- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,153
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
Be very careful with any aftermarket strainer/flushing cap where someone has drilled and tapped a threaded hole in the bottom of the strainer lid to then insert plumbing fittings in for flushing the engines.
The problem is than even on bronze lids the metal is so thin where you mount the hose fittings that just bumping the hose fittings can break the threads out of the strainer lid. On a 3/4" Perko strainer lid with 1/2" NPT drilled and taapped in the lid you only have 2-3 threads holding the hose fitting in place. Groco plastic lids, like the one pictured here are even worse because side pressures on threads in plastic will break out with very little effort.
The only safe way to use them is to have a second set that you install just for flushing, then remove them and reinstall the OEM ones when your flushing operation is done.
The problem is than even on bronze lids the metal is so thin where you mount the hose fittings that just bumping the hose fittings can break the threads out of the strainer lid. On a 3/4" Perko strainer lid with 1/2" NPT drilled and taapped in the lid you only have 2-3 threads holding the hose fitting in place. Groco plastic lids, like the one pictured here are even worse because side pressures on threads in plastic will break out with very little effort.
The only safe way to use them is to have a second set that you install just for flushing, then remove them and reinstall the OEM ones when your flushing operation is done.