Lehman's Lightweight Deep Well Pump: Is it durable?

[Faithful One]

The price looks good, I am looking for a water pump that will pump water from 60ft down, for a emergency situation with no electricity. This pump meets all my expectations, the question I have is how durable is it?

[texican]

link?

[Faithful One]

http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/prod...ProductID=4982

[WayneR]

The literature states that it can withstand "millions of strokes with virtually no wear & supplying UP TO 10gpm". With only a three and a half inch stroke, it may well take that many, at least to prime it.

The manufacturer ( or Lehmans) should be able to answer these;

Can it be primed from above and is there a foot valve?

Warranty & spare parts availability?

How many gpm delivered from your depth?

Can it be installed and left in place until needed?

[Windy in Kansas]

I'm guessing that it would work well. I do note that it is set up for a 3.5 inch stroke. When compared to other well cylinders many accommodate a 12 inch stroke, that simply means it will take more strokes to pump the same volume of water.

The rating of up to 10 gallons per minute makes me question the rating. If one could cycle a 3.5 inch stroke every second that would give a per stroke volume of 21.33 ounces which I simply doubt you can get with a 3 inch X 3.5 inch displacement. However would you actually have need for 10 gpm? I doubt it.

My take is that it would work well.

This animation shows how a well cylinder works. http://www.aermotorwindmill.com/Link...Education2.asp
If plans can be found you might consider building your own unit to save money.

I can't seem to find a build it yourself site for well cylinders but I remember seeing a Web site with plans for them. I thought it was ATTRA but I can't find them there. Perhaps someone has the link bookmarked and can provide it. I would appreciate a posting of it if anyone still has a site bookmarked.

[Chas in Me]

Look up Bison Pumps. These are extremely well made, right here in my home town. I have known the owner for years and he is an honest man.
Chas

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Chas in Me

Look up Bison Pumps. These are extremely well made, right here in my home town.

I have no doubt that Bison makes a great pump, but I could buy several others for the price of just one Bison.

Dempster is a reputable brand and just last week I saw one of their well cylinders in a farm supply store for either $178 or $187. It was a 1.5 inch X 12 inch cylinder. Sixty feet of pipe and pump rod wouldn't be cheap nor would a well head, but you would definitely have a good pump system by going that route. You could use a pump jack or a windmill to pump with if you ever decided you needed that other than a hand pump. I expect you could even gear down a 12 volt grain drill fill auger motor and pump with 12 volts although I would personally rather use a small gas engine.

I really think the small cylinder and pump would work just fine for you designated needs. I also think if you can find the plans I mentioned in my other post a homebuilt unit will work just fine also.

[agmantoo]

Is this well with water 60 feet down dedicated to a hand pump or is it shared with an already existing pump?

[Faithful One]

Right now there is a deep well pump at the top of the well.

I just want somthing in storage for a SHTF situation, when electricity will be off for several weeks or more.

Then we can just pull the twin tubing and install the hand pump.


Also I got a question about USED well heads, they are pricey new. If I could pick one up at auction or go around haggling people, is there anything to look for in a used well head?

..because this seems to be the most expensive part, I can afford the cylinder, and drop pipe, and string. However the well head is near $1,000 bucks for a new one.

[BTO]

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

I have no doubt that Bison makes a great pump, but I could buy several others for the price of just one Bison.

Dempster is a reputable brand and just last week I saw one of their well cylinders in a farm supply store for either $178 or $187. It was a 1.5 inch X 12 inch cylinder. Sixty feet of pipe and pump rod wouldn't be cheap nor would a well head, but you would definitely have a good pump system by going that route. You could use a pump jack or a windmill to pump with if you ever decided you needed that other than a hand pump. I expect you could even gear down a 12 volt grain drill fill auger motor and pump with 12 volts although I would personally rather use a small gas engine.

I really think the small cylinder and pump would work just fine for you designated needs. I also think if you can find the plans I mentioned in my other post a homebuilt unit will work just fine also.

You get exactly what you pay for. The point of putting a hand pump on an artesian well is to have water in an emergency. I wouldn't want to bet my families well being on inferior equipment, if in fact it is. JMO.

[farminghandyman]

That is the same plunger and leather system both my windmills use and they some times pump continuously all summer, I use a longer stroke, one is a 9" and one is a 12" stroke (two different size of mills), he is using a PVC barrel which some say is superior to brass,

I would be more concerned about the "pump" the top end for durability in the sun light, but put a bag over it and keep the sun off of it and should last nearly for ever, you will really have to be moving that handle to get 10 gallons a min on a 3.5" stroke.

[Jan in CO]

I remember seeing a write up about five or more years ago, either in Countryside or Mother Earth News, I think about a home made one. I'll look through my stash of magazines and see if I can find the story. AFTER I weed the garden! Jan in Co

[mamalisa]

I have one. Not too sure about it, I had trouble installing it and have to pull it and try over, kind of short help so it has to wait. Uses 2" pvc for drop pipe and 1/2" pvc for pump rod.