sap transfer pumps

I just picked up a 500 gph bilge from Irwin marine for $25. Can't vouch for how well it works but it's cheap enough for me to play around with.

I have a transfer pump...(don't want a submersive pump because I don't know if it is allowed don't know what's in the plastic that could leach out!!!)
the one I have is from lowes and was $140 stainless housing inside is plastic...the thing is I don't know if the plastic is food grade!!!! So am I allowed to use it??? nowhere in the packaging does it say anything about about NSF or ok for potable water. it won't rust or leach lead because there is no brass. just worried about the plastic.

thing is I don't want to use the gas pump beacuse I don't want that noise at those last night boiling parties. and I would have to start it up every 1-1/2 hours.

I do have a lead free brass foot valve.

What does everyone think about this pump. I want a small pump for in the sugar shack for transfering sap from a 55 gallon collecting tank to a storage tank or from a storage tank into the feed tank.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

has brass fittings make sure they are made with lead free brass.

Would have to be a incredibly slow pump to contaminate water if it was possible. The lead leaching would come from useing brass fitting where heat hit it if it happened anywheres. As to a pump your talking about sap rushing through it at speed. With plastic not many things like impellers and houseings would be made with recycled plastic as it"s not dependable enough for that kind of purpose. If the submersible is made for water transfer it would be okay.

Better make sure the submersible pump is oil free and it should be ok.

I ordered that pump that I posted earlier. It should be here the end of the week or the begining of next week.

farmboy,
have you verified that the pump does not have grease inside it that would contaminate the syrup? I went to home depot tonight and picked one up. When I stuck a Q-tip inside the housing (both intake and outflow sides) there was grease. I had bought one made of plastic, the kind that you attach a drill to. I would love to know if the one you got is grease free. I called a plumbing supply store (FW Webb) and they told me they didn't have any that did not contaminate potable water.

Those drill pumps are worthless. I bought 2 to transfer 10 gallons of bad diesel out of a tank. Figuring they'd be disposable after the job was done. I moved 3 gallons before both died.

So can someone tell me what they are doing to clean out the grease in these pumps so that there is no affect to syrup from grease, etc leaching into the sap? I searched prior threads and don't see any concrete info on this. Or does someone have a specific model that one could get at home depot/Lowes that they know is ok for transferring sap?