tennis ball for moisture trap

[white mt]

just started the vac today after looking for leaks went up the hill and the vac stoped down the hill to find my pump was full of sap. after looking at the moisture trap full of sap the plastic ball was dented in and the sap passed by and was in the oil. .had 2 gal of oil drained and replaced. Now i think i need a new ball . has any one used a tennis ball will it float. or can I find a replacement ball that came with the cdl moisture trap thanks .

[maplecrest]

use a squash ball. they are soft. can be squeezed into cage with out taking off. and come in a tube of 3 in any sports store. and work better than the hard balls that let the sap go by. thet float and plug the hole.

[Dennis H.]

I don't think a tennis ball will work, with the fuzzy stuff on the outside won't make a good seal.

Try a racquet ball. Works great in my homemade moisture trap.

[jrgagne99]

I also use a racquet ball, but fortunately it has never actually been forced into service.

[Russell Lampron]

I use a Canadian street hockey ball. It's the same thing that CDL uses in their moisture trap. I haven't had a releaser malfunction yet so I don't know if it will dent the ball though.

[maple33]

Do you have any pics of your homemade moisture trap and what do i need to make one for 1" line from pump to vac tank ??

[Russell Lampron]

Do you have any pics of your homemade moisture trap and what do i need to make one for 1" line from pump to vac tank ??

Here are a couple of pics to give you an idea. Just adapt the inlet and outlet to 1" to fit your application. Mine is made out of 3" pvc and fittings adapted to 1 1/2" inlet and outlets.

70727073

[maple flats]

I also use a racket ball. Mine is very similar to Russel Lampoon's except my body is 4" pvc, with a reducer in the bottom, necked down then a ball valve to drain any sap that gets in. I have drained up to maybe 1 qt, but never had the trap need to suck the ball into the top neck. My top reduces to 1.25" and then immediately goes to 2" and connects to the moisture trap built on the vacuum pump. Yes, I have 2 in series.

[Dennis H.]

70757076
Here is my version of a moisture trap.

I put a ballvalve on the bottom but will be changing that out for a swing style check valve for self draining when vac is off.

The ball is located in the short section of pipe above the T but below the reducer and 90 at the top. I did not glue the joint between the T and the short section of pipe. I used silicone to seal that up. I wanted to be able to take it apart for cleaning or repairs.

So far it has worked flawlessly. And I have never had any sap in the vac line coming from the vac pump.

[maple33]

Thanks to all, I will be making one saturday and hopefully getting it up and running this weekend !! Does the T ( lower line ) go to the vac tank or to the vac pump, or does it not matter witch way it is plumbed. Thanks again

[Dennis H.]

Sorry about that.
The t in the middle goes out to the released and the to fitting where the 90 is goes to vac pump.

The piece in side with the slots in it is a reducer fitting that I cut down so that it fit inside the t fitting. Used a little silicone to hold in place.

[maple33]

Thanks will get parts and give it a try !!That was a racket ball correct and one last thing the top was 3" to ? reducer where ball would stop flow ?

[Dennis H.]

You are correct on both items. It is a racquet ball and the top is a 3" x1 1/2" reducer.
I took the racquet ball with me to the hardware store to find the best size fittings.

You can make this entire thing out of 4" pvc also, I just already hade 3" pipe on hand and also the 3"x2" T

[Russell Lampron]

I didn't take pics when I built mine but I used a 1 1/2" pipe for the ball to stop against in mine. I inserted it so that it is below the outlet to the releaser. I had a releaser malfunction Wednesday and it worked as designed. The trap was full but no sap in the vacuum line to the pump.