Priming A Chugger Style Pump

[Rusty Ole Bucket]

So last weekend I was putting hot rum wash into a fermenter that the opening is eye height for me, then there's a funnel on top of that. You get the picture, it's a hot sticky emergency room visit just waiting to happen, so I decided to get a pump to move liquids around a little safer. I wanted something that would work with boiling liquids too, so I ended up with the Kegland version of a chugger pump.

The biggest problem I've read about them is priming them. Most people recommend mounting them below your liquid outlet, I didn't want to do that. I wanted it to be more versatile than that. I wanted to be able to move it from a keg, to a fermenter to a bucket, I move liquids from all of them. So I came up with a way to prime it no matter where it's at in the set up. I added hooks so it will hang on the side of a vessel and a primer bulb like you use for a gas line.

I tried it yesterday and it worked great. I use the bulb at the very end of the discharge line and as soon as the pump head is full I close the feed valve to form a vacuum and flood the pump head. Then I just pull the bulb out of the discharge line and open the valve. None of the liquid ever comes in contact with the bulb and the pump is primed. Since I can limit any liquid in he bulb and it will never be used for anything over a finished wash or mash as far as ABV I thought it would be safe.

Is there something I'm not thinking about here that might be dangerous?

Rusty

[OtisT]

Can you add a picture of the bulb in the setup? I’m not visualizing what you are describing but it sounds cool.

I just started using a transfer pump a few weeks ago. I’ve been simply using a funnel to fill the line/pump with water before inserting into what I am transferring. It’s not needed but I am likely going to put an inline valve in the middle of the input line for convenience. I’d use his valve in the closed position to keep the priming water in place until after I insert it into he source.

[Rusty Ole Bucket]

I was trying to post a picture and for some reason it will not let me. I've got it down way smaller than required but no go, not sure what's up.

This is the type of bulb I'm using though. I used a 3/8" to 1/2" barb reducer and a small piece of 3/8" silicone tube to make the adapter to the 1/2" silicone tube coming from the pump.

Primer Bulb


Rusty

[Bolverk]

Seems like a solid enough plan... if the liquid isn't getting inton8 I don't see an issue.


I took a different route. I made a way to pour water directly into the pump to prime it then close it off with valve.

I'm trying to upload a pic but can't for some reason...

[Swedish Pride]

I just have it sitting on the floor pumping from boiler to fermenter when mashing, and from fermenter to boiler when it's done fermenting.

I strip on to kegs so when transferring from the lowwines keg to the boiler I'll have to fill it up with a drop of water, handy enough just to pour in to it.

I'll not go back to handballing boiling liquids again