VAC pumps RECS

[maple flats]

I had my first vac this year and really liked it's performance. For 2012 I have a new lease and will be adding vac. My question is, which DAIRY pumps are best performers. This year I had an Alamo 75 which I ran at 17-18" on 550 taps with good success on a vacuum tank limited to 20"(tested when new who knows when) My plans are to use a releaser (already bought) and an old DAIRY pump for 1-2 years before making enough to buy a true maple pump. 2012 will see about 6-700 taps and eventually I will have between 1800-2500 taps according to an informal survey. The second year I will add about 7-900 more on the same wet dry conductor system that was designed by my maple dealer along with input from Leader. The next year I will be at my max and then I plan to buy a maple pump.
Which DAIRY pumps are capable of 700 or 1800 taps and at what vac level? Eventually I plan to go hi Vacuum after the year or 2.
How does an Alamo 75 rate?
A surge SP 22?
SP 11?
Others?
Thanks
Dave

[wiam]

I have run 24" on 900 taps with a sp22.

William

[maple flats]

What RPM, pump not motor, I will be gas engine drive?
What do you do need to do for cooling?

[wiam]

First season and a half I ran it with a 5.5 hp Briggs with a 2" pulley on motor and factory pulley on pump. Then I ran 1700' of 1 1/4 and went back to the original 1.65hp electric. Much more dependable. I did nothing special for cooling, just made sure it could get plenty of air. This year the bearings in the pump and motor seized, but I think it was from years of use not from lack of cooling. Now I run a 3hp atlantic fluids water cooled.

William

[wiam]

I do not know pump rpm but I ran the Briggs at full throttle.

William

[Dennis H.]

Ok I am taking this from memory.

The drive pulley on the motor is 3.5" dia. The pulley on the pump head is 14" dia.
That puts it right at 4:1 ratio. The motor is a 1725 RPM

So if my math is correct the speed of the pump would be 431 rpm's or right around that number.

[mountainvan]

I run 4 alamos with oil reclaimer in flood mode and pull 20-24" of vac. 5.5 horse hondas just above idle. .5gals of syrup/tap with antimicrobial spiles. keeping the pump oiled and tubing tight is the key.

[maple flats]

By flood mode do you mean you removed the little wires in the lube tube fittings? I think I will buy the Alamo 75 I found if that is the case. I ran mine on a 6.5 honda for the one I had on my other bush. That bush is staying unchanged.
Mountainvan, what is the largest number of taps you run on your alamos? Are they 75's?

[maple flats]

OH, the Alamo 75 I have was run at 700 RPM head speed. I have a 4/1 ratio and I used a tack on the motor shaft to hear what it sounded like the first time. After that I guessed by sound so I likely had some variation. I used a 4.5 gal aux. tank and removed the factory tank. My Honda was a GX200.
I think I'll go the same.

[mountainvan]

I use the adjustable oilers from mcmaster carr, with steady stream of oil coming in all oilers. the wires are gone. I have 1,200 taps with a 60 or 75 pullling 22" of vacuum. 1/2 gal of syrup/tap with the antimicrobial spiles. 2,000 gals first run march 1st and 2,000 gals last run april 13th! if the pump is struggling to get good vacuum new vanes work wonders.

[maple flats]

Mountainvan, thanks. Do you have a part # for the McMaster-Carr oilers? I might even try 1400 then before upgrading to a true maple pump for even higher vacuum.

[mountainvan]

1143k12. it is a needle valve that I use. it has a screw adjustment. I normally get my order the next day and shipping is inexpensive. good luck.