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looking for a sap transfer pump so i can pump my pick up tank to the sap tank at the house and also pump my collection tanks into my truck tank. been looking at the small 2cycle pumps they have like the tanaka but thats a bit more than i want to spend. also was looking at the harbor freight pump and the one at northern tool are these any good? they seem like a better deal but not too sure about the quality as i have got some harbor freight junk b4. thanks for any help,jim
I have a tanaka 2 cycle and a honda 4 stroke. Look into a WX10 or a WX15
I now only use my tanaka as a back up. The honda uses a fraction of the fuel the tanaka uses and it doesn't stink from the 2 cycle gas.
Stick with a good brand. it is not fun to be trying to start an engine or repair a cheap model so make sure you can get good feedback from what ever you buy
Good luck
Keith
I have been using the small 1" pump from Northern Tool for the past three years and it works like a charm. Uses the same oil mixture as my chainsaw and will easily move 300gal in about 8-10 minutes.
i too use the 1 incher from northern tool. it works mint for me, and its light.
We used a Homelite, 1" discharge, 2-stroke for years and were very happy with it. We still have it for backup. Our main pumps now are a Honda 4-stroke, 1" and a Robin/Subaru 4-stroke with the 1" discharge. The latter came from Harbor Freight, but I don't think they carry those anymore.
Theres nothing wrong with the 2-strokes, but I do like the fact now that all I have to do it put straight gas in and go. No more fumbling around with the oil and mixing when I'm in a hurry. Also, the exhaust tone from the 4-strokes are a little easier on the ears than the 2-strokes.
These style pumps are easy to move and the hoses are a lot easier to work with than the 2" and 3" hoses of the bigger pumps. We have quick disconnect fittings on all our hoses and pumps for ease of use too.
Steve
I got one of those gas engines for a gocart from Harbor fright a Honda Knockoff. It will last about a year before the side case bolts come out and the carb starts falling apart. Do you really want to be out side working on it some night in the dark cold. All your guests are in side eating the hot Pizza that the wife brought out and there isnt a drop of sap in sight because its all running on the ground becouse the pump wont run. Your all greasy dirty from fixing the recoil rope for the 10th time from your buddy who is 6'5" keeps pulling the thing to the end and POP. It cold in the sap shack becaues the fire is out and you can get sap. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING:emb: DO THE RIGHT THING SPEND THE MONEY
One a side note on the 2 stroke pumps, I handled 4500 gallon of sap with twice last year with 2 Tanaka pumps and didn't use much over a gallon of fuel mix.
I just purchased the 2-stroke pump from Tractor Supply with the Mitsubishi engine. Tested it for the first time yesterday and it sprays like a fire hose!
i have a 1 inch techumseh pump, 2 cycle, and works great probably not any higher quality than most but i love that parts are easy to get from my local saw and mower shop, he stocks most stuff cause its the same motor as the ice augers use. and pumps my 300 gal tank uphill 20 ft in about 10 min
would you guys quit messing around with the 1 inch pumps if you want to move sap move sap with a 2 inch pump much quicker and no mixing gas.i got mine at tsc for about the same money as the little ones. wtih about a 1/3 of the time.
I have the 4 strole briggs 2" and all I ever do is run it dry at the end of the sap season and put it away till next season:)
yea i would love to have something that pumps a bit faster too, but one of my tanks is about 60 ft down in a valley from where i can park the truck, and about 20 ft elevation rise so to pump out this tank i carry the pump down to the tank and connect it to the pump line i have laid up the hill and then pump that way. i can easily carry a 1 inch pump and short hose with me, but i would have a struggle carrying a 2 inch pump that far alone so the small pumps do have there applications. and i wouldnt want to try and prime a pump sucking sap up that far if i left the pump on the truck as some guys do with the largerQuote:
Originally Posted by maplemat1
pumps
Same reason I use a 1" pump, it is a lot lighter and easier to transport as I have to carry it to tanks to pump to the tractor up to 50 yards away and easier to transport on the tractor too.
If you can drive right up to a bulk tank(s) with your collection vehicle and you have hundreds or even a thousand gallons of sap to move, then yes, the larger pumps would be more practical.
