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Thread: Vacuum Diminished?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Barrie, Ontario
    Posts
    33

    Default Vacuum Diminished?

    Every year in the past my vacuum had consistently been 25" to 28". I store all my equipment in a heated basement in the off season. This year my vacuum has been 13" to 15" with a heart beat in the gauge, unlike the past. I've checked all the fittings and re-tephloned and plumbers goop, all to no avail. Checked all my lines (tired of walking), nothing makes sense. My last thought is the SS motorized valve may not closing as it should and ball may not be making a seal upon activation. I'm thinking of switching out SS valve at a considerable expense. It's my last option and its a pia to do. Has anyone had one of their SS motorized valves fail to make a seal? THANKS
    2024 - 20 Taps Buckets - 97 taps - 3/16" - Drops 5/16" - Vacuum - TBD
    2023 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 136 liters of syrup
    2022 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 100 liters of syrup
    2021 - 20 Taps Buckets - 40 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" tubing - Gravity - 25 liters of syrup
    2020 - 15 Taps Buckets - 5 liters syrup - Propane Turkey Frying Pan
    Thor 18" x 54" - 2021
    Nano RO-2022
    Shurflo 4008 Vacuum
    Barrie, Ontario CANADA

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    327

    Default

    Check your gauge, that was my Achilles heel for 2 years without knowing it until I replaced it for no reason and my vacuum jumped. Put the old one back in in another quieter location and could here it lightly squealing.
    Remember to keep on ticking while the sap is dripping.
    2016- 50 buckets. Made 4 gallons.
    2022- 3750 taps + Smartrek! Made 1300 gallons.
    2023- 3750 taps after removing a pump house and connected two woods. Made 800 gallons.
    2024- 3750 taps 1384 made.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Barrie, Ontario
    Posts
    33

    Default

    Thanks Ultimatetreehugger, however upon checking the drops, they are not emptying nearly as well as past years. Sap is not running as fast, nor is the rate of collection in my barrels as it was. I know this is subjective but all the signs and symptoms indicate that the vacuum is not pulling and seems to be consistent with what the vacuum gauge is telling me. Love your golden.
    2024 - 20 Taps Buckets - 97 taps - 3/16" - Drops 5/16" - Vacuum - TBD
    2023 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 136 liters of syrup
    2022 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 100 liters of syrup
    2021 - 20 Taps Buckets - 40 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" tubing - Gravity - 25 liters of syrup
    2020 - 15 Taps Buckets - 5 liters syrup - Propane Turkey Frying Pan
    Thor 18" x 54" - 2021
    Nano RO-2022
    Shurflo 4008 Vacuum
    Barrie, Ontario CANADA

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,108

    Default

    I assume that your valve is threaded. If so, put a plug in the discharge side to see if it is not seating properly.
    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

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Walpole, NH
    Posts
    1,438

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Super Sapper View Post
    I assume that your valve is threaded. If so, put a plug in the discharge side to see if it is not seating properly.
    I assume that the vacuum pump is the Shurflo that’s in your signature? Do you have a suction screen on it? If so, I found on mine that the bowl holding the screen has to be screwed on really tight or it loses vacuum. Also, instead of replacing the valve, can you just stick a plug into it?
    Sugaring for 45+ years
    New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
    New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
    2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
    250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
    1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
    2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,710

    Default

    Too many variables, could be the pump diaphragm, a tiny leak some where, a bad gauge or several other things. because the sap is moving slower I'd change the diaphragm first, it's easy. In fact, while I only use a diaphragm pump to push fresh water thru my tankless water heater (or for cold water too) I keep a spare diaphragm in stock as well as a spare pump. Just use this saying, "2 is 1 and 1 is none"!
    Good luck.
    Dave Klish, I recently bought a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Barrie, Ontario
    Posts
    33

    Default

    Thanks all. I've changed the shurflo diaphragm pump, I've changed the screen filter and tightened down the housing, today I swapped out the SS ball valve, I've tightened all the fittings. I'm gonna check my lines again, however a leak in the lines generally shows racing bubbles, which I've had in the past and is an easy diagnosis. I guess I'm gonna have to live with the low vacuum this year and take everything apart in the off season. Don't think its the vacuum gauge as everything else I've witnessed is consistent with low vacuum as compared to previous years. By the way I have a MountainMaple Vacuum system, which worked great in past years. Thanks again for everyone's contribution.
    2024 - 20 Taps Buckets - 97 taps - 3/16" - Drops 5/16" - Vacuum - TBD
    2023 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 136 liters of syrup
    2022 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 100 liters of syrup
    2021 - 20 Taps Buckets - 40 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" tubing - Gravity - 25 liters of syrup
    2020 - 15 Taps Buckets - 5 liters syrup - Propane Turkey Frying Pan
    Thor 18" x 54" - 2021
    Nano RO-2022
    Shurflo 4008 Vacuum
    Barrie, Ontario CANADA

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2024
    Location
    Chesterland, Ohio
    Posts
    25

    Default

    are you recirculating any sap? it made a huge difference for me, it took my 10-15in -> 25-27in

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Walpole, NH
    Posts
    1,438

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bullet View Post
    Thanks all. I've changed the shurflo diaphragm pump, I've changed the screen filter and tightened down the housing, today I swapped out the SS ball valve, I've tightened all the fittings. I'm gonna check my lines again, however a leak in the lines generally shows racing bubbles, which I've had in the past and is an easy diagnosis. I guess I'm gonna have to live with the low vacuum this year and take everything apart in the off season. Don't think its the vacuum gauge as everything else I've witnessed is consistent with low vacuum as compared to previous years. By the way I have a MountainMaple Vacuum system, which worked great in past years. Thanks again for everyone's contribution.
    Don’t assume that just because you can’t see the “Racing Bubbles “ that you don’t have leaks in the lines. If that line isn’t producing much sap because it has lower vacuum you may not get enough sap in it to see the fast moving bubbles.
    Sugaring for 45+ years
    New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
    New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
    2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
    250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
    1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
    2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Barrie, Ontario
    Posts
    33

    Default

    Good point Maple Addict. Always learn something. I'll check my lines for the 4th time. Thanks
    2024 - 20 Taps Buckets - 97 taps - 3/16" - Drops 5/16" - Vacuum - TBD
    2023 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 136 liters of syrup
    2022 - 20 Taps Buckets - 80 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" - Vacuum - 100 liters of syrup
    2021 - 20 Taps Buckets - 40 taps - 3/16" - Drops 3/16" tubing - Gravity - 25 liters of syrup
    2020 - 15 Taps Buckets - 5 liters syrup - Propane Turkey Frying Pan
    Thor 18" x 54" - 2021
    Nano RO-2022
    Shurflo 4008 Vacuum
    Barrie, Ontario CANADA

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