Removing CV spouts

[Run Forest Run!]

Quick question...

I had to replace one of my sap bags yesterday due to a puncture. I had hung it on the clear cv spout before I tapped it into the tree. There was no way I could budge that tap out of the tree, so I just tied the bag onto the spile.

When it comes time to remove the spouts, is there a tried and true method? This is the first year that I've tried a few of them along with my plastic 5/16 and metal 7/16 spiles.

[Bruce L]

Hi Karen, as long as you weren't too overzealous tapping them into the tree they should just pull out with a claw hammer if you don't have a spout puller. I removed 4 cv's from one tree today that the squirrels had ravaged the droplines to, since I am eliminating the tree this summer I just bypassed it with a chunk of tubing instead. These are the original cv's though, not sure if the new ones seat any tighter?

[Run Forest Run!]

Thanks for the reply Bruce. Knowing me, I was likely overzealous. I may have to break out the cat's paw and a block of wood once the season is over. Add it to the list of "things I learned about sugaring" for this year.

[Maple Hill]

I removed 900 of them last year,just gave them a twist and pulled them out by hand,never broke one.

[Bruce L]

You're welcome Karen , my wife tends to hammer in all the taps here after I drill, just tap lightly until the tone changes of the tap into the tree. Had a friend "help" one year, said no woman could move quicker than him tapping the cvs in. He got behind me about 2-3 laterals, then I found out why, he was driving the cvs in all the way until the "wings" were against the tree, had a heck of a time removing them at the end of the season. Now we are never tapping when he is available!!!!!!!!!!