New Replacement for March Pump

[Joelsyales]

So I have not seen much feedback on the Chugger pumps. How do people like them? I can't decide if I should just go with a chugger or get a march pump with a stainless head. Would there even be a difference?

Also, are you able to control the speed on either model? I have a smaller CFC and sometimes need to slow the rate of liquid into them. Does it hurt the pump if you just restrict the flow rate directly from the Brewpot?

 

[drez77]

So I have not seen much feedback on the Chugger pumps. How do people like them? I can't decide if I should just go with a chugger or get a march pump with a stainless head. Would there even be a difference?

Also, are you able to control the speed on either model? I have a smaller CFC and sometimes need to slow the rate of liquid into them. Does it hurt the pump if you just restrict the flow rate directly from the Brewpot?

For a magnetic pump you should have it full to the pump and have a ball valve after the pump so you can dial it back. You do not want to starve the pump and have the head seize.

 

[hammis]

i ended up biting the bullet and buying a chugger yesterday, i will let everyone know how it works out

cheers!

 

[chuckjaxfl]

I am in receipt of a Chugger stainless head for my 809. I broke the intake on my previous poly head, so ordered the stainless Chugger head as a replacement.

For the price, I was expecting something built to a lower standard than the March product. My expectations were met. If I had to sum it up in a word, I would call it imprecise.

The lettering and markings on the head look rough. If any of you are ammo handloaders, you may know what .45 brass looks like after about 6 reloads. That's what the markings look like.

The exit hole is much too small in diameter. More like a 3/8" exit. And, it's eccentric to the threads. The threads are inconsistent in sharpness around the diameter of the fitting as if they, too, are eccentric.

In reality, this are likely cosmetic issues. I'm just using my pump to recirc, not for whirlpooling, so I tend to choke it down to the point that the exit hole won't matter. A layer of teflon tape may render the thread "issue" a non-issue.

If there is interest, I'll break out the camera and get some shots of the issues I'm describing. It will probably be a couple weeks before I actually pump anything with it. I'll report here when I do, if there is interest.

 

[ClaudiusB]

If there is interest, I'll break out the camera and get some shots of the issues I'm describing.

Please show some pics.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[pickles]

Yes we absolutely are interested in pics!

 

[Seabee John]

not to run back off topic too quickly... I can't provide you with the most accurate data, just my experience. I've been running 2 separate March AC-3C-MD pumps on my system for three years now. They most certainly do not have the high temp head, I think it's rated at 190F (but I could be off) the point is, I run 212F+ fluid through them every time I brew. never had a problem... outside of clogging one with whole hops the first time I brewed with them.

Remember people, industrial ratings are usually 80% of what the engineers feel comfortable with, they can probably handle much more. Three Years Running without a hitch... just saying. oh and that 630 GPH.. yeah that's nice too.

 

[chuckjaxfl]

Same threads, 180 degrees out.

Eccentric hole

Regarding the out hole: I'm please to say that I was just plain wrong about the size. The exit on my Chugger pump is 0.426, the exit on the March is 0.408.

 

[chuckjaxfl]

Click for large photo

 

[BrewBeemer]

Same threads, 180 degrees out.

Eccentric hole

Regarding the out hole: I'm please to say that I was just plain wrong about the size. The exit on my Chugger pump is 0.426, the exit on the March is 0.408.

Made in China?

 

[browjaso62]

Nice Pictures. They look consistent with the pump heads I just received. I have both a march pump with a stainless replacement head and a stainless chugger pump. Once I get them up and running I will post a comparison.

 

[BargainFittings]

How does the inside look?

 

[BrewBeemer]

By the looks of both pumps I would bet if one used a rotary carbide bit and opened up the inlet / outlet ends besides making them concentric to the OD the pumps efficency in GPM would be increased. They look rather bad but the performance should be the same for what they are charging for them.

 

[chuckjaxfl]

I ran mine, outlet oriented to the right, to test my "Beercan" (50 cal ammo can based RIMS in a box).

