Proper storage for sprayer pump?

lhfarm · Mar 28, 2012

I had to purchase a new roller pump for my boom sprayer. Hadn't used the sprayer in a few years and the pump was frozen. The new pump's instructions say to fill the pump with antifreeze and plug. That is what I did with the old pump and it didn't seem to work well. What do you use for long term storage of these pumps?

Thanks!

D7E · Mar 28, 2012

Normal practice is to fill them with clean oil around here.

Briar Hill Brittanys · Mar 28, 2012

I fill mine with anti-freeze. I've got a loop of hose between in and out. Been doing it that way for 3 years, no problems. Curious why you had to buy a new one, couldn't it be rebuilt? Mark

pjbci · Mar 28, 2012

I fill mine with burned motor oil.

Bud Soda · Mar 28, 2012

I put a few oz of gear or hydro oil in mine. Going on five years old, still going strong.

Grateful11 · Mar 28, 2012

pjbci said:
I fill mine with burned motor oil.

Why burnt motor oil, when some of these pumps cost $150-500 ? They don't hold very much oil.

pjbci · Mar 28, 2012

Why not? Its not going to rust with either new or old oil.

lhfarm · Mar 29, 2012

Briar Hill Brittanys said:
I fill mine with anti-freeze. I've got a loop of hose between in and out. Been doing it that way for 3 years, no problems. Curious why you had to buy a new one, couldn't it be rebuilt? Mark

I used the sprayer filled with water for my prairie grass burn. I had waited until the last minute to mount the sprayer and the pump wouldn't turn and I couldn't break it loose. So I went to town and picked up a new pump.

Don't know if I could rebuild the old one, but no more than I use the sprayer I may send it to recycling.

Grateful11 · Apr 1, 2012

pjbci said:
Why not? Its not going to rust with either new or old oil.

Do whatever pleases you. When I have probably 10-15 quarts new oil left over from vehicles that I no longer own and the ones we own now don't use that particular weight I'm not about put black nasty oil in a pump we just paid $300 for. How much can you possibly get in the pump 2 to 4 oz.? Our oil change drain pans contain all kinds of sediment crap on the bottom that gets stirred up when we change oil that I wouldn't put on anything more than a sickle bar cutter.

pjbci · Apr 1, 2012

My old oil is stored in drums. Allowed to settle for months if not years. Then run thru a 100 mesh strainer followed by a water separator then a 10 micron filter. My pumps have not spontaneously combusted or killed any baby seals yet using this method.