Mercury Fuel/Water Separator: No Teflon Tape?

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  Mercury Fuel/Water Separator: No Teflon Tape?

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Author Topic:   Mercury Fuel/Water Separator: No Teflon Tape?

Maximus posted 04-12-2005 08:17 PM ET (US)
I'm in the process of gathering materials to install a Mercury fuel/water separator on my 170 Montauk.
Why does the fuel/water separator instruction manual call out explicitly that Teflon Tape not be used on the 1/4" NPT barbed fittings?
They call out Loctite (TM) Thread Sealant with Teflon. As you may have guess, I haven't had good luck finding this type of Loctite.
It looks like I will be mounting the assembly on the inside of the engine bilge/well area, facing astern. Anyone have any better suggetions? Also, there appears to be enough extra slack in the factory fuel line rigging to accomodate the setup.
johnr posted 04-12-2005 09:49 PM ET (US)
You can use the liquid tape and try to find the new stailess seperator and buy the Merc. filter. It does not rust or pit.
davej14 posted 04-12-2005 10:17 PM ET (US)
On plumbing fittings, teflon tape tends to shread diuring assembly and pieces will break off inside the lines. I suspect there is concern about these pieces pluging the injectors or needle valves.
DaveH posted 04-14-2005 09:36 AM ET (US)
Maximus:
I'm sure you have a Grainer in your area. They will have almost all versions of Loctite you need:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml
I did a search under Grainer' site for Loctite and came up with (5) pages of results.
DaveH posted 04-14-2005 09:37 AM ET (US)
Maximus:
I'm sure you have a Grainger in your area. They will have almost all versions of Loctite you need:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml
I did a search under Grainger's site for Loctite and came up with (5) pages of results.
Beaner posted 04-14-2005 12:16 PM ET (US)
Maximus,
When you say facing astern, does that mean the mount/filter will be on the engine side of the well (with backing) or the front of the well (no backing)? I have a Sierra mount that I'm pretty sure I will mount on the angled side next to where the cables/lines come out of the tube. I was thinking about through-bolting, since I can get access to the back of the fiberglass by opening the little disc thing (sorry but I don't know what its called). I think the through-bolt install should be sturdy enough to hold and allows easy replacement should the filter become corroded. I was thinking that I would have to add a bit a fuel line as well.
Maximus posted 04-14-2005 09:35 PM ET (US)
The fuel filter would face the stern (and the engine), the mount would be fixed to the aft face side of the engine well, biased to starboard. Clear as mud?
I was planning on using #14 SS 1 1/2 inch phillips head mounting screws with washers. I don't feel as though through bolting is needed for this application.
Grainger is local but you need a business account to order from them. I've found some thread sealant with teflon, not the Loctite brand, which will suffice.
I love drilling holes in my new boat. Thanks for the help.
Chuck Tribolet posted 04-14-2005 11:08 PM ET (US)
Grainger has gotten uppity about being business to business
lately. I used to be able to order from the website with
just a Master Card.
McMaster is still customer friendly.
http://www.mcmaster.com/ . They have the Loctite,
though you may need to dig up an item number from Loctites
website.

Chuck
Maximus posted 04-15-2005 10:04 PM ET (US)
I fininshed the fuel/water separator install this evening, well started and finished, really. No problems.
For those who are interested, I did replace the gray Mercury fuel line with 'marine' grade 3/8 fuel line (if there is such a thing). I also replaced the a plastic dual male splice with a brass fitting.
The gray Mercury fuel line is very tough stuff. It does not bend easily and would not fully accept the fitting barbs. The whole setup looks much more uniform now. I tie-wrapped split ring tubing over everything.
Anyone elso have a problem with the Mercury motor grommet popping out? Mine has never been right. It's the split rubber grommet that accepts fuel, battery, and controls cables. Under the cowl there is a small 5/16th screw that, if loosened, will allow the grommet to be correctly placed.
Beaner posted 04-17-2005 08:41 AM ET (US)

Maximus,
Can you post or email me a picture of your installation? Thanks.
Maximus posted 04-17-2005 07:43 PM ET (US)
sent!
Beaner posted 04-17-2005 08:26 PM ET (US)

Thanks for the pics. The install looks great!

