Vacuum Recommendation

[Maplewalnut]

So hypothetically, say you had a little extra cash (if ithere is such a thing) Your gravity tubing is just about complete and your now turning your attention to vacuum (which you told the wife wasn't supposed to be until next year)

Here are the specs:
-Looking for a electric model pump
--300 taps no more than 350
-tubing dumps into a collection tank about 60 yards away and 20 feet lower than the holding tank outside the sugarhouse.
-Tanks are all old milk tanks not zero
-releaser?

[Mark-NH]

You could try to locate a used "sap puller". They are put together by a guy in St. Johnsbury, VT and sold through Goodrich's. They only produce 18" with the diaphram pumps but they are cheap up front, require no releaser and will work well on 350 taps.

[tuckermtn]

surge/alamo pumps can be found in the $100-200 range with an electric motor...the SP-11 would be fine for that many taps...

the releaser is where you get into $$.

I bought a lapereier hobby releaser last winter from the mapleguys...$500 plus. but a nice rig...

then you have to factor in $100-200 for vac. regulator, home-made moisture trap, gauges, check valve, etc...

I figured I had $800 into it by the time I was done...for the 150 taps I have it on it works well...but a lot of $$ for a small bush...your better off at 300 taps...

how did you size your mainline?

not sure how your milk tank is set-up, but sometimes you can get the releaser to dump where the agitator was..

[Gary R]

Would anyone have more information on the sap pullers? Can a guy build one? any pictures or a diagram?

If I ever get a case of the maple bug, I could see 100 - 150 taps. I would have to move the sap about 100 yards and lift it about 20 ft. to get into a head tank.

Thanks!

[Russell Lampron]

Gary R,

If you are on this site you have already been bitten by the maple bug. It is biting harder if you are thinking about vacuum and adding more taps.

[Jim Brown]

Guys ;Most of the 'sap pullers' i have heard about were peristaltic pumps and the folks that have them say they work find for a small amount of taps. and you don't need a releaser or vac pump.
just a thought
Jim

[royalmaple]

I think you would be kinda let down with a sap puller. Personally I'd scrounge around and get a dairy pump first. big vac = big sap.

[sapman]

I've heard that ice is tough on the "sap puller". I can imagine, since I install small peristaltic chmeical feed pumps at work, and the ice would be very abrasive on the roller tube.

Tim

[Gary R]

OK, so I have a problem. Every day I think about what I could do with my operation. I still don't have everything ready for my second season of sugaring ever.

Marks reply here talks of the sap puller having a diapragm pump. I use peristaltic pumps at work. I think it would take a huge one for sap pulling.

I don't know Maplewalnut's situation but here's my best thoughts on my layout. I would not want to ladder the sap to the sugarhouse. I don't want to have pipes and wire across the yard and my roads year around. My garage is heated. I would put a vacuum pump and a water pump that has suction capabilities in the garage. Run a dry line to a releaser in the wood's. then use the water pump to pump that tank to a head tank for the evaporator. I would only have 2, 3/4" lines that I would have to roll out or up for the season.

Now that seem's like a lot stuff for 100 taps. Is this a good idea or is there a better way?

When's the next Mapleholics meeting:)

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

it sounds better than buckets

RICH

[Maplewalnut]

Tucker-I put in 3/4 mainline.

This year I'll only have about 200 taps on it. I think I have a line on a sp-22 locally but it doesn't have a motor. What size is recommended? 1.5 horse do it?

That little releaser sounds ideal, I am going to contact chris today to see if they can still get one that size.

[tuckermtn]

I think a 1.5 hp electric would be fine...Surge reccomends a 3/4 hp electric on the SP-11 (I got an almost new farm duty 1hp online for cheap on my sp-11) , and I seem to recall the SP-22 is about twice the pump an SP-11 is...

[royalmaple]

The sp-22's I have all have 1.5hp motors on them.

I am trying to single handidly buy everyone up so I can corner the market.

[Parker]

The next maplehaulics meeting is at my sugarhouse tommrow at 8PM,,All are welcome,,,,,,
If you have a chance to get a SP-22 its DEFINATLY worth looking at,,,just check to make sure it still pulls vac. put your hand over the intake pipe and turn the flywheel over in the direction the arrow on the head is pointing,,,,,should be able to feel "good" vacuum........

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maplewalnut]

Alright first the good news...I broached the subject of vacuum with the wife and she said go for it. I was shocked but without saying anything got in my truck to go look at the sp-22 the next town over.

Now the bad news...the sp-22 turned aout to be an sp-11 and the guy wants double of what I heard he was asking.

What is the difference between sp-11 and sp-22 tap wise? Again only looking for 200-250 tap max on this bush.

Anyone who has one for sale feel free to PM me.

Thanks Mike

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[tuckermtn]

Mplwalnut...What does the guy want for the sp-11? For comparison shopping there are 2 on ebay now, and for retail, check out

www.portablemilkers.com - guy seems to be a surge guru...

I think you would be fine with the sp-11 on 200-250 taps...

Also- I think I owe Mark Casper and perhaps someone else a SP-11 manual..I just scanned the manual and made them in .pdf files so if anyone wants one, PM me with your regular email address... the manual is good for a rebuild, and some basics, but not really a "users manual"

[Parker]

I had an sp-11 on a tight 400 and was happy with it,,,,
Pretty sparse turn out at the sugarhouse tonight ,,,

[Gary R]

Sorry for the no show. Wish I lived closer. I'd like to soak in some suds and knowledge:)

[danno]

If a SP does not come through, a delaval 75 dairy pump would run nice on that size operation. Can often find them at farm auctions cheap. Still need to bite the bullet with a releaser or zero tank

[Maplewalnut]

Tucker- he is asking $300 for just the pump, no motor. The farms are long dried up and replaced with subdivisions so you have to look long and hard to find something within 50 miles. Its the old story supply and demand

[tuckermtn]

$300 for just the pump is too high IMHO..still a while till season starts, so you have a bit of a cushion...

[OGDENS SUGAR BUSH]

i agree its to high, keep looking there some out there cheaper than that

RICH

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[tuckermtn]

Should we make it ever other tuesday night at Maple Creek? 3%, Mark-nh, Russ is only in Loudon...

I'll be there...

-Eric

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

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[Mark-NH]

Let me know when the next meeting is. I'd like to make it over.