Filter press

[jbutton]

Hey guys, so I have a Daryl sheets filter press i bought last year. Worked great till the last 2 times filtering. We clean it after every time of use. All holes are clear, I use cdl filter paper. holes are lined up checked the hand pump everything looks fine. But when i try to pump I have to almost stand on it even with water. Not using alot of de which is a cdl product. Any help would be great. Also can i replace that hand pump with an electric pump. Thanks James

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

yes you can, i switched mine out with an air pump

[Russell Lampron]

I put an air pump on mine too.

[jbutton]

Can you tell me what air pump you used.

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

i think its a wilden not sure of the model # but i will check it in the morning

[johnallin]

My Leader Clear Press came with a Wilden pump.
Works great - are you just now having issues?
Maybe it’s stringy syrup?
Pic with model no attached.
19963

Fred from Richards really likes Leader’s Clear Press :)

[jbutton]

Thank you.

[jbutton]

All season I've been having issues. It's a little on the thicker side which is the way I like it. No problems last year just this year. I did build an ro. So maybe that is part of a factor

[johnallin]

Thank you.

You’re very welcome. Hopefully it was helpful information.

[BAP]

You might be not using enough filter aid. Try adding more and see if it goes through better. Some years if there is a lot of niter, it takes quite a bit more filter aid to get the syrup through.

[Sugarmaker]

Look this guy is having problems pumping water through the filter press. Something is wrong with the press and or the set up. Call Daryl and have him walk through it with you. I have used his press and have pumped 25 gallons of syrup through it with only a cleaning or two. I would look for a blockage somewhere in the system. He is not using a lot of DE (not sure what CDL has to do with it?) A lot can mean different things. The 5 inch is small it doesnt need a maybe a couple cups of DE total or it may be packed too full?? Need more info! What do the plates look like when taken apart?
Regards,
Chris

[nymapleguy607]

How much DE are you using and how many plates do you have in the press? With all 5 plates in the press it should only take about 4 cups of DE to fill the press, I have a sheets press with an air pump. I was having trouble with slow pumping early on, I dropped the amount of filter aid and my problems went away.

[jbutton]

I'm in contact with Daryl through email. Using the same amount of de he is recommending and I tried even less. When I get home I need to check the input valve as he said it might be stuck.

[jbutton]

Also not much sand/niter on the plates. Have noticed this year it's dark brown unlike last year were it was a lighter brown

[Sugarmaker]

Good job, you will get it. Sounds like something is clogged. Your DE was the recommended amount. Yea sugar sand can be fro a cream color to black or purple in the late season.
Regards,
Chris

[RileySugarbush]

If your filter cake is dark brown and a bit slimy it is possible that you are not using enough DE or maybe you have some ropey syrup . Also, keep the press hot between batches.

As mentioned, the press will hold about 4 cups of DE. First gallon on a clean press I use a bit more, but after that I add about 1/4 cup per gallon as it goes in. More or less depending on how it looks coming out of the press when you clean it. With real clean syrup we can get 12 or more gallons of syrup through this small press. More typically about 10.

I added a diaphragm pump to my Sheets press. Night and day difference compared to the hand pump.

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

Pump#19990
i usually use 4 cups of DE when im filtering.

[Daryl]

Call me. It’s easier to get to the bottom of the problem over the phone and not e-mails.

[jbutton]

I call you later today.

[jbutton]

not bashing the filter press. It's awesome compared to felt and prefilters. Great workmanship.