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View Full Version : Trash pumps vs. food grade pumps



FameFlower
02-13-2012, 03:32 PM
Our boiling shed is off-site from our sugarbush. We are abandoning the former crazy method of transferring sap (forklifts and aerial gravity transfer) and get a pump. Sounds like many of use use a "trash pump". I like the idea and especially the gallons per minute of sap transferred per minute. However, I'd rather use something food grade but I can't find anything that pumps enough g.p.m. ... Also, if you use a trash pump, do you use food grade oil in it. If so, where do you get it?

Any advice?

Dill
02-13-2012, 04:26 PM
Not to stir up this whole mess again. But most of us use transfer pumps. Trash pump just means that the pump with handle some solids in the liquid that is being pumped.
My 2 stroke transfer pump isn't labeled food grade, but I don't see an issue. And there isn't anyway for the oil/gas mix to interface with the sap.
I use a sump pump to move it out of my truck tank into the head tank.

FameFlower
02-13-2012, 05:05 PM
I was thinking of getting a Honda 118cc engine driven pump. I really like that I can transfer ~100GPM. Is there anything that should concern me about this pump?

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/search.shtml?searchQuery=6DLY8&op=search&Ntt=6DLY8&N=0&sst=subset

Brent
02-14-2012, 04:57 PM
We use the smallest Honda, I think they call it a WX10.
we pump out of our 3 caged totes into a 70 gallon tank on the Gator.
Takes about 90 seconds. Weighs less the 20 lbs soaking wet so my
wife can handle it easily. We put cam connects on the tank hoses and the pump
body ... works like a charm.