Portable gas-powered pump question.

[easygo]

I'm about to buy a small gas-powered water pump to use for watering my garden. I would need to pump about 120 gallons of water every 3-5 days about 12ft up 150ft distance. The source is an old dug well on my property, so there would be no issues with solid content in the water.

I found one at Harbor Freight (Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices) that will do much more then I need. This brings the first question.
According to the website it is a 1.5" inlet/outlet pump but I intend to reduce the outlet and connect a garden hose to the discharge side. I thought if I use it well below max output RPM it should be all right. Or is it???? Will that hurt the pump? I assume that the engine RPM is variable on these. Am I correct?

My other question is: Does anyone have experience with this kind of pump? They don't say but I guess it was made in China or some place with similar reputation for quality. (or the lack thereof)

Your input would be much welcomed.
Easygo

 

[California]

That should do fine.

It's bigger than you need, rated 52 gpm and you only want to move 120 gallons, but this is probably the cheapest thing suitable. Turn down the throttle and save your hearing. At light load, you won't overheat it.

If you can find something lighter you won't regret paying a few $ more for that instead.

I used similar for a small gold mining suction dredge. Those were 2-stroke, similar rating at half the weight (we had to backpack it) but I doubt they are sold any more.

If there is any way to get electricity in there, a small electric pump is a much better choice.

 

[Inspector507]

2-stroke pumps are still available. I know TSC has one at 9 lbs for about $240.

 

[davitk]

It isn't gas, but I have a 1 HP electric, and am pumping uphill about 20 feet through a 3/4" garden hose about 500' long, am guessing about 600 gallons/hour. It cost about 140.00 at Menards. The hose passes the garden, occasionally I will disconnect a section and hook it to a sprinkler, does a marvelous job. This pump has been running steadily for about 3 weeks now and I hate to think about my electric bill (we got some rain up here and we are attempting to de-water a field full of tree seedlings).

 

[easygo]

California,
It's interesting that among the reviews of a smaller pump there is someone who said he used it in a gold prospecting operation. It may have been you.


Davitk,
I thought of the electric pump but that means I would have to pull out a LONG extension cord to the well about 300 ft away. I would love the quiet operation tho.


I did find a smaller 2 stroke unit at Northern Tool, but it is $250 without any hoses. It is a 14lbs pump with much smaller output. YES! I thought, that would be just the ticket for what I want to do. Unfortunately the final cost with a suction hose and shipping is a little over $300 vs the Harbor Freight pump could be had for about $200 with a hose. It is way to big for my need but it fits the budget much better. So that is my dilemma in full. Any other reason why I should spend the extra money? I could be swayed with the right argument.

I kind of like the 2 stroke engines for the less maintenance, but that would be the only advantage to me.

 

[RonMar]

That gas pump sounds like overkill. If you have electricity available, I would go that route for what you describe. It will be a lot smaller and way easier to move around, even concidering 300' of extension cord.

Good luck

 

[California]

I did find a smaller 2 stroke unit at Northern Tool, but it is ... over $300

vs the Harbor Freight pump could be had for about $200 ... way to big for my need but it fits the budget much better.

I kind of like the 2 stroke engines for the less maintenance, but that would be the only advantage to me.

A small 2 stroke at full throttle for a long time will make you and all the neighbors crazy with the noise pollution. BTDT.

The HF unit isn't as oversize as you might think. Pump volume is rated at zero lift, just moving water from one tub to another with no difference in elevation and no restriction. The realistic capacity tapers to zero as intake lift, output push (uphill) and hose restriction go up. This HF pump is not a bad choice where cost is a consideration.

But I'll repeat RonMar's advice. Electric is far better if available. It's maintenance free, its silent, you don't have the hassles of buying gasoline and the risk of spilling it, and electric operating cost will be far lower. When you store the pump for winter it doesn't need a tuneup next spring. And you can store it next to your water heater without blowing up your house. Gasoline is a primitive solution when electricity could replace it.

 

[Egon]

Chances are you'll end up running it at full revs to get garden hose response at the end. Don't believe the 23 foot lift either.

Looks like a trash pump to me.

 

[jinman]

I'd vote for electric too. That pump that Davitk has looks like a perfect choice to me: elegant, clean, efficient. You'll find lots of other uses for that 300' extension cord too.

 

[easygo]

After a several day detour in work world I have given it some more thought and I will look very seriously into the electric option.
If electric pumps are very low or no maintenance, that would offset the time spent having to pull out the extension cord when I have to use it. The silent operation is a major plus. As I said it before the pump I was looking at would be a overkill for me, so the lower output of a cheaper electrical unit fits the bill just fine.
Thank you all for giving me your opinion on the pumps.
Easygo