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Tried running my dredge pump at 75% speed all week in the Mississippi near Baton Rouge
I usually run it wide open, but fuel costs are killing me so I backed it off. Thought production would tank, but I only lost about 10% output while saving maybe 20 bucks a day on diesel. Is there a sweet spot with pump speed that balances wear and tear, or am I just getting lucky with the material this week?
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jordan_hill3mo ago
I heard somewhere that running pumps at 70-80% is actually easier on the bearings and seals... less heat buildup. Might be why you're not seeing a big drop in production yet.
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flores.emma3mo ago
Wait, isn't that counterintuitive though? Running a pump at lower speeds for a long time can actually cause problems too, like premature wear from constant startup stress if you're cycling it on and off. Plus, if you're at 70-80% all day, the motor might run hotter in the long run because it's not getting enough flow to cool itself properly. I've seen guys swap out a pump after keeping it at half throttle for years, and the bearings were shot from the constant low-speed vibration.
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fiona_kim973mo ago
Bet that logic only holds up if you're not pushing the pump hard enough to move any real water.
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