Racor Filter as Source of Hard Starting

[Christian Williams]

A month ago the engine wouldn't start. Sounded like no fuel. I opened the Racor 500 filter assembly and noticed less than half fuel in the filter chamber. I topped it off and the engine started.

Today, same thing. I figured an air leak in the Racor was the issue, and topped it off with diesel again. Engine started immediately.

I determined to buy new gaskets for lid and stem.

Then I remembered that every Racor 500 filter comes with new gaskets, to be changed out each time.

The filter I put in a year ago was loose--not in its bag. No replacement gaskets.

Apparently new gaskets are important. My old ones looked fine, but weren't. Air was getting in.

 

[jtsai]

Another possible culprit of the half empty Racor 500 filter chamber is a worn out check valve seal. The cone shaped seal and a stainless steel ball in the Racor 500 function as the internal check valve that prevent fuel from draining out of the filter and back into the supply line when the engine is shut off. These parts are included in the Racor rebuilt kit.

See article below:

https://www.parker.com/content/dam/Parker-com/Literature/Racor/Articles/Passage_Maker_Troubleshooter_Jan-Feb_2015.pdf

 

[Christian Williams]

That is an excellent article by Zimmerman, and makes me think you may be right about the check ball in the unit. My Racor 500 series came with the boat, and may be more than 20 years old. It doesn;t have the flame shield now required, and is probablly due for replacement anyhow.

I'll monitor to see whether new gaskets really did solve the problem.