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View Full Version : Homemade Sap Puller



sniperdodo
03-23-2011, 03:10 PM
Here is the link to my facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150179367021001&saved#!/video/?id=693001000
if the link doesn't work go to facebook and look up Shawn Cote. My picture is of the exorcist :D
Its the only way I was able to get my video uploaded.
The pump is made using a hand diaphram pump purchased from Princess Auto ($60)
I used a 1HP 120v treadmill motor (princess auto $50)
The motor only turns at 1750 rpms so I built the plywood box to house two axles. On the drive shaft of the motor I used a 1-1/2" pulley and that drove an 8" pulley on the first axle. This reduced the speed of the first axle to 328 rpms [(1.5" / 8") x 1750 rpms]. On the first axle next to the 8" pulley i installed another 1-1/2" pulley. This pulley drove a 7" pulley on a second axle. This reduced the speed of the second axle to 70 rpms [(1.5" / 7") x 328 rpms]. I welded a piece of steel on the end of the second axle with a bolt welded half of the stroke of the pump away from the center line of the axle. (sorry its a mouthful and kind of hard to explain). I made a vertical shaft to connect the pump to the now rotating bolt.
After trying the pump out, I realized that the check valves inside the pump were not strong enough to overcome the suction and pressure that was being produced so I added 1-1/4" spring loaded check valves. Now I was ready to start testing with water and thats when I tore my first diaphragm :mad:. At that time I was using 1/2" suction and 5/16" discharge - bad Idea. After putting 1/2" line on the discharge things were working well, and producing a constant 15" hg.
Feeling like I just conqured the Maple Gods, I ran all my lines outside and hooked up my new born sap puller. It only took about 3 minutes to realize that I had a problem, the v belts were slipping :mad:. Trying to remain calm, I ran over to Canadian Tire and picked up some belt dressing spray. This was a fantastic band-aid to my pumps injury, so I thought. Of course the belts starting slipping again. This is were the hight blood pressure starts :). After picking up all the pieces of my pump and nursing my now sore foot I reasembled the pump but this time using chain and sprockets. Now shes a TANK.
I have 500 feet of 1/2" mainline and close to 500 feet of laterals/drops etc.. for 62 taps. At the furthest tap on my line I have a constant 10" hg. Not to bad for my first year of sugaring. OH, I forgot to mention that the chain fell off the first day so I changed the discharge line to 1" and she works great now.
If anyone else wants to try to build one, think big and think strong. 10" hg can cause a lot of straing on parts.

500592
03-23-2011, 03:14 PM
Thanks so much

markct
03-23-2011, 03:19 PM
nice idea! now i know what to do with that hand pump from my filter press when i put an electric pump on it next year! im thinkin maybe a 12 volt windshield wiper motor and run it off a battery for an area remote with not too many taps like the woods at work!

70 Buick
03-23-2011, 08:17 PM
The people on this site never cease to amaze me with their ingenuity

Kev
03-23-2011, 08:32 PM
very nice!
you put together a jack shaft and pitman arm apparatus . ;)

mike z
03-23-2011, 08:33 PM
Awesome, the sound of the pump even goes with the profile pic. like a beating devil heart.

Kev
03-23-2011, 08:55 PM
oops double post :emb:

Kev
03-23-2011, 08:59 PM
nice idea! now i know what to do with that hand pump from my filter press when i put an electric pump on it next year! im thinkin maybe a 12 volt windshield wiper motor and run it off a battery for an area remote with not too many taps like the woods at work!

you better buy a couple of solar battery chargers! unless you use several batterys in parallel your pumping time is going to be rather short I am afraid.
even deep cycle marine bats will not last as long as you may think. they (wipers) pull a substancial amount of current just wiping windshields, then to push and pull a pump on top of that....
now I am not saying it is not doable, cause it is doable. but you better have plenty of amp hours stored on site :D
I think it would be a good early winter project to test that way you know what kind of pumping time you will have and if one wiper is enough. remember the power required for every pound of vac is much greater than the last one gained
I admit I do not know the coralation between inches of vac and pounds of vac.
but the guys belts slipping are proof of the torque needed to make those inches (unless his belts were way to loose) :D
its easier to make a bunch of PSI than it is to make some vac.
but you still have a cool idea!

sniperdodo
03-24-2011, 06:51 AM
I did try with a 1/6 hp dc motor but it just wasnt enough power. If you get a motor that spins at maybe 20,000 rpms and gear it down you may have a shot but Kev is right about solar storage. The advantage to using DC power though is that you can control motor speed with a dimmer switch, AC you would need a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) which is very expensive.

Kev
03-24-2011, 09:08 AM
And Markct
I was in no way trying to be a naysayer or knock your idea. Just trying to point out some pits under the forrest duff so you didn't fall in one at the start of the season. :)

markct
03-24-2011, 12:20 PM
no problem i fully understand the amount of power it takes and limitations! i am a truck and heavy equip mechanic by trade so it wouldnt be hard to find a pair or semi good batteries and maybe run 2 or 3 together, and swap them out every day when i pump the tank. would have to calculate it out but with a group 31 battery there is a good bit of power stored in each one, and i like the idea of supplementing it with solar too!

Flat Lander Sugaring
03-24-2011, 06:09 PM
northern tool has a 12v diaphram pump for 200. It has a 3/4in and out. I was thinking of buying that unit