My drops only stick about 2" thru the bucket lid, but the holes in the lid are small enough that when I put the 5/16 thru the hole, it's tight enough (friction fit) that the lid will just hang on the tubing when I empty the bucket into my collection bucket. I also put a brick on the bucket lid. The little bit of coil/memory left in the 5/16 isn't enough to budge the tubing in the lid.
2020 - 1st year - 13 black walnut taps - 4 bottles syrup
2021 - 50 taps, 22 black walnuts/28 red maples - 4 gallons syrup
2022 - 54 taps, 11 black walnuts/41 red maples, 20 on solar shurflo vacuum - 8.5 gallons syrup
2023 - 47 taps on 45 red maples, 43 on solar shurflo vacuum