After numerous defeats, the pump and irrigation system is finally working. Saturday we spent some time priming the line with a rigged-up 44 gallon drum and some pipe, but found the water appeared to be running up hill to a large saw cut (which we discovered when water started bleeding out of it). We cut through the rest of the pipe and glued an 80mm joiner in place. Had to wait overnight for it to dry, so couldn't try starting the pump. Early Sunday, braving the frosty conditions, we headed over to and tried starting the pump. We tried turning it over about 20 times, but it refused to start. I began to think it was flooded (due to my 'over priming'). G thought it was a dirty fuel filter. Either way, it didn't start. G went home and I returned with some tools to open the motor up, but I thought I'd give the motor one more go - and it started first try. Elated, I turned the tap on, only to find there was not a drop moving through the system. I thought we'd primed the line and pump - I couldn't work out what was wrong. Then I realised that there was a valve that stopped water flowing back into the dam, and while we'd primed both pipes, the pump itself remained dry. Seems easy now, but before we unscrewed the pressure valve, filled the pump with water and started it up, it was very frustrating. It was successful - one of the best sights of the year was seeing water shooting out of a valve in the vineyard. Now I'll have to look at the irrigation in more detail for repairs.
And another valve:
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1 comment:
Plumbing, You deserve a beer after that (at least a six pack of stubbies). Running water in the field is always like a war movie "A leak too far" or something. I don't envy you. Someday, in the near future, we will be combining a rain catchment system, a solar pump, and a 1/4 mile of poly pipe into an irrigation/livestock watering system. It's giving me nightmares and I haven't past the drawing stage yet.
So, good on ya!
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