Do all autosiphons "suck"?

[tidehouse]

My auto siphon is tits mcgee. Dont know what Id do without it. The "thief" on the other hand is a PITA (you can't set it down)

 

[Catch-22]

I LOVE my autosiphon but not at first. I found that I too had lots of air and it didn't maintain the suction. What I found with mine was that the connection of the transfer tube to the racking cane wasn't tight enough, thereby letting in enough air to disrupt the process. I placed a clamp on the connection point of the tubing and racking can and voila....no air. As far as starting the siphon, two pumps get it going to a trickle and then I squeeze the tube just below that clamping point. This forces that suction to push all remaining air out and I maintain a full suction all the way to the trub.
The clamp is a small one used for keeping computer cords tidy.
Hope this helps you as much as it did me.

 

[SRTBREW]

Maybe it's co2 offgassing? Mine does the same exact thing and I've never worried about it and never had any off flavors. Except for and infection once. Not the autosiphon's fault.

 

[Bobby_M]

Obviously check if air is coming in at the cane to tubing joint first. The 3/8" cane really likes 5/16" tubing better than 3/8. Check?

If it's coming in through the bottom cane/piston gasket, take it out and run it under hot water, then try again. Never store it inside the bigger tube.

 

[Drummin101]

I have a cheap $7 one from my LHBS and it rocks. I have never had an issue. I guess you just need to be smarter than the plastic.

 

[JPicasso]

+1 on Autosiphon being the bee's knees. (You're right, "witches tits" was better)

Had one for 3+ years, only issue is that 3/8 tubing is a bit loose, so I put some scotch tape on the racking tube for a year until I replaced my tubing with 5/16.

Also, I've never dry-pumped. Although, how could I, we all use star-san, or iodophor right? Right?