It primed up just fine, and ran unremarkabley, EXCEPT when running it wide open. Wide open, it would rattle, then squall to a stop. If I applied a slight (very slight) amount of backpressure, it would run fine. I'll put the head apart and look inside later. If there's anything worth looking at, I'll post pics. For now, I really don't feel like it since I can't think of a situation where I can't live with running the valve at 95% instead of 100%.

I need to test it with the outlet oriented up, and also with a little bit of head pressure too.

Flow was pretty impressive. I didn't time it, but I'd estimate that it pushes at least the same amount of water as my poly head. Certainly not any less (until it ceases!).

Oh, and the threads were a total non-issue. I didn't use any more teflon that I would have on the poly head, and there was no leakage.

If you're looking to upgrade, I'd say put the $50.00 somewhere else. If you break your poly head and you have to replace it, I don't think you'll be disappointed with this head.

 

[chuckjaxfl]

By the looks of both pumps I would bet if one used a rotary carbide bit and opened up the inlet / outlet ends besides making them concentric to the OD the pumps efficency in GPM would be increased. They look pretty pathetic for what they are charging for them.

I thought about taking mine to a buddy's and having him plunge a 1/2" endmill right down into it. Then I changed my mind, as it would be just be an academic exercise. In the end, I don't have any problem for which higher flow rate is a solution.

 

[Jewrican]

i would send a complaint. that is pretty crappy

 

[Joelsyales]

So is the consensus to stay with a march pump with a poly head?

 

[Randar]

The little giant pumps rated for highly corrosive materials seem like the best bet to me. JMO. If you plan to pump cleaning solutions and the like, I would probably try to go that route. Seems like they also have models with various inlet and outlet sizes in the same price range as a march pump. And as someone else noted, they can be run dry without risk of damage (not indefinitely, but for up to 8 hrs as listed by little giant)

 

[JonW]

I just ordered a March pump and a replacement SS head from USA pumps today. I couldn't bring myself to order their green pump, so for $14 more, I got the March (black) one. I needed a replacement head for another pump, so I went ahead and got the SS one.

 

[chuckjaxfl]

I finally used mine today to sous vide some ribeyes. It ran for three hours without a hitch. I did have to apply a touch of back pressure, though, as before.

 

[JonW]

I received my Chugger SS pump head today. Basically the same as what was said above - it's OK, but nothing extraordinary. The casting and cleanup was not great. There are remnants of cutting oil all over it and it actually looks dirty - I thought maybe it was used, but probably just a bad clean up job. I took the insides out and I'm going to hit it with the bead blaster (exterior only) to clean it up a bit.

 

[hammis]

i finally got mine this weekend, it looks ok, not as bad as everyone else has been mentioning, a little bit of cutting oil still on the threads, but nothing excessive. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but when i do i will post results.

 

[CoalCracker]

I'm going to be in the market for a pump here shortly, What is the general consensus? Yay or nay?

 

[chuckjaxfl]

Have any of you other guys tried yours? Does yours have the wide-open-throttle issue I'm having?

 

[JonW]

I mounted the new SS head on a new March pump the other day, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I'll be working on my brew stand this weekend though so hopefully I can run some flow tests with it.

 

[ImperialLover]

The only question I have about the little giant is about the gaskets. If it's made for corrosives then what kind of gasket is being used (if any) and if it comes in contact with the fluid. If you look at the camlock disconnects from proflow, they came with rubber gaskets that caused rubber flavors at high temperatures. So again, are we looking at rubber or silicon orings/gaskets?

 

[ImperialLover]

I just found it. The pump is seal-less. Disregard. I would probably go with the little giant.

 

[BargainFittings]

The pump head has a large o-ring on the Little Giant 3-MD-HC
http://www.lgpc.com/ProductFiles/SpecSheets/995777.pdf

 

[ImperialLover]

do you know what the oring is maid out of? it says viton but i don't know what that is.

 

[BargainFittings]

Viton is high temp fluoropolymer elastomer rubber. There are many different versions of the material.

It generally has a temp range up to about 400 degrees.

I would suggest contacting little giant to asks specifics about their o-ring specs.