what are people using for a sap pumps?

[softmaple]

i have 55 gallon drums and am looking for a sump/utility pump to get the sap out and into my feed tanks? what do you recomend and where to get it?

[royalmaple]

I've used the regular sump pumps you can get at lowes or HD.

If you need a normally closed float switch I have one Then you can wire in a circuit that will engage the pump when the sap is low in your head tank. I paid 35+ for it last year. If you want it 25 bucks delivered, works perfectly, just raised a bulk tank this year so no more pumping after the RO pumps it in there.

You can send me a PM.

[TapME]

royalmaple, will a bilge pump work to push the sap up 6'?

[twigbender]

I use a bilge pump and going six feet high has been no problem at all.

[Brent]

The problems with bilge pumps is that most are too small. They also need a 12V power supply.

Check out various sources for a pump like a "little giant" You can get specs on the flow at different heads and match to what you want in performance. Tons of sizes to select from. Totally submersible. You can pick one up at some hardware stores or nurseries that have pond sections, but I suspect these won't have the best prices.

[VT maple maker]

I bought a used Tanaka gas powered pump becouse i dont currently have electricity at the sugarhouse, other than the generator for lights and radio. Its also handy becouse i dont have to deal with a battery when i collect at my tank in the woods.

[hard maple]

I just bought a honda 4-stroke pump. Same capacity as the tanaka, but $100 cheaper, it's quieter and there's no mixing the gas.
I also have a 12 volt bildge pump hooked up to the 7-pin connecter on my pickup truck, it sits inside a dumping station, that sits on the tailgate. I wired it up so the backup lights come on when the pump is turned on.

[Fred Henderson]

I have a 12 volt 1500 gallon an hour bildge pump and I love the little bugger. It does pump less at any height over 1-1/2'. Also it has an automatic float.

[DS Maple]

Our sap actually goes through three pumps over the course of it's journey to the evaporator. A 2" Pacer with a 3.5hp Briggs is the primary transer pump to go from collection tanks to the truck. Then, a 1" Honda pumps from the truck into the sugarhouse and through the filters, which the larger one can't do because it is simply too fast. Lastly, a small, cheap sump pump gets the sap from the sugarhouse storage up to the gravity tank above the evaporator. Despite the fact that that pump is very cheaply made, it continues to work, even though it has frozen solid many times. Eventually it might make sense to switch the Honda out for an electric version so we don't have to deal with gasoline, but for right now it works OK.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Gabe,

Where did you pick up a four stroke honda for such a good price??

[ennismaple]

We've got a 2" Honda transfer pump last year. We can fill our 525 gallon gathering tank in less than 10 minutes.

[Sugarmaker]

Softmaple,
Lots of pumps out there how much and how fast determine part of the equation. At the sugarhouse or on a pick up truck might be other issues.
We have a 110 v sump pump in the bulk tank that pumps sap up 12 feet to two storage tanks.
Also have a Rule Bilge pump ( 12V) @ 3000 GPH in truck dumping station and a Rule 2000 GPH (12V) on a remote hose for pumping to the dumping station.

Chris

[hard maple]

Brandon
I got the pump in Keene NH ,Guyettes sales and service
349.00 I paid
that's the MSRP on the honda 1" pump
It's 37 gal per minute
The tanaka is 32 gal per minute and they want 450.00

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have 2 tanka pumps and I really like them a lot. The last one I got brand new shipped to me for less than $ 90. It was probably 20 years old or maybe older and it was still in original box which also looked like new and had been sitting in a warehouse the entire time. They listed it as a TAS tanaka and probably threw a lot of people off. Gotta love ebay!

Gabe,

Is yours actually a Honda brand or another brand with a Honda engine on it?? I would like to have a 4 cycle pump as they are probably more durable in the long run?? How much does it weigh??

[H. Walker]

We've got a 2" Honda transfer pump last year. We can fill our 525 gallon gathering tank in less than 10 minutes.
ennismaple where did you buy your pump? I've looked at TSC and Crappy Tire.

[Russell Lampron]

Brandon I have a Honda WX10 1" pump. I got mine on line about 8 years ago and don't remember from who. You can buy a similar 1" pump with the same Honda engine from Lowes. Royalmaple bought one last year. The Honda dealer where I bought my 4 wheeler also sells them.

Russ

[ennismaple]

ennismaple where did you buy your pump? I've looked at TSC and Crappy Tire.

I'm pretty sure we got it at Carson's in Perth. Their phone # is 613-267-3443.

[royalmaple]

I bought my honda pump at lowes last year. 4 stroke, works great. I'm pretty sure it was at or below 300 bucks.

[softmaple]

thanks eveyone, i found a pump at lowes

[ennismaple]

Lowes just opened in Ontario with a few stores - I haven't been there yet.

For comparison - the 2" (WB20x) pump we have is MSRP $569 on Honda Canada's website (we pd a fair bit less than that) and MSRP $427 on the Honda USA website. Shop around and I'm sure you can do better.

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

I think you will like the store they have a lot of stuff

RICH