Fuel Filter Duplication Project

By the time all the Christmas mayhem was behind us The Bloke was twitching for the arrival of a package containing his duel filter kit. Despite being at the end of any Australian transport routes, it arrived in Hobart promptly. 

The package arrived with filters, taps and hose clips.

A bit of shopping for screws, bolts and hoses and The Bloke was good to go.

It pays to chat about proposed boat projects because it turned out that Chris from Bilbungara had embarked on the very same one. In fact, he was somewhat further progressed. While we were at it,  why not move the entire assembly to the engine bay so the filters could be more easily accessed for checking and servicing, was his suggestion? The existing set-up had the filter beneath our bunk. To get to it all, the bedding needed to be removed and the bunk disassembled and even then it was in a fiddly spot to work on. Accessing fuel filters is hardly something you want to be attempting in a heaving sea and bad enough at routine services when tied up against something hard and stabilizing. This presented a good opportunity to improve access. 

The Bloke scavenged some marine ply from the hard-stand work area bins, cut out a mounting board with slots to accommodate the tap levers then painted it silver. Painting was intended not just to look good but to prevent it absorbing any diesel spills which would smell awful. The engine bay is separated from our cabin only by a panel.

Filters attached to the mounting board

Reverse side of the mounting board where the lever operated taps are fitted

Mounting in profile. 

Long bolts in hose cutt-offs acting as spacers to hold the mounting off the engine bay wall.
  

Of course it took a little longer than planned but there is really no such thing as quick job on a yacht. The process was estimated to take a couple of days. A week later and after the typical time blow-out obtaining extra parts and fittings it was all in place and ready for testing.

  

  

 Side profile (L) and Top view (R)of assembly within the engine bay.

Close-up of slot to operate the tap-levers.

The engineering for this job was as complicated as The Bloke had ever experienced because the entire arrangement had to fit into a particular and tight space. The tolerances were within 5 -10 mm.  The assembly had to miss an engine mount plus the panel enclosing the engine bay still need to close. Once installed it all came together, which only goes to prove luck will win out over talent every time. 

POST SCRIPT : The accelerator cable needed to be restrained with a cable tie to avoid vibration chafe. The most recent engine service proved the efficacy of the relocated filters. Winning.