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Theron,
Last spring I watched a freind of ours running his 600gph CDL RO just in case I thought I wanted one. It seemed really simple and I would have to say it was the least complicated looking one I have seen. Your going to need a fork truck to move all those drums of syrup your going to make!
Mark
Mark- I think I might make some syrup. We'll have to see what happens. Im starting to go into freak out mode I think now that its about done. I go up in the woods and all I see is blue. Im starting to think maybe I got a little carried away. Oh well, it looks like im doing a hell of a stroke. Ill probly learn what im doing. Hows your pump coming along. I might fire mine up pretty soon. Theeeeron
Congrates on the ro. Good luck for the season.
Theron - I hope your 600GPH CDL RO comes with a better instruction manual than the franglais gibberish we got with ours. We made the CDL rep come back 2 days later to show us how to do it properly and not how the piece-of-crap 4 sheets of paper we got with the machine said. If the rep delivers your machine get him to show you everything - how to concentrate, do your daily wash and your end of season wash and WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN!!!! It might help to write it down with a Sharpie on the wall beside the machine and number every single valve. I still find it somewhat overwhelming sometimes.
Enjoy your new toy!!!! I'd say you'll wonder how you ever managed without it but you went straight to the easy life and never had to boil for 40 straight hours! Softie... ;-)
Ennismaple- I think this is going to be pretty user friendly. There really isnt any external valves to operate I dont think. The machine kind of does it for you. Im kind of lucky becouse I bought the machine from Richard (sugarmaster) and he lives near me and his man is installing it and Richard said he'd have him come over first run and operate it for me so Ill know what im doing. Ill study it all out too. I wont have any lack of support with Richard. I talked to Matt about it and I know usually there is a bunch of valves to operate externally but with this one I think its all done on the face of it for the most part. I did cheat big time. I feel a little overwhelmed with the technology but once I figure out what im doing I should have it pretty easy like you say. Mountainvan- Thanks for the congrads.
Theron-As a former service tech for those machines you will not have a hard time figuring it out. The biggest thing most people have is fear of doing something wrong and blowing the thing up. About the only thing you can do wrong if they are made the same way is plugging the recirc pumps in before you get 20 lbs of operating pressure. If they start before 20lbs are reached it can ruin the mechanical seal. This is only on the first start of the season. I haven't looked at these machines in 2 years so they may have changed that as they were the only company that didn't have a pressure relay switch to protect them on start up. If you can't get ahold of Richard for some strange reason you can call me and I will talk you thru it.
Marty- I have been making 20-30 gals of syrup per year on my homeade flat pan for about 20 years believe of not. So Im due for a little cheating. I have never made a gallon of syrup on real evap in my life though with any kind of sap. Gonna learn everything at once. Parker says Im going to learn real quick or my season will be over real quick. What the heck I like to think big. Theeeeron
Jerry- I appreciate that a lot. I have a neighbor that has one too and he said hed run right up so I think ill be good. Im sure once I do it Ill get in the groove. Im going to finish up the plumbing and everything I think today so maybe tomarrow Ill fire up that vac pump and see what happens. No sense sitting around worrying once I get everything done I might as well go right at it as far as trying things. This ro is different I think than the ones ive seen. Usually there is a bunch of valves you have to operate externally but I dont believe this is like that at all. Everything is swapped around internally if I understand it right. Ill know more tonight. Theron
How many syrup barrels do you have Theron? :) I am going to try to get out in the sugarwoods today,,,been out straight logging,,,fun to read all the posts of other people getting ready,,,,,,this is the first winter I have not been doing a major expansion,,,just a littel fixing here and there,,,,pretty well maxed out on the # of taps that I can keep up with boiling,,,
Parker- I have access to all I need from Richard. Just have to go get them as I can fill them. I know what you mean its fun to hear about everybody expanding and everything becouse its always exciting to see what the woods does and how much sap you get etc. Ive got to go get dads tractor, talk to you later. Theron