Racor filter elements in various grades on board).
But the cost of the single Racor 500FG strikes me as outrageous -- almost $300 over here. So maybe the Chinese copy would be acceptable for this use.
Otherwise I was considering one of the Delphi filter/water separators.
Anyone with any experience?
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"Parce que je suis heureux en mer, et peut-ętre pour sauver mon ame. . . "
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09-01-2018, 07:57
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Posts: 190
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
I ordered one off ebay trying to save some money over the Racor FG and ended up returning it because I couldn't find the correct sized fittings. There was a strange female thread size on it. Ended up returning it and shelling out the money for the authentic Racor.
In the link you supplied it looks like it comes as a package with the fittings so probably won't have an issue. The one I ordered off ebay didn't have fittings.
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09-01-2018, 08:05
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: South-West Sweden
Boat: Maxi 999
Posts: 33
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
I have some experience with these; my (new to me) boat had one installed (PO did it).
It leaked, from somewhere impossible to see. I ordered a new one from eBay (I found the original version too expensive), and replaced it.
Turns out the PO had mangled the pipe fittings so badly that the leak was there... I could have re-used it I suppose but I simply saved some of the parts and threw it away.
Having seen two of these I find the quality so-so, the one the PO had put in had a very rough body and badly cast bolt holes. The replacement I bought was quite OK.
I suppose it is a bit of a hit and miss with these...
I'd recommend going for the version with a plastic valve at the bottom (the one you link to). The metal variant seemed much harder to use (PO version).
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09-01-2018, 09:18
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Annapolis MD; currently in St. Augustine FL
Boat: Valiant 40
Posts: 4,302
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
Quote:
Originally Posted by WSMFP
I ordered one off ebay trying to save some money over the Racor FG and ended up returning it because I couldn't find the correct sized fittings. There was a strange female thread size on it. Ended up returning it and shelling out the money for the authentic Racor.
In the link you supplied it looks like it comes as a package with the fittings so probably won't have an issue. The one I ordered off ebay didn't have fittings.
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That points to it being a direct clone of the older Racors, which had straight pipe fitting threads for some bizarre reason, which required you to buy and adapter for them.
Personally I would not buy a Chinese clone, in principal, for the purposes of saving a few bucks. When a company makes a good product and someone comes along and basically steals the design and undercuts them, in the long run everyone loses.
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09-01-2018, 09:47
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#5
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Moderator

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: The boat: Cowes (Winter), Above 60N (Summer); me: somewhere in the air!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 23,108
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suijin
That points to it being a direct clone of the older Racors, which had straight pipe fitting threads for some bizarre reason, which required you to buy and adapter for them.
Personally I would not buy a Chinese clone, in principal, for the purposes of saving a few bucks. When a company makes a good product and someone comes along and basically steals the design and undercuts them, in the long run everyone loses.
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It's more than "a few bucks"; $50 vs $300. I have spent a lot of money on Racor filters and the expensive filter elements over the years; I would not feel too bad for Parker if I did buy a Chinese clone. But it's not worth it if there are quality problems. I'm not greatly inspired by the answers I've gotten (for which thanks to all who replied!).
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"Parce que je suis heureux en mer, et peut-ętre pour sauver mon ame. . . "
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09-01-2018, 10:03
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Abaco, Bahamas/ Western NC
Boat: Nothing large at the moment
Posts: 907
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
Fuel supply is not the place to cheap out! You get what you pay for!
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09-01-2018, 10:52
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Easton, MD
Boat: Catalina 22 Capri, 15' Catboat, Bristol 35.5
Posts: 2,009
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
The Racor Snap series are convenient, inexpensive, and effective.
Snapp Filters - Racor
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09-01-2018, 12:56
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#8
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 13,575
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
I looked at the Chinese copies when I wanted to upgrade my engine filters to a dual filter setup. The price looked attractive but I ran into a number of negative reviews so decided against it. Good thing since I found an eBay deal on a genuine dual Racor 500 for less money than the Chinese copy.
As a result I have a new, unused Racor 500 that I bought thinking to cobble together my own dual system. Will make you a deal on it but shipping would probably cost more than the filter. Or, if you can wait a few months I'll be passing through London Aug/Sept and I'll bring it to you.
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The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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09-01-2018, 13:28
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: the Med
Boat: Nauta 54' by Scott Kaufman/S&S - 1989
Posts: 1,168
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
Racor! No less
I tried to save on a GRIFFIN. I had problems and paid for it. Their spherical ball is plastic and floats.
Racor design has aluminium ball working by gravity. What I saved l spent on the mechanic.
No more mistakes.
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09-01-2018, 15:00
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: the Med
Boat: Nauta 54' by Scott Kaufman/S&S - 1989
Posts: 1,168
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
I am in London soon.
I have written to the importer, and l will try to check the product personally
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09-01-2018, 17:26
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#11
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Highlands, NJ 07732
Boat: Laurent Giles Salar 40
Posts: 273
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
I also endorse the RACOR's SNAPP filter Have had them on my polishing system for 18 months
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10-01-2018, 03:49
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#12
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Moderator

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: The boat: Cowes (Winter), Above 60N (Summer); me: somewhere in the air!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 23,108
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheThunderbird
I am in London soon.
I have written to the importer, and l will try to check the product personally
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Great; please let us know.
__________________
"Parce que je suis heureux en mer, et peut-ętre pour sauver mon ame. . . "
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10-01-2018, 13:52
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florida
Boat: Scout 30
Posts: 2,936
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
I agree, this is the wrong place to save money. I installed the Racor dual filter system with the valve & pressure gauge. Really great quality & well worth what I paid for it.
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10-01-2018, 15:54
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#14
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,369
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
i love my racor 500fg both of em. i can change cartridge without breaking prime. awesome invention.
have had em 3 yrs and bought em for 6500 pesos together, when peso was 16.25 to one.
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10-01-2018, 16:35
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 94
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Re: Racor Copy made by Katsu?
Dont waste your time with this crap. Had a friend buy one and the casting was rough with dodgy threads. Saved him about $100. You can buy from Defender etc for about $200 from memory. False economy!
Andrew
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