F#*$*** FCC bowl is TIGHT!!!

[Miljack]

Well,
I have now had the pleasure of ATTEMPTING to remove the fuel filter cover for the FCC. I can attest to those who have had trouble removing this thing.
Broke a chain style oil filter wrench. Went to get the strap style filter wrench which utilizes a 1/2" breaker bar, no dice. Gave up and removed from the boat/engine, I'll have to set it up in a vice and have another go.

1. I know PCM and CC are VERY conservative, but there's gotta be a better way! This is a regular maintenance item, and removing the whole assembly seems to be a waste of time.

2. When re-assembling, how much torque does there need to be to seal it properly?

3. Any other tips?

thanks,
Jack

[bkhallpass]

RE: F#*$*** FCC bowl is TIGHT!!!

HMM. Are you positive that it's not a left hand thread?? Don't know. Just guessing. BKH

[NCH2oSki]

RE: F#*$*** FCC bowl is TIGHT!!!

I tried the filter wrenches with no luck also. Then I borrowed a friends GIANT channel lock pliers. It was almost no effort to take it loose with them. It is all a mater of the correct leverage. Good luck.

[jhiestand]

Mine was crazy hard to get off, as well. Apparentlyl they're tight as all get-out from the factory, but should be easier after the first time.

According to the instructions NautiqueJeff posted it is a std counter-clockwise thread to remove.

Couple threads on it here.

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....l+control+cell

[bkhallpass]

Good info. BKH

[Grant_West]

Yes they are a pain to get off for the first time. I have seen them destroyed trying to take them off at west coast correct craft so dont feel bad even the pro's have a hard time getting them off if they have been on for some time. My'n came off easy it was hand tight. When serviced my'n for the first time I put a bit of oil/lube on the O-ring and again it spun right off when I wanted it to. Im guessing the Orange o-ring at the top of the filter gets dryed out and stuck to the top of the can get the direction right and do what you have to and mabey order a new one that's not all messed up from trying to take your old one off

[Miljack]

Ok, I got the bowl off of the FCC, but I had to resort to taking it out of the boat, clamped the bowl down in a big vice, used two old bolts in the mounting holes, and used a big pry bar to get it loose(thanks to Chris aka Wakejunky). I had to use about 60-70 pounds of force, on a 18" long pry bar! I think I had to rotate it about 120-180 degrees before it was finally free. ABSOLUTELY no way I could have removed this bowl from the FCC in the boat without taking the driver's seat out, and having two or three people to get it off!

A couple of observations;

1. This would be an easy maintenance item if PCM machined the bottom of the bowl to accept a common oil filter wrench.

2. If PCM was so worried about fuel leaks, they would have used fuel fittings that utilized crush washers, and not tapered pipe thread fittings.

3. The cool way to do this is with the aircraft/aerospace clamps, and two simple lips machined on each mating surface.

my $0.02

thanks for the help.
Jack

[EchoLodge]

Glad to hear I am not the only one. I changed one on my buddie's boat and had to use a wrench that had a 2 inch nylon strap and one foot bar. The guy I borrowed it from said it was made for diesel truck filters.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...lr%3D%26sa%3DN

[NautiqueJeff]

I have actually heard of dealerships who couldn't get the FCC apart. They took the entire part off of the engine and sent it back to the factory to have THEM remove it.

[Rock_Toy]

Wow, you guys weren't kidding. Spent about half and hour and broke a wrench before I gave up. Going to go for it again this weekend, but this time with a chain pipe wrench. A friend of mine said that they use those things on large diesel motor oil filters and it should get the job done. Anyone ever collapse the housing on one of these?

[EchoLodge]

wrench

I would try the one I used. The wide nylon strap will not crush the canister. The chain might!

[Mikeski]

RE: wrench

I have had the filter service kit on my shelf for over a year now. I may never service this thing. Keep in mind I don't run marina/Lake gas, I usually only run Chevron gas in my boat and refill from jugs I carry to the lake when needed. As an ex-employee of Chevron I know their micron filters should keep all particulates out of the system so I should not need to service the FCC.

What are you guys seeing when you remove the FCC? Is the filter dirty? Is there water in the bottom of the seperator? Am I making a mistake not servicing this in my boat with over 300 hours now?

[Mofugga08]

RE: wrench

Right there with you. Changing the fuel filter is **** on these boats. The first time, I had to remove the FCC from the boat, vice it, and twist it off with a 2-foot-long wrench. Ridiculous.

[8122pbrainard]

RE: wrench

I know this won't help with the removal the first time but it will the second time. Put some silicone grease on the O ring when installing the new filter. It won't wash out like oil will.

[Miljack]

Mike,
I also run gas from a decent known source (BP/Amoco) and when I changed my filter it was a mess! I don't know however how the original owner treated the boat(200hrs), so YMMV.
Your FCC may have the new style "aerospace" clamp, in that case you probably don't have to worry about trying to loosen the filter canister.
Jack