Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Trash Pumps---After drouth - RAIN

Now after two years of very little rain - the water cometh - not a bad thing except for the shut down of my 2.5 ac lake project- Now I need an effective pump ---what is the best trash pump- best to buy or rent- How far can these things push water - hate to waste water - if possible to move from one unwanted place to another. Will a two inch pump work or is a larger one required - probably need to move several thousand gallons of water - any suggestions----thanks

I would rent. I bought one and threw a rod. Of course, maybe you are smarter than me. I found out that they are supposed to be used on little more than idle

If you buy, you also have to buy hose and that can get expensive. The input hose is $$$$. They will push water a heckuva way. The pushing of water isn't near as critical as the ability to lift. 2 inch should move several thousand gallons in a short time.

When I was digging my small 3/4 acre pond, I had a rain storm dump a foot or so of water in it that I wanted to get out. I rented a 2 inch pump for the weekend and figured it would take a day to pump it dry. Wrong.

At the end of the first day, it looked like I hadn't done anything. I decided to spend the night there and keep it running all night. Every couple of hours I'd fill up the fuel tank.

By Monday morning, it still had water in it, but not much, when I returned it.

Are you sure it's only a few thousand gallons? I grossly under estimated how much water I had.

For what you've said you need it for, I'd rent.

Eddie

Moving water is reletive.If its flat ground moving it 6-700 ft is no problem.A 2" pump should move 2-4000 gals per hour.If you look at a new pump look at the paperwork and it will tell you.DO NOT put smaller intake hose than the fitting on the pump,very bad mistake.Also,I pump water dailey(when I have it to spare)and I use 2" pvc pipe.Dont get less than 5hp on a 2" pump,it wont last.
Dave,I run my pumps,2-2" 1-3" 1-4"full thottle 3600rpm aaat all times and have never had a problem.I own a small engine repair shop so if you neeed more info let me know.your motor shuold not have blown.Was it low on oil,or2(dirty air filter? Aircooled engines are fairly dependable but dont tolerate abuse very well.Also,if it had VERY low hours it could have been defective.I do see loose rod bolts occasionally TOM

That's interesting Tom. It was a standard Briggs engine running a 2 inch pump. The guy where I bought it said I had blown it up by running it at a continous high RPM. I didn't know any better and let him get away with it.

If I get the urge to get another one, I'll contact you for advice.

Dave
Thats really interesting.I wonder what his advice is on your lawnmower running wide open for hours on end while mowing your yard.I have talked to people who mow 6-8 hours at a time and dont blow motors.Kinda makes ya wonder,huh?

Running small pump and mower engines wide open is an oxymoron. All of them I have ever seen have a governor set to a very low (and standard) 3600 RPM. You can run a bit slower, but I don't think it helps a lot. I believe keeping the oil changed is is more helpful than throttling them back. That keeps you real busy on a pump that runs 24/7!

Bob
Oil changes are critical,Briggs recommends every 20-25 hours of operation.The gov. are set at 3600rpm for max torq on the power curve.I spoke to Briggs this a m and as I suspected they dont advise slowing it down under loads and I specfically asked about the pumps.Seashores if you need more info let me know,be glad to help.
Tom

Try and find a 3in. or 4in. Honda semi-trash or trash pump. They are very reliable and will really move some water. Three inch pump will pump around 18,000 and 4in. will pump around 23,000 gal/hour. They are not that expensive to rent at most equipment rental shops. Trash pump will handle bigger solids, I believe up to 1 1/8 inch.

Forgot to mention a float on your intake line.I use an empty capped gal jug so the trash isnt a problem.Just be sure its down far enough you dont get swirl as the pump will keep loing its prime.Also,always prime the pump..dry start means new pump seals.

Tom, why should you not put on a smaller intake hose on a trash pump?

Will a trash pump move a heavy concentration of leaves and water. It's not the consistesy of mud but its heavy?

If you reduce the intake pipe/hose the pump is "starving" for water.If it cant get it in it cant pump it out.If you look at high end pumps they ussually have a bgger intake than discharge port.
Trash pumps will move a certain amount of mud and debries but watch out 1)if it has a plastic impeller it wont last long and 2)its very easy to plug the intake without a pickup screen.I am waiting for rain,waiting,waiting waiting....central texas joke...to try cleaning leaves out of my pond with a pump.Its a 3" honda with a castiron impeller.If we ever get runoff again Ill try it and let yall know the end results.waiting...waiting...waiting... If you try dont forget your discharging leaves,their heavy,pump em where you want em or youll have to rake and move em again. waiting...waiting... waiting