3/16 Vacuum Problem
I have five 3/16 lateral's connecting to one 3/4" main line and they were all running really well today,(At least where they connect to the mainline). When I went to check my vac gauge's at the start (top) of each lateral they all read 0 vac? I have been told I have a blockage in a "T" fitting downhill from the gauge's. I did not walk the lines yet.The vac gauges are installed correctly. Would there be any other reason for this? This is my first year so very little experience.
Thanks
Don't count the 3/4 line when it comes to the vacuum. What I mean is if your going 15 ft to the 3/4 and then down hill 30-50-60 ft to you tank you only getting the 3/16 worth of vacuum.
Yup understood. My 3/16 lines are 500 plus ft long and tie into the mainline way down low closer to collection tank. I have 200 feet of drop from top to bottom with almost all of the trees 30 plus ft above the tank. Pretty steep grade.
Thanks for the reply.
If they are running good, on that slope, you have vac. Seems odd all five all doing the same thing, that's too coincidental. Is there sap moving in the lines right near the gauges?
Noel Good
1998 to 2009: 15 taps on buckets, scavenged fire pit and pans
2010: New 2x4 SS flat pan w/preheater
2015: New to me Lapierre 18x60 raised flue, new shack, new everything!! 59 taps 23.75 gallons
2016: 85 taps 19 gallons
2017: Purchased 2.5 acres and tubed half with 3/16. 145 taps total 49.25 gallons
2018: 200 taps (162 on 3/16ths 38 on buckets) New NextGen RO 63 gallons
2019: 210 taps 73.5 gallons
2023: 210 taps 89.75 gallons
www.wnybass.com
I only had time to check 4 of the 5 gauges. The first 3 had no sap running at the gauge the 4th one was flowing really well but the gauge was at 0. I was on lunch break so didn't have time to check 5th gauge or walk the lines. All of them were flowing very well down low into the mainline. I guess I'll have to walk them from bottom to top to find where the potential restrictions are.
Busted gauges maybe? I hear those 8 dollar vac guages arent super durable, especially if left in the elements.
Camp Wokanda
Peoria Park District
2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons
They are all new and I tested them before installing. Not cheap ones either.
Take needle nose vice grips, grip/pinch the dropline at your uppermost tree. Pull the tap, put your tongue on the end of the tap, and release the vice grips... You'll know if there's vac.
Thanks I will give this a try.
I am on my 5th or 6 th year with 3/16 and I have yet to get a gauge to register but you can see the sap racing thru the line so you know its truly working. I am just tapping now and this year I added stubbies and clear check valves and what I have noticed is less air bubbles in my lines so it appears to be moving even more sap.
110 taps W.F Mason 2x3 and two turkey friers for finishing
2011 expanding to a Mason 2x4 with a blower increasing taps to about 200
2011 Hurricane Irene rips thru my small sugar bush cost me to lose 20% of taps
2014 I have reworked my lines for 2014
32 taps on 5/16 line with check valves
57 taps on 3/16 line with check valves
55 buckets with total tapped trees of 144
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