Proper storage for sprayer pump?

[lhfarm]

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]

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

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

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]

I fill mine with burned motor oil.

 

[Bud Soda]

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

 

[Grateful11]

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]

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

 

[lhfarm]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Grateful11]

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.

That's makes a big difference. We don't have the space to store the oil from 5 tractors, 1 Garden Tractor and 4 vehicles so it gets recycled through the county drop off station.

BTW: There's no cause for an environmental debate, baby seals, jeez.

 

[lhfarm]

Thanks for the replies. Since I'm talking long term storage - maybe a year or longer - I think I'll go with the oil.

 

[oldballs]

I use the antifreeze method, but use the 55 gallon sprayer every year on Red Cedars for bag worrms. I did ruin a 4 roller cast iron pump with RoundUp one time, but got it turning with a pipe wrench. Since then I bought a Silvercast model that is suppose to handle RoundUp better. Annually I drain and recycle the same antifreeze. So far that works for me....about 15 years.... And haven't needed it for RoundUp. Long term could be a different thing. In that case I might take the pump off, clean and store it with a little oil coating. But at 80 years old, long term isn't an issue any more.:laughing:

 

[newbury]

But at 80 years old, long term isn't an issue any more.:laughing:

Look forward to reading your replies for forty years!