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Thread: Surflow question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
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    Munster Indiana
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    103

    Default Surflow question

    This is going to be my first year with tubing, and I'm also going to run surflow pump like many other people do on the forum. My pump will be in a box on the ground with my 3/4 mainline running to the inlet. The property is like dead flat and there's no way of situating the top my gathering tank level or downhill to the outlet of my pump. With that being said is there going to be an issue with my surflow 4048 pumping up the 4 ft into my Ibc tote? Also should I make the outlet 1/2in or 3/4? I figured 1/2 might be better so the pump doesn't have to push as much volume up the 4 ft. Thanks guys

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    Campbellford, on
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    682

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    Yup should be no problem pumping up 4' into your tank. I had a 3/8 outlet line on my pumps and they worked fine but I would think 1/2 would be fine too.
    Maple Rock Farm
    www.Maplerockfarm.ca
    400 taps on Vacuum
    18”x60” Lapierre propane evaporator with Smokey Lake auto draw off
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    Ford TS110 tractor sap hauler

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
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    Corinth, New York, United States
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    557

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    I had my pump actually run all line up a tree after the pump and go to my sugar house so I could drive my truck under it. I think it was about 9 feet. Jeff
    2021 230 Taps on vacuum
    Smokylake 2X6 pan set with auto drawoff
    Homebuilt 2 4x40 membrane RO
    Homebuilt filter press
    Rebuilt arch with under and over the fire air we have named V 2.0
    Smokylake steam bottler
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    500 gallon vertical polytank to store sap for RO
    Adding a laser eye to my bottler for autofill/stop

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Northern Michigan
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    497

    Default

    Two of mine pump up 3' to the tank opening and it works great. I use 1/2" tubing and it works just fine. It helps having the pump low so the sap runs down to the pump rather than sucking it up to the pump as those pumps create better vacuum when the diaphram is kept wet.
    Gary
    16' X 24' Sugarhouse
    2' X 6' Leader Inferno Arch with Revolution Raised-Flue Pans, Smoky Lake preheater and hood
    Deer Run Maple gas-powered 250 RO
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    Kubota 1100 RTV with tracks and 125 gallon tank for transporting sap
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    Very supportive wife who is the best coworker
    http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...ing-Sugarhouse

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,080

    Default

    Is there any problem with the discharge line being frozen when it starts up if on a controller or is this usually thawed out along with the rest of your lines?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Munster Indiana
    Posts
    103

    Default

    I'm not sure yet, this will be my first year on tubing and pump. If I have to I can put some heat tape on it if I need to. Also do I need to put some type of heat source in the box to keep my pump from freezing?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Walpole, NH
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    1,363

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    I would be more concerned about the pump being full of liquid and freezing splitting the pump open. A little freeze probably won't hurt it, but a solid freeze could crack the plastic pump.
    Sugaring for 45+ years
    New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
    New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
    2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
    250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    440

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MunsterMapler View Post
    I'm not sure yet, this will be my first year on tubing and pump. If I have to I can put some heat tape on it if I need to. Also do I need to put some type of heat source in the box to keep my pump from freezing?
    I pump up a few feet to clear my barrel, too. It delays the start sometimes, but not too much. I've thought about freeze tape - but warm sap sitting overnight might breed bacteria, so I would want to switch it on only when it's ready to run. I find that if the tube is pretty straight and there is no fitting, all the ice pumps out pretty soon after the thaw. If your tube is in the sun, you'll be better off.
    Jamie Jones
    2017 - 120 taps, 68G syrup - automated pumping from collection to head tank
    2016 - 118 taps (about half on 3/16"), 60G syrup
    2015 - 115 taps, 58G syrup - new wireless blower switch and remote pump switch from tank to shack
    2014 - 120 taps, 53G syrup - hobby vac
    2013 - 120 taps, 40G syrup - Sunrise Metal 2x6, 12x14 sugarhouse
    2012 - 44 taps, 6G syrup -gravity tube, 4 steam pans on block arch, plastic greenhouse shack - (I'm hooked!)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Cuba, NY
    Posts
    379

    Default

    If you search shurflo on here you will find lots of info on these. Pumping is what these pumps were designed for, so they can pump up hill no problem. Lots of guys on here use a temp controller on these to save battery and pump life, and to help avoid freezing. Set them to kick on like 35-40 degrees and shut off at 25 or so. There a lots of pictures of different setups on here. You will find that the DC pumps will outlast the AC pumps too. Like 4-5 times longer. The brushes wear out more quickly with the AC pumps. Also, if you have a recirc line coming off your tank back to the pump, this will keep the pump diaphragm wet and really help with higher vacuum.

    Try this one. http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...hlight=shurflo

    Good luck and enjoy...
    220 Taps
    2x6 Home made
    Sap Shack 20x20
    5 Shurflo diaphragm pumps
    250 GPH Deer run RO

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