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Thread: 3/16 or 5/16 with Shurflo

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    Freeport,ME
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    78

    Default 3/16 or 5/16 with Shurflo

    After reading about 100 different threads on the topic I'm stuck if I should run 3/16 or 5/16 laterals with my shurflo pump. It appears that the 3/16 is better for the diaphragm pumps where the 5/16 works better on high vacuum. My runs are short and flat. 75-100 feet with 10 - 15 taps on each run with 4 runs total planned. Thanks for any input.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
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    Vermont
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    Short and flat? You will be much happier with 5/16. I have a piece of road side trees that has short flat runs and a shurflo and I kick myself for not using 5/16.
    Remember to keep on ticking while the sap is dripping.
    2016- 50 buckets. Made 4 gallons.
    2022- 3900? taps + Smartrek! Made 1300 gallons.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
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    Peru, Maine
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    1,041

    Default

    Craig, definitely go 5/16” with your Shurflio on flat ground.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Princeton, MA
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    I will go the other way, I think you will get good results using the 3/16 tubing. It is a more forgiving of droops and sags which will can cause surging at the pump. I'm sure a well set up 5/16 tubing will work fine but it is tough to maintain a constant downward pitch in your case. I have a line of 40 taps on about 600' of 3/16, mostly flat, some taps below pump level and a few with 5-6' of drop, and last week it was pulling a steady 19-20" of vacuum at the end of the line all week with good flow. 25" on the Shurflo, 80 taps total. The other line with more pitch, 30 taps, had 25" at the end. Photo at the end of the flat line.

    Dave

    IMG_1949.jpg
    Mountain Maple farm
    2022 NAMSC award winning dark amber syrup
    2023: 320 taps, 70% red maples. Mountain Maple S4 diaphragm pump controller with automated sap transfer and text messaging
    Website:
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
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    1,080

    Default

    I will also go with 3/16. The 5/16 will give the best result if everything is pitched right with no sags and no more than 5 taps per lateral no longer than 100 ft. Any sags or more taps per lateral and 3/16 will be better even with sags.
    Smoky Lake 2x6 dropflu pans and hoods on homemade arch
    Smoky Lake 6 gallon water jacked bottler
    Concentric Exhaust
    250 Deer Run RO
    325 taps

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Corinth, New York, United States
    Posts
    557

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    Ive tried it both ways on some seasonal lines and found 3/16 laterals with 5/16 drops is the best way to go for me. Ive also found if you get 20 or 30 taps on that pump with 3/16 you will keep the pump wet and wont need a recirculation line. I also have 2 8 to 10 foot lifts over driveways that work perfectly.
    2021 230 Taps on vacuum
    Smokylake 2X6 pan set with auto drawoff
    Homebuilt 2 4x40 membrane RO
    Homebuilt filter press
    Rebuilt arch with under and over the fire air we have named V 2.0
    Smokylake steam bottler
    Hoods and preheater
    500 gallon vertical polytank to store sap for RO
    Adding a laser eye to my bottler for autofill/stop

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