Connecting the attwood water seperator

[Andy3]

I bought the attwood water seperator from wally world and plan on installing tonight. My Bayliner Cobra has a diagonal "brace" on the interior of the transom that I'm planning on putting a couple of holes in to mount it. On the plugs that came with the device, and the hose barbs I'm going to have to buy, do I need to use any kind of tape or sealant on the threads? Planning on going to Lowe's and getting some brass hose barbs, am I on the right track? Forgot to look and see what size fuel line is on the boat this morning. Safe to assume it's 3/8" ID?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Connecting the attwood water seperator

Buy a tube of the Teflon Pipe Dope, not the tape. Brass barbs and plugs from Lowe's, Ace Hardware or similar. If you have a fuel hose already you may be able to just cut it and connect to the barbs, otherwise match your hose up at your Marine Supply Store, not automotive fuel hose! It's an easy install and a great preventive maintenance item to help eliminate contaminated fuel problems. Good Luck!

 

[Andy3]

Re: Connecting the attwood water seperator

Yep, thinking I can just cut the hose near the mounting location and then just connect the two new ends to the barbs.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Connecting the attwood water seperator

Always remember, measure twice and cut once! I used a little blob of silicone rubber on the back side of the unit where it contacts the transom to sorta help it stick on there solid. Good Luck!

 

[Andy3]

Re: Connecting the attwood water seperator

Just got back from Lowe's. Got two brass hose barbs, two stainless steel bolts with stainless locknuts and washers. Got some pipe thread dope that claims you can pressurize to 100psi immediately, so gonna give that a try. Got hose clamps too. Probably going to put a clear plastic fuel filter under the engine cover just so I can see the quality/color or fuel or trash running thru there. Trying to cover all my bases before I hit that switch. Gonna take the bowls off the two carbs and just wipe them out and inspect them. Gotta buy a small grease gun to grease the bearing buddies on the hubs, both need grease as I pushed on thingy like the instructions say and it's apparently bottomed out, so I gotta pump a little grease in there.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Connecting the attwood water seperator

Sounds like you've got your bases covered. A couple of times a year I unscrew my filter cartridge and dump it in a clear container to get an idea of amount and type of debris that's maybe in there, then screw it back on and ready to go! I ran my last cartridge 3 years before replacing with a new one, cut the old one open with a hacksaw just to see...not much stuff in it! Good Luck!

 

[Andy3]

Re: Connecting the attwood water seperator

That's good info. I certainly don't want our first trip out ruined by mechanical difficulties. Supposed to be low 70s this Saturday, and we're not planning on doing any skiing or swimming, just taking it out for a ride for the very first time. May be the first and last time of the year since winter is on the way.

 

[Andy3]

Re: Connecting the attwood water seperator

Well, the installation was going smooth as silk until I realized my fuel line is like 1/4" ID and I bought 3/8" barbs. And the thread sealer I bought works incredibly well, I almost couldn't get the barbs back out.