Old bicycle pump gets second wind

March 17, 2009 at 3:39 am 7 comments

We finally got a chance to test out Ron’s latest invention. This past winter Ron tinkered with an old bicyle pump and a few miscellaneous parts in the basement to create the pond siphon primer. I don’t think we’ll get rich on this invention, but the handmade vacuum pump pulls water from the pond with a few upward strokes of the pump handle. And yes, it worked so slick that even I could operate it! Once the pipe is full, we open the gate valve at the exit end and voila — the siphoning starts automatically. Sure beats the old bucket brigade.

Home made vacuum pump does the trick

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Ron’s Folly Signs of Spring

7 Comments Add your own

1. Ron | March 19, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Actually the pump does not “pull water from the pond.” It pulls air out of the siphon pipe and atmospheric pressure pushes pond water into the pipe. The real magic is that this method fills the pipe completely whereas the bucket method only fills the outlet leg. Also, I can’t take credit for inventing anything. I stole a number of other ideas and figured out how to implement them on a shoestring budget (no small task).
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2. Janet Stoddard | March 20, 2009 at 4:03 am

I’ve got an antique pump if you need another!
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3. Tom & CIndy | April 3, 2009 at 11:22 pm

Power tools (gas) rule !

We just bought a 2″ trash pump off Craigslist that you can borrow anytime…. That is, anytime you get tired of pumping the bike pump !

We do admire your green engineering accomplishment !
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4. Julian | August 11, 2009 at 6:18 am

Hi Ron,
Just wondering how much vacume pressure can that home made pump produce?. I am hoping it could reach 29 to 30 mercury pressure. Planning to degas some thick liquid silicone compound for molding purposes with a shoe string budget as well :).
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- 5. Ron | September 21, 2009 at 2:49 pm
  
  Hi Julian,
  Sorry for the slow response. I have been out of town for a while. I do not know how much vacuum this pump can pull. My guess is that it is probably not too great. Its’ volume of pumping is surprisingly good but I only have to obtain 40 to 50 inches of water column (which fits my needs well). The pump is not at my current locatioin otherwise I could try to measure it for you. If you are still interested and don’t mind a month long wait, I can measure it for you.
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6. mike olivero | September 1, 2009 at 11:26 pm

I’m having trouble tracking. I am trying to get water out of an irrigation canal up onto my garden. If this works for that purpose can you make me one to use?
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- 7. aillig | September 2, 2009 at 12:24 am
  
  Mike…i will have my husband get in touch with you. He’s the engineer in the family!
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