Max drops on a Shurflo 4048?

[deckers007]

Currently have 7 runs of 3/16 tubing with 25 drops on each run, i was hoping to put 4 of those longer runs on a new Shurflo pump with a manifold. I was told once that 100 is about the max on a Shurflo, but does anyone have experience with more that 100 taps on a Shurflo?

Thanks

[foursapsyrup1]

We are running @ 200 taps on a Shurflo 4048 and it works fine. We do have around a 5% grade on our lines also which helps.

[deckers007]

My Mistake, i purchased a 4008 shurflo, which is a 3GPM not a 4048 which is 4 GPM, not sure how big of differance that would make, however all 7 of my lines would be in a 7-8 % grade with a 25 - 30 foot elevation drop.

[Ultimatetreehugger]

I'm gonna try 250 on a 4008 this year, I'm sure it'll be fine but i have another one just in case.

[BAP]

I have 120 taps on a 4008. It handles it fine.

[zimmermg]

BAP - what size tubing on the 120 taps, any mainline? How much vacuum are you getting? How much slope? How long is the line or are there numerous lines? Curious as I have a 4008 and am debating how to set it up alot like Decker's initial question.

Thanks!

[mol1jb]

I think it depends on your individual sugar bush. I will have 140 taps on 3/16 coming all the way into a small manifold before my 4048 pump. But I have tremendous drop on each line (150ft drop over 1500 ft) so it makes sense to just bring each line right to the pump.

[Maplewalnut]

Not going to help you now but I will have comment in a couple weeks. I am hooking up a shurflo4048 on 350 taps and about 800 foot of 3/4 mainline. Most is very good slope for 3/16ths but about 30% of taps are on a plateau with little drop to mainline. Those taps I hope the shurflo will help

[BAP]

BAP - what size tubing on the 120 taps, any mainline? How much vacuum are you getting? How much slope? How long is the line or are there numerous lines? Curious as I have a 4008 and am debating how to set it up alot like Decker's initial question.

Thanks!

Sorry didn’t get back to you quicker, been busy with the holidays. I have 120 taps that come into the pump in 1/2” mainline coming from 2 directions merging right before the pump. I set this up right before 3/16” came to market so it is 5/16” with 5-10 taps per line. I have a recirculation line to the tank with a throttling valve so I can keep a small flow through the pump at all times. I am usually getting between 17-21” of vacuum as long as I keep sap going through the pump. It takes a while to build up that much vacuum with the small pump. Before adding the recirculation line, vacuum was running 10-12” and I was having troubles with the vacuum locking up the flow through the pump. It would reach a decent vacuum level, but if sap wasn’t running much, it would kind of vapor lock and the pump would stop pulling the sap in. It would still make vacuum, but could not pick up the liquid to pump it. The recirculation line stopped that problem. When I empty my tank, I leave a couple gallons in it so there is enough to keep the line covered.

[zimmermg]

Thanks for the info BAP, very helpful!