Creating a Lake

   / Creating a Lake #701  
California said:
Are you sure that applies to this type of pump? (I assume it is a centrifugal pump.) My experience using similar centrifugal pumps on a gold dredge is that when the intake is clogged, it just spins at no-load governed speed same as a clogged vacuum cleaner. I don't see how that would stress it. It's easy to notice the increase from 3000 rpm (full load) to 3600 (governed max) that signals it is time to go clean the strainer.

I would think it's less of a strain on the pump as it is an overheat condition. The pump has to get some kind of cooling from the water coming through it, and if you just keep spinning the same water (no flow) it doesn't have a chance to take the heat away?
whodat
 
   / Creating a Lake #702  
The pump has to get some kind of cooling from the water coming through it
I don't think so. The engine is air cooled and designed to cool properly at full load, so spinning it faster with no load just blows more air across its cooling fins.

The pump isn't positive displacement, nothing rubs aside from the shaft seal (usually ceramic). Running dry can destroy the shaft seal but there isn't any other effect to cause a heat increase when volume decreases.
 
   / Creating a Lake
  • Thread Starter
#704  
mudcat said:
DEADLINE IS UP!!! WHERE ARE THE PICS?:)

You cought me!! :D :D :D

We had to spend some quality time with the family yesterday, so I never had a chance to get down to the lake until we got home. It was almost 5pm and a big storm was on the way, so I wanted to pull the pump and get it put away before dark. No way I wanted to deal with it in the mud.

Shock of shocks, the pump was still running!!! Almost 17 hours non stop. I really felt bad turning it off, but I'm done with it for now. :)

This morning, the rain guage has over half an inch in it, and I'm at 3/4 of an inch right now with about 40 people supposed to be in at 2pm. I kind of think the hay ride is postponed for a few months, but if we decide to make a mess and go for it, I'll be sure to get some pictures. :eek: :D

Thanks for asking,
Eddie
 
   / Creating a Lake #705  
I saw the weather last night and noticed a big chunk of rain headed your way. I guess the Big Guy upstairs felt sorry for you having to mess with that pump and decided to send some more rain your way for Christmas! ;)
 
   / Creating a Lake #706  
npaden said:
I saw the weather last night and noticed a big chunk of rain headed your way. I guess the Big Guy upstairs felt sorry for you having to mess with that pump and decided to send some more rain your way for Christmas! ;)

I'll bet you're absolutely right. Too bad it wasn't a few days ago though.

Looking forward to the pictures. I think you're holding out on us just to get a bigger response. All the buildup and anticipation is getting to us.;)
 
   / Creating a Lake #707  
i know i'm on pins and needles.:D
 
   / Creating a Lake #708  
Eddie,
With all that rain coming your way, I hope your Christmas party won't be washed out. Your pond will surely benefit, but your guests may not.
I hope you will remain dry enough to have a great time anyway.
Merry Christmas,
Rob-
 
   / Creating a Lake #709  
ok what is your official opinion on why it is still working. Do you think the new
spark plug did it or do you think that moving the intake off of the bottom did it. You really for all of us here should put the pump back in after your company leaves and see what causes it to stop so we all know I will chip in 10.00 towards gas for a little knowledge
 
   / Creating a Lake
  • Thread Starter
#711  
Irony.

That's the one word that comes to mind when I think about the Lake and my Christmas Eve party. For the last two months, I've bee pumping water into the lake so everybody coming to the party will be able to see it with water. I was also inspired by Soundguy's thread on hay rides, so for the last week or so, I've been clearing and smoothing my roads to and from the lake.

I have a trailer full of hay, smooth roads and lots of water in the lake, but it was raining Christmas Eve when we woke up and never stoped all day. We never left the house. :mad: :eek: :eek: :)

It was allot of fun, but all my reasoning for filling the lake with a pump turned out to be for nothing. Not really, it's been fun to see the water rise and share it with all of you, so that part of it worked out.

Steph and I went down there this afternoon after the ran stoped. It's up a good bit, but nothing too suprising. I'm still down aroudn three feet, but I'm right at that point to start covering most of my structure. Logs, stumps and dirt.

Gemini,

I have no clue about the pump. The change in the suction depth was the biggest chang I made, but I think that increased my flow more than it had any affect on the engine. When I pulled the intake hose up higher, I moved the pump to a more level spot. This might have helped too. I shook the take real good based on what Pat said. I did see that the fule filter was totaly full again, so maybe it was just like Pat said. I had something blocking the fuel in my tank. I went over those wires really good and might have moved the problem spot without knowing it.

I just don't know what I did, or if it had any effect.

Thanks,
Eddie
 

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   / Creating a Lake #712  
All that build-up, preparation, and anticipation and no one got to see it. Oh well, at least we do!! Eddie it looks great! Once it fills completely that is going to be one gorgeous lake. That one shot of the lake makes the clouds in the background look like mountains. Already starting to look like a postcard. Keep us informed. Hope you, Steph, and the family had a good Christmas.
 
   / Creating a Lake #713  
Eddie, it looks good...you also got 1 1/4" more rain than I did.
 
   / Creating a Lake #715  
I'm sorry your friends and family didn'y get to enjoy your lake Christmas day after all that planning and work. The good side is that it will be there for your enjoyment to share with family and friends for many years to come. You did a great job and I want to thank you for sharing all of your fun and frustrations with all of us. We both enjoyed watching it become what it is today, a beautiful lake and we got to learn from you and the challenges you faced and overcame. We all benefitted. Thanks again Eddie, and have prosperous and happy New Year!
 
   / Creating a Lake #716  
OK Eddie,

Everytime a big rain comes through, I now think of your lake.

I'll be interested in how full it gets after this one. I don't know if you are far enough east to get the heaviest rain tonight, but if you are the lake should be up noticeably.

I'm looking forward to the pictures of it when full.

Scott
 
   / Creating a Lake #717  
Lot's of bad weather tonight. Hope your lake filled up without any damage.
 
   / Creating a Lake #718  
BTDT said:
Lot's of bad weather tonight. Hope your lake filled up without any damage.

Yep, it was bad in some places, but very good in others. I've dumped 3.15" of rain out of my gauge so far, we may get more, and I don't think we had any damage in my area.
 
   / Creating a Lake #719  
Bird said:
Yep, it was bad in some places, but very good in others. I've dumped 3.15" of rain out of my gauge so far, we may get more, and I don't think we had any damage in my area.
I agree. Don't know total rainfall at home yet (I'm still working), but it was plenty wet when I left yesterday evening at 5pm.
 
   / Creating a Lake #720  
California said:
Are you sure that applies to this type of pump? (I assume it is a centrifugal pump.)
I am familiar with gold dredges and I am familiar the the typical engine driven pump sold at farm stores. The most common pump that I have seen at farm stores is a diaphram pump. I have one and it doesn't like to have its output restricted like say with a nozzle, it likes the water to basically free flow (2 inch hoses.) It does not like the intake to get plugged either.

I haven't had the problem but I have been cautioned that you can rupture the diaphram by having too much restriction to either the input or output.

You can ID a diaphram pump vs a centrifigal pump as the centrifugal has a volute (sort of a cornu spiral shape) and the diaphram pump has a smooth regular pump body with no spiral features.

...and Eddie, I hope you are getting a dose of precip to help fill the lake. My most stressed pond is up a bunch from a 1 inch rain we got last night. There are ponds upstream of the most stressed one. The immediate upstream one was within 2 inches of overflow prior to the rain and is now overflowing big time into the one that was way low.

Pat
 

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