trash pump questions

[Bigbartguy]

hi folks

I just got a used 5.5hp Honda trash pump and have some questions that maybe one of you could help with? I've never dealt w/ a pump like this before.

it's got a 2" diameter intake & outake. I was attempting to use with a 30 ft output hose and found that the pressure coming out of the end was less than anticipated - it would literally shoot out about a 1-2ft from the hose. Does this sound like it functioning correctly? I guess I was expecting more of a 'fire hose' type of output and I'm not anywhere near that.

also - would reducing the output hose size to 1" help w/ creating a higher pressure output? or would the pressure just be 'lost' in the pump.

thanks for your help!

[Tom7227]

A smaller hose would increase the pressure and cause it to go further. Is your intake hose a solid hose that isn't collapsing? Do you have some sort of filter device on the intake to make sure it doesn't clog up? Are you sure that you haven't lost the prime and that the pump is working properly? I have used a 5 hp trash pump and the prime was always a bugger to get. I wonder whether some sort of check valve in the intake would make that less of a hassle. The one I used a a rigid 2 inch hose on the intake that was green and had brass fittings on it. The outlet was maybe a 1 1/2 inch blue hose that collapsed when not under pressure. I attached a piece of PVC to it and it would shoot out 5-8 feet. I was using it in the winter to draw water out of the lake for a skating rink.

[Bigbartguy]

hi Tom

Yes I have a hard green intake hose and a filter also. We had a check valve on it but we couldnt figure out:

if it should go on the filter end or the pump end?

or

if we had it on backwards or not? (or if it even matters?)

again, we're kind of idiots as we'd never used a water pump before so any help is appreciated! It felt like we managed to get it primed, but with the output we had some doubts. Tried multiple times and it was about the same output.

[SpecialK]

You put the check valve inline on the input side and it does matter which way its installed. There should be an arrow on it which will show flow. Make the arrow point at the pump. Fileter will be at the end of the input line.

If you have water coming out with the check valve installed you have it installed correctly or the valve is bad.

[Surface Tension]

Your not going to get much pressure using a 2" outlet hose with a 5.5 hp engine.

If you could fire departments would be using them on their pumpers. Filling tankers yes but that is with volume.

Its intended use is to move a lot of water, I'm guessing around 170 GPM with a 2" outlet, that is a lot of water. Did you get any literature with the pump? If so look at max psi. Lets say max psi is around 40 but it can't maintain 40 psi on an open 2" hose.

So yes reducing the outlet to 1" will get you more of a stream but less volume. What are you using the pump for? That would determine what size hose and nozzle you should be using.

If your just wondering if your pump is putting out what it should then measure its output by filling a 55 gallon barrel and time it.

[Bigbartguy]

Yes, I believe it's about 160gpm and psi was 35 or so. I think maybe I'll get reducer and try 1" hose and see if that gives us what we're looking for.

[Redlantern]

I'd check the specs on the pump to make sure it can handle a one inch hose. Submersible sumps pumps tend to burn out prematurely when hooked up to a garden hose. Not the same pump but still something to look into.

[Surface Tension]

I'm curious at to what your using the pump for.

[Eric Wettschreck]

BigBart, what are you trying to accomplish with this pump? I ask as these are high volume, low pressure pumps. Not really designed to shoot a stream 100'. More designed to pump out a pit full of water.

Pressure and volume (GPM) of a pump come from both the speed of the pump and the size of the impeller(s). The faster it goes the more pressure, the larger the impeller and casing the higher the volume. Putting a smaller hose on the discharge size will get you more pressure and shoot a stream farther, but is that what you're shooting for? If your goal is to pump something out, pit/swimming pool/pond/big puddle/etc.....pressure on the discharge side has nothing to do with how quickly it will pump out. Volume (GPM) is what you need.

Putting a smaller hose on the discharge side will actually reduce your GPM.

[Bigbartguy]

I'm not overly concerned about GPM, more about the stream it outputs.

We get a bunch of tree guts/seeds/junk/twigs/etc on our cabin roof and stuck to sides of our cabin constantly and it looks bad. I’m not a fan of heights/ladders (it’s a pretty tall roof) and the house is on a steeper hill, making ladders even more more challenging for me. Our lawn hose pressure is VERY weak and it won’t reach. Pressure washer won’t reach either. I was hoping to pump lake water aka “firehose-like” and wash it off a couple of times a year.

I snagged a great deal on the Honda pump w/ hoses and thought I’d give it a whirl.

[riverwader]

Typically trash pumps are for moving water not for spraying so you might not get the pressure you are wanting to get. We use them at work for pumping out manholes and if you need to move the water any distance the pumps will not do the job.

[jeffreyd]

a trash pump as described is rated for high volume at near zero pressure. This is why they dont use them on fire trucks as they do not put out any pressure. If you are looking to clean with it going to a 1 inch hose wont help, the pump is built to work at low pressure. as far as the check valve is concerned it needs to on the hose at the strainer. it is used to help maintain the prime in the suction hose. so when you are pumping water, if you shut the pump down, you still will have water in the suction hose when you start up again. go to grainger. com and check out various types of pumps for what you need it for. the type you have would be used for draining a swimming pool etc, not pressure washing.

[Macgyver55]

Bart, there are telescopic wands available for pressure washers that extend out to 24 ft. That would probably be a better option. As said before, trash pumps are designed to move large amounts of water with very little pressure.

[jeffreyd]

i can get you a fire pump type not sure how much you want to spend but it will not work with a garden hose for the incoming water supply. you would need a tank of some type to suck the water out of. it would be adaptable to the 5 hp motor but you could do the same with a high pressure pump from a industrial store just need to look at the spec to make sure the motor is not too small.

[Bigbartguy]

thanks folks. Telescopic wand for the pressure washer sounds like it might be more appropriate for my needs - thanks MacGuyv!

Not sure that I want to fool w/ changing the pumps. I bought it on impulse because it was such a deal and knew I could turn around and sell it for more $ if didnt pan out.

[jeffreyd]

that wand wont work with that pump tho, the pump wont develop any more pressure because you neck it down and the pressure washer line is like 5/8 inch so you might end up damaging the pump. i would curious to see if you do try this if it does work, you might try not to run too fast rpms keep the flow down and let the pressure come up a bit. trash pumps work opposite of a pressure pump in a sense that with the pump you have, the less pressure the more water the more pressure the less water. might just work.

[Macgyver55]

Just to be clear, I was talking about using the wand on a pressure washer not the trash pump.

[jeffreyd]

i got that but wanted to make sure. could you imagine what that little pump might do it you necked down to 5/8 or less. might end up with a few pieces around the yard.