Transfer pumps and machine oils/grease

[00Buck]

For those of you who pump washes with those metal housing pumps have you ever had any issue with oils or greases that are in them? I bought a 12v Drummond pump from Harbor Freight and after I tested it on just regular water I noticed a clear grease in the outlet side. Not sure if its a packing grease to keep it from corroding or if its in the internals for lubrication, either way it was in the pump. I hooked it back up and let it run 5-10 minutes and I don't visually see anything but that doesnt mean it isn't all gone. Just curious if anyone's noticed it or had any issues with it, I really dont like the idea of any of that finding its way into my boiler.

Before anyone recommends a racking cane I make alot of wash at a time and save it for future uses and it would take way too long to use that

[Salt Must Flow]

These brew pumps with stainless steel housings have 'magnetic drive' impellers. That means there's no shaft or lubricated parts in contact with the fluid being transferred.

[jonnys_spirit]

I use a vacuum pump system to transfer. It works well with transferring into carboys from a 50g hdpe barrel and I never need to lift a full carboy.

I once purchased a pump that uses a drill to operate and move liquid - It also had some sort of grease/lubricant in the device so put it in the bin for "other projects, not distilling/wine/mash"...

Cheers,
jonny

[00Buck]

These brew pumps with stainless steel housings have 'magnetic drive' impellers. That means there's no shaft or lubricated parts in contact with the fluid being transferred.

I reckon Ill be looking for one then.

[00Buck]

I use a vacuum pump system to transfer. It works well with transferring into carboys from a 50g hdpe barrel and I never need to lift a full carboy.

I once purchased a pump that uses a drill to operate and move liquid - It also had some sort of grease/lubricant in the device so put it in the bin for "other projects, not distilling/wine/mash"...

Cheers,
jonny

Thats about what Im doing too. You have any personal recommendation for a good one?

[jonnys_spirit]

I use a vacuum pump system to transfer. It works well with transferring into carboys from a 50g hdpe barrel and I never need to lift a full carboy.

I once purchased a pump that uses a drill to operate and move liquid - It also had some sort of grease/lubricant in the device so put it in the bin for "other projects, not distilling/wine/mash"...

Cheers,
jonny

Thats about what Im doing too. You have any personal recommendation for a good one?

I started with this:
https://allinonewinepump.com/

And later purchased this to use as my primary vacuum pump with some of the AIO accessories/canes/bungs/etc:
https://www.sterlitech.com/rocker-300-v ... sLcnxQxPTm

The Sterlitech is a lab-grade pump and can be serviced - seals/filters replaced. Oilless. HVAC vacuum pumps are typically oil based and I believe they mist an oil vapor out which I was not interested in so I spec'd the lab pump and would recommend it if that's appealing to you.

The AIO system also works great for bottling large quantities of wine and de-gassing as wine bulk ages under vacuum seal. I purchased initially for wine-making but also use it for transferring distillers beer.

Cheers,
jonny

[Yummyrum]

I’ve been using one of these for close to ten years now. I had the option for a plastic or SS head . The bloke at the brew shop told me not to waste my money on the SS one . Well its still running and gets used all the time . Only issue is that it tends to cavitate when pumping boiling hot liquids requiring me to switch off power , to let the air bubble up and switch on again .

https://www.thebrewshop.com.au/high-tem ... gL_z_D_BwE

[Bolverk]

I'm a fan of the spikes flow pumps

https://spikebrewing.com/products/spike-flow

[higgins]

Yummy, I put a ball valve on the output of my 25+ yr old March mag drive pump. I can throttle the output down a bit and the cavitation stops when transferring boiling liquid. I guess it builds up a bit of pressure on the input side because it is restricted a bit.

[Yummyrum]

Yummy, I put a ball valve on the output of my 25+ yr old March mag drive pump. I can throttle the output down a bit and the cavitation stops when transferring boiling liquid. I guess it builds up a bit of pressure on the input side because it is restricted a bit.

Good tip Higgins . Will give it a crack next time

[Stonecutter]

As I’m rather new to the Distilling world my opinion ain’t worth much but this is the pump I use. It is a magnetically driven model as was mentioned above.
Top tier IMO.
https://www.blichmannengineering.com/ri ... -pump.html

[greggn]

I’ve been using one of these for close to ten years now.

https://www.thebrewshop.com.au/high-tem ... gL_z_D_BwE

According to that website ...

The High Temperature Magnetic Drive Pump excels in transferring heat-intensive fluids up to 1,200 degrees Celsius


Really !?!

[shadylane]

I always use a 1/2hp "elcheapo" sump pump to transfer wash. Bigger than that makes any drama happen faster.
To clean the pump before the first use, put in a bucket with soapy water.
Make sure the outlet hose is firmly anchored and pointing back into the bucket before turning the pump on.
After a couple minutes, shut it off and rinse the pump, hose and bucket with clean water before use.

[Yummyrum]

I’ve been using one of these for close to ten years now.

https://www.thebrewshop.com.au/high-tem ... gL_z_D_BwE

According to that website ...

The High Temperature Magnetic Drive Pump excels in transferring heat-intensive fluids up to 1,200 degrees Celsius


Really !?!

[shadylane]

The pump is just what I've been looking for, it will be perfect for pumping molten aluminum for casting engine parts.

"The High Temperature Magnetic Drive Pump excels in transferring heat-intensive fluids up to 1,200 degrees Celsius without leaks"