Any water pump experts here? (Shurflo pump)

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
In the process of setting up a shurflo pump to pump water to troughs.

I bought the pump with a little accumulator then realised I could have something much bigger to save the pump from cycling so often. So I bough a 60l one.

Been testing it today but what I'm finding is the pump stutters to a stop rather than a clean cut out at the desired pressure. I think over time this could wreck the pressure switch as it probably arching across.

I think the problem is the accumulator is so big it approaches cut off pressure so slowly that it doesn't switch off clean. When I tested with the small accumulator it cut out properly.

I though I could play about with the pressure of the small accumulator to make it work but it's not.

Currently pump kicks in at about 25psi and goes up to about 36 and cuts out. The system stores about a bucket full of water which is ideal.

I have set the big accumulator at about 24psi which according to YouTube videos is about where it should be, just below the cut in for the pump.

Only thing I can thing of is to fit a different pressure swith in line on the pipe and bypass the shurflo on.

Any help appreciated

20220326_161830.jpg
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
Where is the "T" on the accumulator so that you can get all the air out of the accumulator tank. Probably explains the stuttering as the pump tries to compress the air. My canal boat has a shurflo pump which is never a problem unless air gets in the system.
 

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
Where is the "T" on the accumulator so that you can get all the air out of the accumulator tank. Probably explains the stuttering as the pump tries to compress the air. My canal boat has a shurflo pump which is never a problem unless air gets in the system.
Ah you may be right. Replace the right angle in this pic and put a tap above to bleed out the air?

20220326_175945.jpg
 

C.J

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South Devon
I reckon its the momentum of the water between the 2 accumulators , shuttling backwards and forwards causing the pressure valve to switch on and off.

Try it without the small accumulator
 

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
I've removed the small accumulator and managed to bleed out some of the air by slackening the fiting on the big accumulator and I've pressurised the tank 3 times and it's worked a treat! Gonna fit a tap to bleed off air. Thanks for the replies😊
 
Last edited:

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
600m that is one long stretch for that little pump! What sort of flow and size of pipe have you got?
Mostly 25mm mdpe. Pump is rated at 10l per minute, it's a long distance but it seems to work okay. When I tested it the first time with pipe on the surface I had a hard job stopping the flow with my thumb. Max head is about 4 to 5m
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
Mostly 25mm mdpe. Pump is rated at 10l per minute, it's a long distance but it seems to work okay. When I tested it the first time with pipe on the surface I had a hard job stopping the flow with my thumb. Max head is about 4 to 5m
Should not be a problem if head height is only 5m. Just check but I believe the pumps are normally rated upto 10m
 

Exfarmer

Member
Location
Bury St Edmunds
you will have about .5 bar back pressure on the pipe and about another .5 from the lift This is roughly 15 psi in total
depends how much flow you need at the trough. The pump should have a chart showing flow rates at different pressures.
As a young man I spent a lot setting up a water system , grossly underestimating the effects of back pressure resulting in a system which never worked properly
 

Dry Rot

Member
Livestock Farmer
I've seen this post for a few days, then realised I have the same make of pump in a small ATV sprayer I had trouble with. It's not air getting into the system is it....or is that too simple an explanation? Check all your connections and perhaps apply a sealant? It doesn't take much.
 

hally

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cumbria
I've removed the small accumulator and managed to bleed out some of the air by slackening the fiting on the big accumulator and I've pressurised the tank 3 times and it's worked a treat! Gonna fit a tap to bleed off air. Thanks for the replies😊
We are having a similar problem with our pump set up. Where are you going to put the bleed off tap? Ours has been a pita lately, wondering if it the accumulator not set, going through pumps for fun.
 

hoff135

Member
Location
scotland
We are having a similar problem with our pump set up. Where are you going to put the bleed off tap? Ours has been a pita lately, wondering if it the accumulator not set, going through pumps for fun.
Replace the right hand elbow in the pic for a t piece and fit a tap on the top. Air on the vertical pipe might get into the accumulator and upset the way the switch works.

Just about to set this up in the field so will soon know
 

hally

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
cumbria
600m that is one long stretch for that little pump! What sort of flow and size of pipe have you got?
I have over 800 and 35m of head on mine and some years its faultless but last year it was a pain.
How exactly do i pressurise this accumulator?
The manufacturer has been absolutely useless.
20180708_115432.jpg
 

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