Sap running?

[bees1st]

I've had some very small runs the last few days. Temperatures have been ideal. I suspect the high atmospheric pressure and wind has been holding it back.

[wurmdert]

Hey wurmdert i went with the 3/16ths but used my 5/16ths as main line. There are 68 tree's on the line, well about 15 tree's in from the start, i had a tree with a tap just pouring out. The sap was going 90 degree's up the 3/16ths and out. So i pulled it and held it higher, got the flow going right, put the tap back, and all is well again. Ever have anything like that happen to you? It was a cold night before, so maybe ice, or a block by something, or maybe the main isn't big enough? Any thoughts?

Sap always takes the easiest path. I have had sap go up lines when there has been something causing back pressure lower down the line. Im guessing that the 5/16 is overloaded and when it runs real good the sap is backing up. When you pulled the tap you released the seal and allowed it to release down the line. Do you have any vacuum gauges on you 3/16 lines. What are they reading when the sap flows well? It may have been ice if the lower end of the line is shaded. Sometimes my gauges will read 10" positive pressure when the trees start to run and the lower line is still frozen. Trees can produce alot of positive pressure.

[Mitchman]

I have just the 1 gauge on the line with the vac, and all seems good now running at about 15lbs. I do have one shaded area that i have to contend with, and it's about 30 yards long. Need to clean out some of that softwood this summer for sure. Thanks!!!

[Page Meadow Maple]

My trees ran well today. I am on buckets and got about 1 gallon per tap. Sugar level is down, however. Usually I am at 3.5, but today my hydrometer says 2.0. Is this typical as the season draws to a close?

[wurmdert]

My trees ran well today. I am on buckets and got about 1 gallon per tap. Sugar level is down, however. Usually I am at 3.5, but today my hydrometer says 2.0. Is this typical as the season draws to a close?

The sap we get over this way usually starts out around 2.0 works its way up to 3 or a little better and then eases off to around 1.5 until the buds pop. We are on tubing and vacuum and usually the sugar is a little less than buckets but higher volume. I do have a fair amount of reds mixed in as well that brings the sugar down a bit as well I'm sure.

[wurmdert]

The tempatures seemed good here last couple days but the flow hasn't been great. Maybe barometer too high.

[Page Meadow Maple]

I collected 1 gallon of sap per tap over the last 48 hours. That’s an excellent haul for me off my buckets!

[Revi]

Not too great the last couple of days, but something.

[Mvhomesteader]

Sap flow is quieting down in this area. In the past week I've seen trees that had been producing a gallon a day drop back to a fraction of that. Since I'm on my last boil tomorrow I've pulled most taps. The ones I have left I'm keeping up to see how the flow progresses. One of those is a tree that has produced over 30 gallons of sap this since late February, and over the past few days it is down to 1/3 gallon a day. The brix levels are still 2.2 to 2.4, and I haven't smelled any buddyness when boiling a small amount, but it can't be long now.

[wurmdert]

My sugar contest is still great 2.9 to 3.3 but just havnt got the flow last few days. Sap is crystal clear. I suspect that things will come back around here with a good freeze or too. Im using CV spouts so hard to believe the holes are spent.