sump pump liner

need help with identification | Gold Dredging Forum

Post by zimbo

Hi does any one have any information on these two items I bought the pump a while back from a local miner here in the wakatipu and the compressor from a guy up nelson area.

Post by RKC

G'day zimbo, At first glance I would have thought the pump was one of the old Honor Bright pumps from Australia. But the Honor Bright pumps used to have a serial number imprinted on each pump. And yours seems to be without the number! There should be some identifying mark on it somewhere. It actually looks fairly new ... which is intriguing. It does have one of the good impellers, so it should be OK. The first pumps made by Honor Bright (in the 1980s) were very poor copies of the Keene pumps available at that time. They were such a poor design they had to be improved, and the way Honor Bright did this was to use a better impeller and improve the tolerances. Or, it could be a National Gold pump. Is there anything else on the pump that might help us identify it? You have an old Thomas compressor running off the motor which is attached to the pump. And it looks like it is just about at the end of its life. Once the Thomas compressors start to break down they are murder to try and maintain. There is a lot of information about Thomas compressors on this forum which you could find by using the search feature. The other compressor might be an old Tuffy compressor. And if so, you won't be able to get parts. It would then just be a matter of using the compressor until it breaks down and replacing it with a modern new compressor. If you are dredging anywhere remote you will need to have a spare compressor with you as compressors can break down at any time. The Thomas compressors do need quite some maintenance. Regards, Rob (RKC)

Post by zimbo

thanks for that it looks like the national gold pump for shore, the pump was brand new before i fitted to the motor it must have been sitting in the corner of his garage for a while, the motor in a Chinese copy of a 13hp Honda which starts and runs beautifully, buts seems too small to run the pump. was thinking of changing the setup to two honda 6.5hp with hp300 pumps instead ,im not sure the p180 pumps are any good my 6" dredge running a oversize keene jet and flare with 3 stage box

Post by goldkiwi

Hi does any one have any information on these two items I bought the pump a while back from a local miner here in the wakatipu and the compressor from a guy up nelson area. Hey Zimbo, Yes I recognise that pump. It is one of 2 that was stolen when we were dredging in the Clutha just below the junction at Cromwell. I know that for sure because of the cast-in male cam lock on the outlet, the all aluminium intake snout, and there are no identifying marks on the pump body. They were a copy of a Keene P350 but modified quite a lot for more pressure. I made these pumps for several years and that was one of the last ones I made with the alloy intake as against most of the other pumps that were a steel inset for the inlet. The motors were stolen with the pumps also, motors were 11hp Hondas. The impellers were made larger diameter and slightly wider vanes. Depending on the hp of the motor the impellers were made larger or smaller diameters. An 8hp motor would not be enough to run that pump so only requires the diameter to be turned down to suit. Don't worry I won't come looking for you. It is a few years ago now and probably changed hands more than once. With a 13hp motor and the full impeller with tight clearances the pump would run at 60psi with a 1 1/2" jet.

Post by zimbo

thanks for the info i am using the keene oversize power jet with twin 2" inlets it has go suction but it just seems as if the e motor is really working hard

Post by auinbox

buggar i think i have the other one. got it from a garage sale in roxbrough about 10 years ago.

Post by goldkiwi

thanks for the info i am using the keene oversize power jet with twin 2" inlets it has go suction but it just seems as if the e motor is really working hard I doubt if the Chinese motor would be as good as a genuine Honda so is probably underpowered for the size of the impeller. As I mentioned before, you can turn down the outside diameter of the impeller to match the hp output of the motor. Machine off 10mm of the diameter at a time. You want the motor to be able to run at full revs. Cheers

Post by auseeker

Oh oh,looks like Ive got one too,recently mounted on a late model 12.5 hp Briggs.Looks like the pump in Zimbos post but not finished quite as well...so Im still a little confused,is it an Honour Bright, a National Gold pump or was it cast by goldkiwi here in Otago and finally,is 12.5 hp enough for a 6" or better suited to a 5?

Post by auseeker

Sorry,should have mentioned no maker or numbers on this pump at all..4x3, 1" shaft...cheers

Post by goldkiwi

so would a 16hp v-twin do the job then Yes it would breeze in but is that necessary. With the impellor sitting in the housing, is there much clearance between them. If the impellor fits snuggly then it will be a high pressure pump as the clearance around the impellor are tight and this requires the extra hp. A 13hp Honda will do the job.

Post by zimbo

yip there is not much clearance, about 2mm between the impeller and housing, sure wish i could afford one of those Honda motors, i will need to find same yellow first, what is your opinion on the Kohler engines? there have the same configuration as a Honda at half the price.

Post by RKC

what is your opinion on the Kohler engines? there have the same configuration as a Honda at half the price. G'day zimbo, You could not go wrong with Kohler engines. I once used an 8-inch dredge with two Kohler engines that ran superbly. It might be worthwhile for you to also consider the latest Briggs and Stratton engines. Regards, Rob (RKC)

Post by zimbo

Hi does any one have any information on these two items I bought the pump a while back from a local miner here in the wakatipu and the compressor from a guy up nelson area. so would you have a single 1 1/2 jet or twin for a 6"

Post by zimbo

what is your opinion on the Kohler engines? there have the same configuration as a Honda at half the price. hi rob thanks for the heads up Just had a look online 13hp vanguard is $1500 with pull start or a 13hp v-twin is $999usd still very costly .there is a 14hp kohler on trademe for $1000. Might also look at a second hand V-twin, there must be pretty good as there are not many for sale. This is my first season dredging and still haven't found anything wreath while dredging ground that has been worked many times. trying to do things on the cheep lol Regards, Rob (RKC)