Preheater flow question

[optionguru]

I recently finished (I thought) my preheater but the sap flow seems too slow. I'm wondering if there is some venting or vacuum issue. If you look at the pics you will see the constant trickle which will probably be sufficient but I would like to figure out why I can't get full flow. Any thoughts?

82038204

[lpakiz]

Something in the valve? Try blowing backwards with the blow gun, slowly at first!

[optionguru]

If I run water through it and suck on the end I get a faster flow. I'm going to try drilling out the hole in the pot and see if that's restricting the flow.

[optionguru]

Yeahhh! It ended up being a combination of two things. The hole through the side of the pot was about half the diameter of the outlet size and the valve was also stuck partly closed. One step closer to 2014. Another bonus was a logger friend of mine came by and walked my property with me. Found another 11 maples. Good increase for my small operation. Should get me above 50 taps.