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Author	Topic: Mercury Fuel/Water Separator: No Teflon Tape?
Maximus	posted 04-12-2005 08:17 PM ET (US) I'm in the process of gathering materials to install a Mercury fuel/water separator on my 170 Montauk. Why does the fuel/water separator instruction manual call out explicitly that Teflon Tape not be used on the 1/4" NPT barbed fittings? They call out Loctite (TM) Thread Sealant with Teflon. As you may have guess, I haven't had good luck finding this type of Loctite. It looks like I will be mounting the assembly on the inside of the engine bilge/well area, facing astern. Anyone have any better suggetions? Also, there appears to be enough extra slack in the factory fuel line rigging to accomodate the setup.
johnr	posted 04-12-2005 09:49 PM ET (US) You can use the liquid tape and try to find the new stailess seperator and buy the Merc. filter. It does not rust or pit.
davej14	posted 04-12-2005 10:17 PM ET (US) On plumbing fittings, teflon tape tends to shread diuring assembly and pieces will break off inside the lines. I suspect there is concern about these pieces pluging the injectors or needle valves.
DaveH	posted 04-14-2005 09:36 AM ET (US) Maximus: I'm sure you have a Grainer in your area. They will have almost all versions of Loctite you need: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml I did a search under Grainer' site for Loctite and came up with (5) pages of results.
DaveH	posted 04-14-2005 09:37 AM ET (US) Maximus: I'm sure you have a Grainger in your area. They will have almost all versions of Loctite you need: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml I did a search under Grainger's site for Loctite and came up with (5) pages of results.
Beaner	posted 04-14-2005 12:16 PM ET (US) Maximus, When you say facing astern, does that mean the mount/filter will be on the engine side of the well (with backing) or the front of the well (no backing)? I have a Sierra mount that I'm pretty sure I will mount on the angled side next to where the cables/lines come out of the tube. I was thinking about through-bolting, since I can get access to the back of the fiberglass by opening the little disc thing (sorry but I don't know what its called). I think the through-bolt install should be sturdy enough to hold and allows easy replacement should the filter become corroded. I was thinking that I would have to add a bit a fuel line as well.
Maximus	posted 04-14-2005 09:35 PM ET (US) The fuel filter would face the stern (and the engine), the mount would be fixed to the aft face side of the engine well, biased to starboard. Clear as mud? I was planning on using #14 SS 1 1/2 inch phillips head mounting screws with washers. I don't feel as though through bolting is needed for this application. Grainger is local but you need a business account to order from them. I've found some thread sealant with teflon, not the Loctite brand, which will suffice. I love drilling holes in my new boat. Thanks for the help.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 04-14-2005 11:08 PM ET (US) Grainger has gotten uppity about being business to business lately. I used to be able to order from the website with just a Master Card. McMaster is still customer friendly. http://www.mcmaster.com/ . They have the Loctite, though you may need to dig up an item number from Loctites website. Chuck
Maximus	posted 04-15-2005 10:04 PM ET (US) I fininshed the fuel/water separator install this evening, well started and finished, really. No problems. For those who are interested, I did replace the gray Mercury fuel line with 'marine' grade 3/8 fuel line (if there is such a thing). I also replaced the a plastic dual male splice with a brass fitting. The gray Mercury fuel line is very tough stuff. It does not bend easily and would not fully accept the fitting barbs. The whole setup looks much more uniform now. I tie-wrapped split ring tubing over everything. Anyone elso have a problem with the Mercury motor grommet popping out? Mine has never been right. It's the split rubber grommet that accepts fuel, battery, and controls cables. Under the cowl there is a small 5/16th screw that, if loosened, will allow the grommet to be correctly placed.
Beaner	posted 04-17-2005 08:41 AM ET (US) Maximus, Can you post or email me a picture of your installation? Thanks.
Maximus	posted 04-17-2005 07:43 PM ET (US) sent!
Beaner	posted 04-17-2005 08:26 PM ET (US) Thanks for the pics. The install looks great!