Fuel-Air Separator
Warren Updike wrote:
After my first tiny spill
during my first fillup I read the BoatUS
foundation article http://www.boatus.com/foundation/Findings/findings40/
and bought the Racor LG100 Air/Fuel Separator. It works as advertised. As
named, it separates air and vapors from liquid fuel returning the fuel and
venting the air/vapors. If there is too much fuel, a floating ball valve stops
the venting. I highly recommend this device. Considering the fines for fuel
spills and the pressure on marina operators to report spills this is one area
where penny wise and pound foolish doesn't pay. The best solutions are rarely
the least expensive.
I found that the action of
the LG100 may enhance the automatic shut-off in the fuel delivery nozzle
further by increasing
back-pressure inhibiting the blow-back of
fuel from the filler pipe.
In the LG100 box is nearly
everything needed to install including two very sturdy wire ties, hose clamps,
and a 90 deg elbow for entrance or exit of the LG100. I found I needed to use
the elbow for the entrance connection. The only other parts I needed were 2 or
3 add'l wire ties to replace the tape I removed from
the fuel and vent hoses.
Installation was rather easy
and took only about 1/2 hour to prepare and execute. On our hull #62, there is
a platform in the starboard cockpit locker over the fuel tank. The fuel filler
hose and vent hose run together there up against the hull. In fact, I found the
hoses taped together. I cut the tape, disconnected the vent hose from the vent
thru-hull, and cut a section out of the vent hose (I didn't measure what I removed, maybe it was 5 or 6".) After inserting the hose
on the LG100, tighting the clamps, securing the hoses
with the extra wire ties, and securing the device to the hoses with the
supplied wire ties I was done.
The hardest part was fitting
my body in to do the installation. Here is how I did that. I entered the locker
facing to port with my legs going over the shelf into the space behind the
rudder post. Once sitting thusly on the shelf, an additional butt shift to port
enabled my 6'2" 185lb frame to recline completely into the locker.
Yes, I was upside-down and
had to do the work that way; but, it was comfortable and I could reach and do
all that was needed. If you are very long in the frame or very wide you may
find it difficult to enter or worse exit the locker in which case I suggest you
enlist the help of a smaller comrade to do the actual work.
Someone mentioned installing
additional hose to create a loop above the thru-hull vent, I think is a good
idea. This is the time to do that and all you would need would be a longer
piece of hose from the top of the LG100 to the thru-hull vent.
Now when I refuel, I
estimate how much I'll be filling, keep a fuel absorbing mat close to the
filler pipe, and don't fill enough to activate the automatic shut-off of the
fuel nozzle. Problem solved.
Does the LG100 need to be
installed vertically? I have a later model (hull 653) and when I examined the
hoses yesterday, they were not even approximately vertical as they approached
the vent fitting. I think I might have to rig some kind of bracket to support
the LG100 approximately vertical and then install the loop to deck level above
it. Is there any chance you could put a picture of your installation on the web
site?
Scott Thompson
Surprise, 653.
scott:
i didn't see anyhting that said vertical only, did you?
russ
#621
I found some technical
documentation for the LG50 and LG100 on the Racor
website that reads (in part) "These units must be installed vertically (or
up to 60 degrees from vertical) in the vent line with the arrow pointing UP
(towards vent)." This makes sense
since the internal operation of this unit is dependent on gravity. There is a float valve, for example. The vent hose in my boat in the vicinity of the
fuel vent must be fairly close the the 60 degree
limit mentioned in the documentation.
The Racor
catalog also lists a part No. RK50023 described as
LG100 2-piece Steel Mounting Bracket.
But no picture is shown.
Reference: http://www.parker.com/racor/pdf/7480F-Marine.pdf
------------------
T. Scott Thompson
sthompson@toad.net