Carburetor Fuel Filter Leak

[JimS123]

1984 MCM140 Mercruiser 140HP 3.0 Liter. Rochester carb. In-line fuel filter in the fuel line on the side of the carb. I change the filters every 100 hours. This is the 14[SUP]th[/SUP] time I’ve replaced them, so I’m not exactly a rookie.

It leaks at the nut holding the fuel filter. Change the gasket – easy, right? The computer at my dealer said the gasket was superseded by part No. so and so. The new part No. such and such is listed as no longer available. It’s a metal gasket, looks similar to a spark plug gasket.

They had a NOS carb repair kit that supposedly had the gasket. It was open and parts were missing. I got it for a couplabucks, reduced from the $27.95 tag. The only gasket in the kit that fit wasn’t a perfect fit and it leaked like a seive.

After putting the old gasket back in it still seeps a bit, after torqueing the nut down with almost a cheater bar.

My question is…..is there a fuel proof and heat proof silicone type sealer that I can apply to the outside to stop the leak? Or is that a bad idea? Options?

I’m almost willing to seal it permanently. After 14 changes it has never been dirty and I always felt I didn’t need to change it. The fuel pump filter is ahead of it (and its never dirty either) so I don't know why they put 2 in the system.

 

[NHGuy]

Google, Bing etc the part #. Search it everywhere. Try the various carb places on line. Call them. Find places that rebuild the carbs. Find boat junkyards. There's gotta be one somewhere. Or, if you can't get the part, make the part.

 

[achris]

I find that part as 1397-8327. Still a current number and available for the princely sum of $4.49. Have a look at www.mercruiserparts.com. (it's number 14 in the picture below)

 

[Scott Danforth]

the part is available from NAPA or your local FLAPS (friendly neighborhood auto parts store). look for a fuel filter gasket for a 1975 GM truck with a rochester 2 barrel. I know that Fleet Farm in the midwest sells the filter, spring, gasket as a kit for under $5

 

[JimS123]

AChris, thanks so much. The part is on order.

I see that your site link is a dealer. When I went to my dealer they did have the same exploded dwg. I believe they used Mercury Marine's site, as I did. All of those part numbers were checked and all came up "not available any more".

NAPA was going to be my next choice, but I never would have known to look under a truck.