Lunchbox Vacuum Releaser

[maple maniac65]

Is a star fitting the best way to introduce three separate 5/16 lines to the lunch box releaser.

Any other suggestions

[Haynes Forest Products]

It ain't a releaser....................OOOOOOOPS sorry

[mspina14]

I set up a 1/2" manifold with three incoming 5/16 lines:

Lunchbox manifold 1-20-18.jpg

Works good. I used a star fitting last year, but I like this set-up better.

I have about 80 taps on the Lunchbox.

Mark

[Acer]

Mark has certainly built a cool manifold.
The flow rate from 100 taps is not much and can easily be handled by a short length of 5/16 with the 5/16 lines from the bush Tee'd into it.
Basically like Mark did but 5/16 is ok too.

[lastwoodsman]

It will work with a mainline setup.
When ordering request the threaded adapter I think its 1/2npt. You can get that to plumb to the 3/4 mainline. Looks like you have a lot of taps. Leak control will be important or you will be mad at me.

Ha we were just discussing this yesterday-- I am going to try it,on a 3/4 in line with 60 or so taps

[Acer]

Hi Terry,
You can use mainline, but pump down times can get long if its too long, and forget it if you get a saddle leak.
Customers seem happiest on all 5/16 or 3/16 5/16 hybrid.
Dean

[Bricklayer]

I've had the lunchbox now for 3 seasons. And the star fitting right on the pump is the best method. I tried lots of different mainline setups and fittings. But went back to the star fitting. The vacuum created by the lunchbox pump is the same basically as the vacuum in 3/16 tubing. You want your lines full of sap all the time. Every time the pump cycles it pulls the liquid and creates vac at the tap hole. Adding somewhere for air to build up or a leak will make the pump cycle like crazy and you'll lose vacuum. Leaks are not good with this pump. You will know when you have one. And they aren't easy to find.

[maple maniac65]

I set up a 1/2" manifold with three incoming 5/16 lines:

Attachment 17960

Works good. I used a star fitting last year, but I like this set-up better.

I have about 80 taps on the Lunchbox.

Mark

Thank you for the idea. I have a star fitting on it with 35 taps coming in on 3 lines. So far the most I have got is about 50 gallons a day. My compressor runs constantly though. It is a 6 gallon ryobi. Don't believe I have leaks as all three lines are brand new. All 5/16ths

[Acer]

Thank you for the idea. I have a star fitting on it with 35 taps coming in on 3 lines. So far the most I have got is about 50 gallons a day. My compressor runs constantly though. It is a 6 gallon ryobi. Don't believe I have leaks as all three lines are brand new. All 5/16ths

You have leaks
Compressor should run once every 5-6 minutes or less with 35 taps.
look for air bubbles in your lines, and follow them back to the source of the leak.
dean

[mspina14]

It took me about 2-3 days last year to find leaks. It was the first year I used the Lunchbox pump.

Here's some things that helped me:

1. Install a quick connect ball valve on each line about 3-4 feet from where they enter the pump. This will let you isolate each line to check if they are leaking.
2. Check carefully where the tubing is touching a tree. This is where squires like to chew.
3. Check to make sure you haven't tapped any trees that are hollow or partially hollow (like I did!)
4. If you still can't find the leak, isolate one line at a time. Run the Lunchbox and walk the line starting at the Lunchbox and crimp the tubing between every tap as you walk with a pair of pliers or vise-grips. If the Lunchbox stops, there are no leaks between where you crimped the line and the Lunchbox. Keep walking and crimping. When you crimp the line and the Lunchbox keeps running, the leak is between where you are and where you last crimped.

Mark