On the other side of it, if your a smaller producer, with smaller collection vessels, in hard to reach areas, possibly a bad back, with a smaller maple budget, with children who like to help with collecting, etc., etc., then the 1" pumps are ideal.
I have the opportunity to purchase, from a friend, a fire truck with a 500gpm pump. That set-up would make all you guys out there with 2 and 3" pumps look like they came with some Barbie & Ken dolls.
Am I going to buy the truck for sap? Probably not. (But it would be neat!) Just trying to say that everybody's situation is different. Theres no need to try to brow beat someone into a large engine and pump if they don't need it.
Steve
I have the same 1" 2-stroke pump from TSC. It worked great last year without any issues...even when my wife left it outside full of sap and it froze solid. All it did was leak a bit and it finished out the season like that...a little RTV sealant and good to go. It is a bit loud, but it weighs nothing, pumps great, simple, easy to fix, and cheap. I like 2-strokes because they're simple. If something goes wrong, it's usually the rings. Put in a new set of rings and you're all set. As far as fuel effiency, I pumped about 6000 gallons into the truck then moving it around the SH and I don't think I went through more than a gallon of gas. Unless you're moving 10's of thousands of gallons of sap, I don't think fuel efficiency is much of a concern. If they're properly tuned and wide open, they don't stink. Did I mention it didn't weigh anything. I think it's rated for 9 lbs and I haven't found one close to that.
Happened to be in Tractor supply picking up a couple of things today and noticed the pump Josh referred to had been reduced to $ 219 from $ 239 and it looked like a very nice pump.
I've got a Wajax fire pump that you've got to lean into the when it's pumping.
It's high compression so I don't think the wife has been able to start it for 10 years.
I've used a Honda mower for 25 years. Starts 1st pull every time. With all the extra taps we getting this year, the wife will be doing a lot of the collecting so easy starting is #1. And then we only fill a pair of 35 gallon tanks on the Gator so a 1" will do fine. The hose weight will be easier for her too. Honda here we come.
Brandon, I think when I bought it last year it was $269. That's cheap money for a pump. Aren't the honda's in the $400 range?
Another thing. You don't want a pump that's too big. They're heavy and you don't need to be able to pump 100 gpm unless you're emptying a 1000 gal tank every day. The TSC pump pumps 37 gpm which fills/empties my truck tank in about 6 minutes. It gives you time to check the tanks over, releaser, some taps, and etc. The 1" pumps are a good all-purpose pump.
Josh,
I think it had a Mitsubishi engine on it and was a nice looking pump.
That is correct. It runs and pumps great.
Honda !!!!
Jim,
I bought a new sump pump at the Big Box for $60. It empties a 55 gallon drum in about 12 minutes. Works just fine for my operation. Be sure to buy a kinkless drinking water hose at the RV store. An el cheapo hose does not work well in cold weather.
Good luck,
Marc
Hi folks,
I have been trying to figure out what type of pump I would need to pump sap from sap haluer tank to the 55 gallon drum in the sugar shack and having trouble because when I spoke to the plumbing supply place they said that none of them would be safe on the "potable" side. Are their any pumps that don't contaminate the sap in any way? If so, what kind? Thanks!
Also in the market for a pump.
Just read through the thread, did a little research, and found that Northern tool sells a 1” 2-stroke for $145. It is rated to run about 26 GPM with a 23 foot head.
Compare that to the offering from Harbor Freight…a 1.5” 4 stroke for $170. 52 GPM, 23 foot suction height and 72 foot head lift.
For the extra $25, I think I’d go with the bigger 4-stroke. I can’t make out what brand engine is on it though, that kind of gives me the willies.
Tractor supply didn’t have one listed on their site for under $250, but I have to stop in tonight to pick up some chicken feed, I’ll have a look then.
In the meantime…anyone have this fella here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95123
If so, what do you think of it?
Brian,Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Ledoux
Last year I used a fountain pump ( submersible electric) that I got from home depot. It did OK but was slow, took about 20 minutes to empty a 65 gallon collection tank.
Because I was running much the same as you, it didn’t bother me much. The arch and holding tank were close to a power source. I think I spent $50~60 on that pump.
Going to tube and doubling my tap count made that pump obsolete, it resides in mama’s pond now. :lol:
Tweegs,
Not 100% sure but I think that harbor freight motor is a "jingdong" (or something like that) from China. If so it is a honda knock off. I have several of the motors. some on pumps, one on a wood splitter. They are ok...certainly not a honda but they are serviceable and cheap.
