5/16 Shurflo with a manifold

[AlRock]

posted this last winter with no suggestions and looking to revisit it for next year.

I have a flat piece of woods about 50yds wide and 125yds long, probably 50-60 taps be in it. What's the best way to go about it with a 4008 Shurflo on a manifold?

Can I just run some lengths of 5/16 direct to the manifold? If so how many taps per line?

I don't have any 3/16 line or tools, but if the consensus is the best way I can look into it.

or would a 3/4 mainline line be the best way to go?

Thanks fellas.

[DRoseum]

Not knowing the layout of the property, I would suggest lines that run right to the manifold.

Shurflo pumps do not move a large volume of air, and work best when pulling mostly fluid. I don't think 50 to 60 taps merits a 3/4 mainline. 5 or 6 lines of 10 trees straight to the manifold might be best. Hard to say though without knowing locations of trees and the topography.

[AlRock]

I'm about as flat as flat can be here. My main woods has around 520 taps and this little spot is 300yds away. Have couple 4008's and thought why not try and grab them.

I had seen this manifold on FB which got me thinking on this. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/3yMrKtVYUJJqbvNr/?mibextid=oFDknk

He was using 3/16 but I would like to use 5/16 seeing I have all the tools and fittings. Was thinking just to put everything along the edge in the middle, longest run to grab 8-10 trees I don't think would be no more that 150'. I just didn't know if 5/16 would be a option.

[DRoseum]

Should be fine using 5/16. I've built 2 vacuum setups using shurflos. I used simple push to connect fittings and couldnt be happier with how well these work on my 100+ trees. I use 3/16 and have a lot of slope. 5/16 is better for flat areas on vacuum. You can check them out on my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6CwcmcTEWYy6kaduFBtcMtvK3Z1y9iRp&si=RTgCfLJxOGxPqh1t

[littleTapper]

I run about 45 taps into a 4008 on flat ground. 6 runs of 5/16 into a manifold/star fitting. Works great.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

I would do it with 5/16" into a manifold as others have suggested. No need for mainline on those few of taps and distances. You will get no additional benefit from 3/16" on flat ground. If anything, 3/16" would potentially cause more issues with plugged fittings and lines that need to be changed more frequently.

[AlRock]

Thanks for the replies. 5/16 it is. I'll start laying things out after deer season and in the mean time get the manifold started.

[bmbmkr]

I've been running shurflos for 8 years, I have most of my taps on steep hillsides with 3/16 and 3/4 mainline. I have a few trees scattered here and there with several lateralsand 1/2" threaded manifolds. I use 3/16 even on flat ground because I'm in southernmost OH, at the end of the season I want the sap out of the tubing and into my dairy tanks as quickly as possible and the reduced volume of the 3/16 works better for this. I'm also pulling some laterals uphill with the 3/16 and although 5/16 will pull uphill as well, there's a lot more sap stayin in the line than with 3/16. Line friction is higher on 3/16 than 5/16 if you are doin natural gravity and have flat places in the run, but the shurflos easily overcome this. I have a couple of laterals over 1000'. I started out with a single hand 5/16 tool,bought it before I found out the advantage of 3/16 on slope, I cut a piece of 5/16 1 1/2" and slit it end to end, slip it over the 3/16 and it works very well, I used that for 500 taps for 4 years before I got a deal on some used 3/16 tubing tools.