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mlydon · 20-07-2015, 12:04

I was compemplating replacing the on-engine CAV filter, as changing the filter on the westerbeke w30 in an allied seawind II is nothing short of a mind-boggling pain in the balls - you can barely see the filter to begin with, then need to hang by your toes with wrenches fully extended to do ANYTHING with it, never mind being careful about contamination, etc.

Anyway,

the existing CAV filter appears to have 2 in and 2 out ports, plus a top vent.

fuel from the tank come into one entry point, return from the injector pump comes in the other, and one output goes to the injector pump, while the final 'port' is blanked off.

Injector return appears to go to the vent, where it connects to the tank return line.

It looks like I can easily do all this with a standard racor120a, with the exception of the vent hookup.

Can I use the second filter head output as 'vent'?
do I need to get an appropriate fitting for the racor vent plug (3/8-24) and use that for vent?

Do I need to acquire check valves so injector overflow doesn't go into the 'vent'?

Can I send injector overflow directly to the tank?

Has anyone done this?

TIA,

Matt

model 10 · 20-07-2015, 12:40

I have this cool spin on filter adapter that I was going to suggest. Turns out the company has discontinued it. There must be another?

**Wotname** · 21-07-2015, 03:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlydon

I was compemplating replacing the on-engine CAV filter, as changing the filter on the westerbeke w30 in an allied seawind II is nothing short of a mind-boggling pain in the balls - you can barely see the filter to begin with, then need to hang by your toes with wrenches fully extended to do ANYTHING with it, never mind being careful about contamination, etc.

Anyway,

the existing CAV filter appears to have 2 in and 2 out ports, plus a top vent.

fuel from the tank come into one entry point, return from the injector pump comes in the other, and one output goes to the injector pump, while the final 'port' is blanked off.

Injector return appears to go to the vent, where it connects to the tank return line.

It looks like I can easily do all this with a standard racor120a, with the exception of the vent hookup.

Can I use the second filter head output as 'vent'?
do I need to get an appropriate fitting for the racor vent plug (3/8-24) and use that for vent?

Do I need to acquire check valves so injector overflow doesn't go into the 'vent'?

Can I send injector overflow directly to the tank?

Has anyone done this?

TIA,

Matt

I can't answer all your questions but I can answer one!

Can I send injector overflow directly to the tank?

Yes, this a very normal arrangement.

Some say this is best practice but I can't vouch for that. I have read it is possible for the overflow fuel to get warm in some arrangements and so it is better for it to return to the tank. Again I have no personal experience of the fuel getting warm. But to repeat, it is quite OK for the fuel return to be piped back to the tank.

As far a the CAV ports are concerned, you can use any "IN" port and any "OUT" port that best suits your requirements. The unused ones are just blanked off. The one you describe as a "vent" is the bleeding point for the filter. I haven't seen it used for anything but bleeding but I guess it could be used??? Not sure which side of the filter it is on but it can't be hard to work out if you have to.

Another possibility is to leave the CAV filter on the engine untouched and put your Racor somewhere convenient (on a bulkhead or whatever) and use it as your main filter feeding filtered fuel into the CAV unit.

sanibel sailor · 21-07-2015, 14:24

Not an answer to your question, but...

My access is not bad, yours may be. I modified my W30 secondary filter in two ways to make life better. Pulled the bolts on the mounting bracket, added hex couplers and raised the entire assembly about 2 inches or so. Now I can get something under it to catch the fuel when it is time to change. And how about a drain? I drilled a spot on the base plate, tapped a hole and added a stopcock to be able to drain the fuel when changing.

I will also admit to replacing my fuel tank, fuel fill O-ring and all the hoses. Since then the fuel in the Racor has been perfect and I have not changed any filters in a couple of years. I have drained the Racor bowl a time or two and it remains good. I will see if I can post a pic.