So where can you get an electirc water transfer pump for potable water???
that won't break the bank!!!
bascom's cheapest is like $800:o
I got one during the summer has a stainless casing took it apart well its plastic on the inside don't know if its good for sap?
Please help
Reminds me of pumping sap with a Tanaka pump back in the late 80's. We also used it to feed the water bowls when the barn water froze for 90 head of cows. Pumped the water from the river! Yikes...probably a no no.:emb:
Harbor Freight had a 2 stroke gas 1" pump on sale for $ 99 in the February flier that came out a few days ago. It is the month long flier.
Where is Harbor Freight? Is it an eastern thing? I have never heard of it. I am looking for a pump like this or a bit bigger. The cheapest 2'' pump at a local farm supply place is like $450. Now it says 11/2" x 2". Whats up with that? Don't they have to be the same?
Tractor Supply has a 2" pump that I'm going to try this year. Here's the link -
http://www.tractorsupply.com/agricul...ransfer%20Pump
Also, their 1" pump is very similar to the 1" Tanaka for alot less money. I'll find out how well they last.
Jim
My lucky day!
The original owners of this house died several years ago. Their kids sold it to me and mama back in ’08. They left a bunch of stuff behind, including an older pump.
Got to thinking about it while I was in tractor supply last night checking their pumps, noticed they had replacement pump heads. If the engine ran, I thought, I could just replace the head and save about a hundred bucks. Worst case I would be out a little oil, a splash of gas, and maybe the price of a plug for the effort.
Brought that old pump down this morning, the pump head was seized, but it came off with little trouble. It had good spark with the plug that was in it and the compression felt good. Changed the oil, added gas and it fired right up. Gotta love a Briggs.
Inch and a half inlet and outlet on it, figure the 4 stroke engine is in the neighborhood of 4 HP. Now if I can get a head to match up, I should be golden.
And you can't un seize it or rebuild it.
Here is link to stores in Wis. Could even do better but where the hell is Knapp.Quote:
Originally Posted by markcasper
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...l_stores.taf#W
Nah, the head itself looks like it had a bit of a hard life. Metal, rusted, had been welded to stop a leak, I assume, was packed full of sand, and the impeller was cracked…probably a result of water (ice) still in it, along with the sand. Though I have to admit, I gave it a think. Couldn’t resist pulling it apart. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by KenWP
I shudder at the notion of what may have gone through it, water wise, and then use it to transfer sap?...Bleh.
No, methinks it would be cheaper, and fewer headaches, to just replace it.
so as far as an electric sap pump goes, A shallow well jet pump should be fine right? It is cast iron housing and has stainless shafts. and you can get then at lowes starting at 167 for 1/2 hp and 9 gpm. from what I read you have to disconnect the pressure switch to use it as a transfer pump.
I had a 3 inch Honda trash pump that we used a lot when sewer lines plugged up and I got it from the last people that borrowed it and it started fine but would not suck no matter how much a primed it. Took it apart and there was a 9/16 wrench in it that had taken out the impellers period. Cost me $750 bucks for a new one and I had to take the pump part to a guy with a large vice and a torch and a huge impact wrench to get it off. Then turned out he burnt up the back seal heating it and had to order one ofthose too.
People who had borrowed it didn't say much when I gave them the wrench back and told them I charged it to their account at NAPA.
I don’t know Brad…Quote:
Originally Posted by red maples
For $167, I think I would go with a gas engine and pull the 52 odd GPM. I would think the cast iron will rust , not that we all can’t use a little iron in our diet, but an off flavor perhaps? Just speculating here.
I haven’t looked, but doesn’t Lowes carry an all plastic submersible sump pump? Thought being to remove the float, wire the float contact high, and add an on/off switch to the power line. I don’t know what the GPM is on such a thing, or the price, but it seems to me some were under $100.
TSC has a submerisble for 70.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/home-im...60-gph-3123051
No float.
But I'm thinking about going with this.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=9576
12v transfer pump for 40.
I have a gas pump for tanks, but this might be good for going between storage and the head tank.
Dill,
If you're going 12v look at Rule bilge pumps.
Jim