Shurflo's capabilities

[maple milker]

It's incredible what even 10 inches of vacuum will achieve. It was taking 90 seconds to fill a 10 oz glass on gravity on 80 taps. After switching to my 2088 and waiting for 15 minutes it filled in 30 seconds!

[awpoolco]

Has anyone tried the shurflo 8000 for their tubing runs?

[motowbrowne]

https://youtu.be/C0agMD1YRa0

This is a Shurflo 2088 hooked up to 265 taps on 3/16. If I'm diligent about finding leaks, it pulls a consistent 20" at the mainline. It's worked very well for me this year.

[awpoolco]

So, what is the difference in all these model numbers for the shurflo pumps? Do any of them come with female NPT? How about this 8000 model seems to be just like the rest only more powerful. Am I missing some important detail? Is bigger better?

[Cedar Eater]

So, what is the difference in all these model numbers for the shurflo pumps? Do any of them come with female NPT? How about this 8000 model seems to be just like the rest only more powerful. Am I missing some important detail? Is bigger better?

The 2088 has three chambers, the 4008 has four. The more chambers, the smoother and quieter it will run and that also boosts the flow rate. The cheap Chinese Favson class pumps have two chambers.

[awpoolco]

i bought this pump, what do you think? NorthStar NSQ Series 12V On-Demand Diaphragm Pump - 3 GPM @ 60 PSI

[awpoolco]

Well guys, I have a guess that the pump I bought is only a one chamber pump. Do you feel this is why my vacuum is so low. Taking it apart now to see if there is anything causing issues. It pumps like crazy, as a transfer pump and does 3 gpm as advertised, but has very little vacuum capability. I have plugged all the leaks I can find. I also decided I would see what kind of vacuum it would build on a 500' roll of tubing and one tap and a 30' drop in elevation from top to bottom and no measurable sap flow to speak of at 35 degrees. It pulled a measly 3" at the top and 5" at the bottom… We will see what it does when the sap flows on monday at sunny and 47. The rest of my 275 taps will have to run on gravity while I mess with this some more.

[Cedar Eater]

Do you have a vacuum gauge on the suction side of the pump? Have you tried a bypass line to wet the diaphragm?

[awpoolco]

yes i do. To both questions. With the recirculation running the pump runs like crazy if I ope a valve to the tubing lines every bit of vacuum is lost. i get about 3-5 inches max. I have 30' of elevation, that in itself will produce some natural vacuum. Does the number of chamber to the pump make a difference in holding a vacuum? I still think Its either a leak or the wrong kind of pump

[Biz]

That looks a lot like the Favson pump. I built a test setup with a Favson a couple weeks ago and found that it cannot self prime well, won't pull 4 ft but can do 1-2 ft. Once going, it pumps good and I was able to get around 20" on a gauge. Definitely needs to be wetted or have a recirculate line. Seems like it should work well at the bottom of a line with a slight grade but I bet it is very sensitive to leaks. I ran out of time to test it out on a real sap line.

Dave