Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[Scribner's Mountain Maple]

Parker, What kind of pump do you have?
I had a Rotary Vane pump last year. Traditionally pulled 18-20" and at beginning of season would only go to 12". I had a broken vane. Replaced them and I was back up to higher Vac.

If not the Vac. With such a large Vacuum loss, you are talking something more than little leaks. It must be a Main line pulled apart, or a valve at the end of a mainline left open. That is my guess. Little leaks will get you inches, when you are talking about 13" down, it must be main lines.

My guess anyway. Maybe an end of Main line plug was pushed out? Walk them each. Some thing I learned from Main line problems is they are hard to hear. You literately have to step on them to find them sometimes. Little leaks whistle, big ones don't as much.

Good luck.
Ben

[PARKER MAPLE]

I have tested the pump and releaser just before installing them in the woods. They both pulled 22" for apprx 30 and I said they were good. So I believe at this point its some very big leak somewhere that I havnt found yet. I might just start putting a new main off the conductor after I isolate which one it its. Never a dull moment when you dealing with maple is it.

PARKER MAPLE

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

Made around 7 gal last night have another 180 to process make a few more tonight

[spud]

I have tested the pump and releaser just before installing them in the woods. They both pulled 22" for apprx 30 and I said they were good. So I believe at this point its some very big leak somewhere that I havnt found yet. I might just start putting a new main off the conductor after I isolate which one it its. Never a dull moment when you dealing with maple is it.

PARKER MAPLE

Parker,

I had this happen to me once last year and it drove me crazy. What it turned out to be was the flapper on the bottom of my big releaser was open. It has a spring and when I shut down the night before I sprung it open so and over night dripping of sap would not freeze in the releaser. Another time I had ice in my vacuum line between my moisture trap and my releaser due to a small leak. I really think your problem is in the sugar house and not in the woods. I hope you find it soon and I look forward to hearing what it was.

Spud

[wiam]

I have tested the pump and releaser just before installing them in the woods. They both pulled 22" for apprx 30 and I said they were good. So I believe at this point its some very big leak somewhere that I havnt found yet. I might just start putting a new main off the conductor after I isolate which one it its. Never a dull moment when you dealing with maple is it.

PARKER MAPLE

Do you have a lot of valves? Can you turn off all lines coming into releaser? You need to be able to isolate any area. If you turn off all lines coming into releaser and vac does not change you have a problem with pump/releaser. If vac goes up then leaks in woods.

[lpakiz]

Parker maple,
I will also bet you have a big leak somewhere. Go over ALL lines, inch by inch, mains and laterals. Don't overlook a single place, especially where two mains join. Look for a cracked or split connector. I doubt it is micro leaks at this low vacuum. When you have hardly any vacuum, you probably will find the leaks by SEEING them, not hearing them. If you have some sap, you might discover a big leak by seeing sap dripping or feeling wet sap on the line.
Last a year I was half way thru the season when I found 2 places I used a tee for a splice because I didn't have the right connector. I intended to return later with the right one, but forgot about it over the winter. I finally found those 2 open tees and capped them off. It's been my experience that you can't find hardly any leaks until you get some vacuum up.

[PARKER MAPLE]

My sugarbush as of now dosnt have any ball valves installed where they meet the conductor line. So today I went and purchased all new ball valves, and tees. The tees im reducing to 1/4 npt nipple and installing a vac gauge. this is going to be a lot easier now with the ball valve and gauge to find out where the leaks are.

I am going back in woods tomorrow and will investigate more thoroughly for any signs of splits, cracks or leaks of any type. Then Saturday going to buy new to me 30cfm pump and install it. hopefully the larger pump will help over haul any leaks and make them easier to find.

Thanks for all the help you guys, sometime these thing drive me nuts

PAKER MAPLE

[spud]

If you are going to use PVC ball valves buy the ones from CDL with the black handles. If you buy the red handle one from places like Ace Hardware they will not open or close very well in the cold.

Spud

[PARKER MAPLE]

Thanks spud, I bought the brass ones today at Bascoms. I didn't the frozen plastic ones would hold up over time(years) in the woods.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

Finished up all the sap I got from randy tonight made another 6/7 gal now drain rig tomorrow clean it up fix some small leaks on RO be ready for when the hmmer drops