Oil Reclaimer piping

[gearpump]

I am in the process of working out the piping on my homemade reclaimer and I was wondering if anybody knows what the brass fitting is in the picture. I am assuming it is a check valve. But why? My theory is to keep the oil from being sucked back into the reclaimer when the pump shuts down. I suppose this would prevent a "dry" start in the pump head. Any thoughts would be great.

[Dennis H.]

Yes that is a spring checkvalve. They also make great vac regulators!!

Did you get to see the direction of the flow arrow that is on the outside? What does the black hose go to?

[Haynes Forest Products]

IM:confused: You said your making this thing and you dont know what your putting on it? Dennis is right but could you take a bigger picture and explain how you built it. Then we could tell you why you did it that way;)

[gearpump]

The picture is of a commercial made reclaimer taken at Bascoms. I am in the design stages of building my own. I am going to order all my parts and fittings at one time, so I wondering if I need to add this part to my list. I do agree that the check valve could be some sort of regulating device for oil. The pipe goes from this this fitting to a lube oil filter, then into the pump head. I did not see any arrow and that is what confused me as to what it was.

[Dennis H.]

It sounds like it is to prevent back flow of oil from the pump and if the oil filter is higher than the checkvalve it would keep the oil in the oil filter.

Just a side note to your plans. Find a way to cool the exhaust of the vac pump so as much oil settles out as you can.

I used a Delaval oil reclaimer from a Delaval 76 pump with my surge alamo pump. Works great getting oil into the pump but after about 15 minutes of running it is running hot enough that there is always a very fine oil "smoke" coming out of the oil reclaimer exhaust port. After about an hour of running the oil reclaimer is hot to the touch. I wish I had an old car radiator to use as a cooler to put right before the oil reclaimer. I then would run a tube from the radiator drain plug to the oil reclaimer so any oil that settles out in the radiator would then run to the oil reclaimer tank.

Haynes has a nice setup for a vac, maybe he can post some pics.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I like Dennises Idea of the radiator and the return line out the petcock:) I do have the beast on the fotobucket.........BUT she is in the garage to be reworked.............dont like the tank I made........I welded it up then ground the corners real nice and then I epoxy coated the inside and then it split a seam over the winter and a buddy was using it and had it welded.alot of floaters in the oil. Going to use a SS tank

[gearpump]

Almost done with my "homemade" reclaimer project. Just need to wire the motor and add some vac oil.



http://s1140.photobucket.com/albums/n561/journeysendmaple/oil%20reclaimer/

[Dennis H.]

Very nice.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I will second the real nice. Now one thing I would do go to Napa And get a section of high heat hose and put it between the pump and tank. It will keep the unit quieter and wont stress crack the pipe. That pump will wag the tank.

[maple flats]

My only question is if vibration might be a problem. My reclaimer is factory built but the plumbing from the pump to the reclaimer is some high temp rubber. Not sure exactly what, but something like that should eliminate vibration issues. I'm not sure it would be a problem, but you don't want to find out during the best run of the season, have the rigid connection fail and the pump seize up. Does anyone else see it as a problem?