Surge Barn Find

[Maple Hill]

I have a surge model BB 4 twin cylinder vaccum pump. Does anyone know what numbers I could get with this pump. I know most dairy pumps are 15-18 lbs but I have never seen twin cylinder pump.Any info would be appreciated.

[maple flats]

Many report getting 22 and some even 24" with a piston pump. Getting enough lubrication is the key along with keeping it cool enough. The higher the vac the less air flowing thru to cool from the inside, thus you might need exterior cooling too along with good lubrication.

[Dennis H.]

I think the bb4 is the same as a sp22, if that is correct it is rated about 11 cfms and that thing can pull 22-23" all day long.

I have a sp22 and you can't go wrong with that pump.

[lew]

Dennis,

What are you using for lubrication, and are you doing anything extra to cool that pump?

[Maplewalnut]

I also run mine 22/23 all season long. I gave it in an unheated portion of the sugar house and put a fan blowing on it come the 60 degree afternoons at end of season. I run TSC pump oil early in season and a oil mixture of 20-50,bar and chain and mystery oil formulated by a past trader later in the year

[Dennis H.]

I put it in a small cover shed I built just for it. I have a small fan blowing right onto the pump head.
With the fan I can put my hand in it without getting burnt and the paint still looks like the day I painted it.

For oil I use standard Tranny fluid, Mercon-Dextron. It works really good on the cold days. I do notice that when it starts to get warm I will use some oil.
I just check every day before truning it on and top off when needed.

[wiam]

I have run mid 20's with mine sp-22. I run Rotella 15-40 in mine.

[Maple Hill]

Thanks for all the info,I will have to get it cleaned up and get the motor mounted on it and see what it will do.

[tuckermtn]

BB-4 is a bigger pump than the sp-22. Surge rates it at 27 to 29 CFM vs 20 to 22 CFM (different rating based on pulley size) for the SP-22. Keep them running very slow (under 400 rpm on the pump) and they can run 22-24 inches of HG.

I had a bb-4 to start last season but had problems with lubrication, so I put a sp-11 spare in its place on 400 taps. ran fine. I too use the gov's blend for oil most of the time, but do also use non-detergent 30 weight and vac pump when I run out of the blend.

[lew]

thanks for the info