I have the L65 Airteck and love it I leave it outside in the cold and it runs just fine at start up. Just change the oil regularly.
I have the L65 Airteck and love it I leave it outside in the cold and it runs just fine at start up. Just change the oil regularly.
Not sure if this answers your question, but the Atlas Copco pumps do need to be in a heated space and kept warm in order to start up. Oil needs to be warm enough, I believe. We like the pumps. Have 2 and they work good. Just need to design the releaser/pump setup the right way to ensure sap never gets in your pump.
The Busch and airtech pumps are identical, take all same filters oil etc. Rock solid pumps, I've always been a fan of vane pumps as they are more reliable. I do believe that airtech for whatever reason pulls more vaccum, 28.5-29. versus my Busch I get only 27-28........they are the only style pump I would use
18x30 sugarshack
5100 taps high vac
3x10 inferno with steampan
7'' wes fab filter press
10'' cdl air filter press
D&G 3 post reverse osmosis w/recirculation
I had a Busch Vane pump and I hated it. It was a 5hp but not sure of the model. It had a LoveJoy coupler that kept shredding and they are a pain to replace if your alone. Air tech does not have that problem. I am running a 5hp Air Tech vane pump in my lower woods and it is a great pump. I just bought a Air Tech liquid ring pump for my sugar house and that works great. The beauty of the liquid ring pump is sap/water can get into the pump and at worst you would just have to replace the oil. That is a 5 minute fix. If sap/water gets into your vane pump you have problems and could loose a days worth of sap. I have a thermostat on my liquid ring pump and I have not drained any moisture from that pump yet. It's been running for 4 weeks now.
Spud
This is my fifth season using a Bush R-5-100 62 CFM pump. Cost 5 years ago, $4575.00. The R5 should be in a heated space that is about 45 -50 degrees. Now for the review.
The pump makes great reliable vacuum with one warning, which I did not get when I bought the pump. This pump should not be run below 22-23 inches of vacuum or it will blow the oil out the exhaust. I found this out the hard way when pulling taps 2 years ago and letting the drops hang instead of putting the drop on the tee plug. I am lucky that a friend stopped by the sap shed as I was pulling taps and saw the oil blowing out the exhaust. The solution was easy, plug the drops off.
I have run the pump for several season without adding a drop of oil to the reservoir.
Like Spud, I don't like the Lovejoy fitting. I have had to replace it twice and it is a big pain.
The 2 filters for the R-5 are expensive and the oil is expensive if you buy it from Lapierre. $30. a quart. I finally found a source for the Busch oil at $19.00 a gallon.
If I knew then what I know now, I would buy another brand pump or a different pump. I should have stuck with buying a 2 stage Sihi liquid ring oil pump like what I have at my sugar house. But now I have too much invested in the R-5 to get rid of it and I just run the pump making sure the vacuum level doesn't go below 22 - 23 inches. My vacuum room is heated any way because of the electric releaser.
Joe
2004- 470 taps on gravity and buckets
2006- 590 taps on gravity and buckets 300 gph RO
2009- 845 taps on vacuum no buckets, 600 gph RO
2010- 925 taps on vacuum new 2 stage vacuum pump
2014- 3045 taps on vacuum, new 1200 gph RO
2015- 3104 taps on vacuum
2017- 3213 taps on vacuum
3' x 10' oil fired evaporator with steamaway
Wiam,
I bought the gallons of Busch vacuum oil from New Boston Pump in New Hampshire. I think that they are the regional distributor for Busch. I usually speak to Richard. The number is 603-894-6677
It costs me $27.00 to ship 2 gallons. I got the oil the next day. Even with the shipping, the oil cost a little over $8.50 a quart.
Joe
2004- 470 taps on gravity and buckets
2006- 590 taps on gravity and buckets 300 gph RO
2009- 845 taps on vacuum no buckets, 600 gph RO
2010- 925 taps on vacuum new 2 stage vacuum pump
2014- 3045 taps on vacuum, new 1200 gph RO
2015- 3104 taps on vacuum
2017- 3213 taps on vacuum
3' x 10' oil fired evaporator with steamaway