To many taps per run ?

[lenp]

we put in ten 3/16" lines this year. today is the first good run and 9 of the 10 lines are running well but the vacuum on 9 gauges is almost zero. only the shortest line is showing any vacuum ( about 15") did we put to many taps per line (35 to 40) or do I have some other problem ?

[Cedar Eater]

How much drop do they have?

[lenp]

I have about 70' total, about 25' after the last tap over about 1000 feet total

[CampHamp]

Seems like too many even with that great drop. I have 18 on my longest 3/16 line and that line is really moving with a good run and not sure sap could move much faster. It's an easy fix to run some tube up to break those lines in half.

[Maplesapper]

Are the bubbles in the 9 lines moving faster or slower that the line with the 15" of vacuum ?

[wurmdert]

I have 35 on some of my lines and they usually run at 23 to 26 in of vacuum. Got to be plugged or leaking Im guessing. If the bubbles are going real fast or if line is empty then you have a major leak. The bubbles tell the story

[Maplesapper]

I have 35 on some of my lines and they usually run at 23 to 26 in of vacuum. Got to be plugged or leaking Im guessing. If the bubbles are going real fast or if line is empty then you have a major leak. The bubbles tell the story

I like hearing 35 on some lines....
Was under the impression from other posters that 5-8 in a straight line was the best.
We zig zag a fairly wide route and then drop down a hill about 60'..
Leaks and dry tap holes, oblong tap holes kept us under 20" last year- hoping for better results this year

[peteinvermont]

I have 38 on one line with about 100ft of drop. But the total length of the run is about 600ft.

[lenp]

I think we will try running tubing up and splitting some lines.We fixed some leaks and as the day went on its running very well but most all the sap is coming from the lower taps with no production from many of the very top taps. I think it may be just to much sap for the lines the lines are full with not many bubbles

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

I think you have a plugged t or connector

[wnybassman]

I think we will try running tubing up and splitting some lines.We fixed some leaks and as the day went on its running very well but most all the sap is coming from the lower taps with no production from many of the very top taps. I think it may be just to much sap for the lines the lines are full with not many bubbles

How do you know there isn't any sap coming from the top ones? I didn't think you could see it that far up in the system anyway?

[lenp]

in looking at the lines and drops I cant see any sap in many of the uppermost ones.

[Maplesapper]

We had a major problem in a T once......one little piece of sawdust must had come from a taphole.
Couldn't find it until we actually cut it out and started to replace all the non producing T's

[Cody]

Maybe them trees have not let loose yet? Or take drop line and bend up to see if any sap pools up in the lower bend.

[doop]

I have 38 on one 500 foot run and am getting 24 on the gauge filled my 55 gallon barrel in 22 hours. I was wondering how many was too many myself. I found the updated research on 3/16 and they figured that the tubing could handle up to 43 taps without overwhelming the tubing capacity. It's just faster to find leaks with less taps on a line. Good luck.

[Maplesapper]

Hey Doop-
Quick question-
I would have thought you would get more than 55 gallons in a day from 38 taps on natural gravity vacuum.
Do you get more than this on major sap flow events ?
Seems hard to argue with 24" of vacuum though- that's good--- just wondered if the yield is better some days than others.
Cheers

[lenp]

I went over today and split one line one but I don't think I am getting anymore sap then I was getting with one. but all the lines are now running very well maybe they just needed some time to get going this is me first year with any kind of vacuum so I have a lot to learn. some of our lines are showing 20 t0 25 inches of vacuum and others zero yet all of the lines are running about the same. I think some of the gauges may be bad. I bought the cheapest ones I could find on amazon so who knows. I guess as long as it runs well I wont worry about it. thanks for the help.

[maple flats]

I looked at several of my lines late morning today. The 3/16 is impressive. I have 30-35' drop on most of mine and I'm running between 25 and 34 taps on each. I even had one spot where a good size limb (or is it bad size?) fell on one and pushed it to the ground. It was impressive watching the sap/bubbles move so well, even as the line went down to the ground and back up. Grimm Reaper stopped (Thanks Vince) and helped me a while and without his help I would not have gotten the limb off without a chainsaw.

[doop]

Trees just started running here, and this line was on a north facing slope didnt start to have aeven a trickle til about 2 yesterday.I don't know what to expect this year as its my first with tubing, I just hope I have enough storage space.

[Burnt sap]

Doop, Here in NY my north side bush is always slow to release just the nature of things. But hang on when she let's loose!