Seasonal Implements?

[CraigM]

Bird:

Thanks. I hadn't considered the problem of corrosion just from sitting idle. I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to spraying of any kind, so mine will probably sit for months at a time and really get stuck. I'm sure that the tractor wouldn't have any problem breaking it loose, but doing so without loosening bolts first sounds like a bad idea. The pumps in the grainger catalog are set up for PTO operation, but are reversible by flipping the rotor assembly around.

Craig
Hershey, PA

 

[JerryG]

Craig,Bird,Harv
I have been working on a PTO pump/sprayer/washer this last week. You don't have to run a return to the tank but you do have to vent the pressure some how. When looking at different pumps last week at TSC, one of the diagrams showed to put a closed loop from the intake side to the pressure side of the pump and put in a pressure relief valve in the loop. That’s how I am building mine. The relief valve was about $20 extra. I did it this way because I am running 80 pounds of water pressure in a hose to the intake side with no tank. I have also used a hand-triggered wand, which I couldn’t have without the pressure relief loop. I have $200 in mine for the pump, PTO coupler, hoses, fittings, relief valve and wand, but without a tank (I didn’t need a tank for this job, but I may get one in the future). I hope this all works/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif. The diagram said that it would.
JerryG

 

[Bird]

Craig, I'm not sure which pumps Grainger has, but mine is a Hypro Series 6500 (6500CR) 6-roller pump, max flow 22 gpm, max pressure 300 psi, max rpm 1200, continuous operation 100-150 psi, intermittent operation 300 psi. You can't reverse the housing on it, instead you have to buy the 6500C without the "R" for PTO operation. And they have the same pumps in 6500C, 6500N, and 6500XL for the "Cast Iron", "Ni-Resist", or "SilverCast" parts. One nice thing about the Hypro is that they come with an "Installation, Operation, Repair and Parts Manual". "Wholesale" cost was $76.44 (about half what a dealer had priced one retail to me).

Bird

 

[CraigM]

JerryG:

Is this relief valve a sort of regulator, or spring loaded somehow? I understand how the closed loop would keep the pump from self destructing when the wand was shut off, but not how the pressure gets to the wand when the wand valve is opened, unless the relief valve is a regulating type. Does the valve have an adjustment to set pressure?

Bird:

Grainger sells Teel brand pumps. The specs are very similar to what you quoted except there is no mention of 300 psi being an intermittent rating. Don't know if they come with a detailed manual or not.

Craig
Hershey, PA

 

[JerryG]

Craig,

Is this relief valve a sort of regulator, or spring loaded somehow?

Yes, It is a spring loaded handle adjustable relief valve. The valve is in the closed loop. They also recommend a pressure gauge.
I believe that I have the same pump that Bird has and it gives the same spec. That his does.
JerryG

 

[Bird]

Sounds like it may be the same pressure regulator, too, except mine has a pressure gauge, and the return line goes back into the tank instead of looping back to the intake line. Either way should get the same results at the nozzles.

Bird

 

[Harv]

I've been wondering why anybody would bother to jury-rig a sprayer like your're talking about when there are plenty of ready-made sprayers on the market.

Well I just found out -- my tractor guy just called me with some prices. The 50-gallon Gearmore unit with 10-foot boom costs about $1100.

He says he could probably get me a smaller unit with a battery-powered motor for around $700.

'Scuse me while I get out my Grainger catalog...

 

[JerryG]

Harv,
It's like this. My pump is to pump water for washing only. I didn't need a tank or boom. I did need a wand. So, what I put together was only what I needed. It only cost me $200. A very good deal for what I needed. IF in the future I need a tank and a boom. I will make a 3 point tank with a boom and still only have about $500 total in the whole thing.
JerryG

 

[Bird]

Now you know, Harv./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Those spray rigs ain't cheap. I've got a neighbor who has a 500 gallon rig, PTO powered pump that's supposed to put out about 500 psi. I haven't even asked what that costs?/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif You might want to look at http://www.northerntool.com They sell a wide variety of 12 volt rigs, and at least one gasoline powered rig, and they have a few models of the Hypro roller pumps.

Bird

 

[CraigM]

Harv, and any other sprayer builders:

Check out www.accuspray.com.

They have a Silvercast 6 roller pump on sale right now for $135. It showed up in one of those annoying little extra browser windows. That is not much more than the straight cast iron pump will cost you at Grainger or at TSC. They also have a full line of all the nozzles and other pieces/parts that you will need. I'm still in the process of figuring all of the particulars of nozzles and other things, but at this point, I have about $150 for the pump and coupler, and have estimated that you can get a complete nozzle assembly for about $13. Each nozzle will cover a swath about 20" wide. The nozzle assembly consists of a body, cap, clamp and nozzle. Having never taken a close look at an existing boom, this was not real obvious, but I had a conversation with Bob at their toll free number and he walked me through the whole thing. If anyone is interested, I can post a project parts list when my pump and catalog arrive and I have a chance to figure it all out.

Craig
Hershey, PA