mdschweikert (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

with the snifter valve, there are 3 moving parts.

ChasRM (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hello John G.Thank you for the kind words.Answers to your questions are as follows:DRIVE TANK ?I did not use a drive tank. But, one certainly can.INTAKE PIPE ABOVE OR BELOW WATER LEVEL?It is absolutely imperative that the intake pipe always (repeat:always) be BELOW the water level. Why? Because if air ever enters the intake pipe the water will not "bounce" or "ram" back. So, not matter what you use, earthen dam or drive tank, - NO AIR MUST EVER ENTER THE THE INTAKE PIPE.

JohnGodwin30 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

This is the Best Video on the Web of the Ram. Way to go.I have 3 to 5 Gal. per minutes flow and it falls about 20 feet. I hope to get results like yours. Do you use a Drive Tank? Is your intake pipe above or below the water level at the earthen dam? Mine is at the top of the water level. I am wondering if I will get too much air in the line. Do you have this trouble?Thanks.John G.

joemc111 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

It don't look like much bet thats about 480 Gal per day.

ChasRM (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Another great book is "The Mother Earth News Handbook of Homemade Power", a Bantam book published in May, 1974. It has an excellent article on the ram pump and a thorough bibliography.

ChasRM (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Sorry for the delay in replying.In my opinion, the very best book on this subject is called "A Manual on the Hydraulic Ram for Pumping Water" by S. B. Watt. It is only 40 pages in length but is filled with drawings and ideas. The real beauty of the book is that it shows you exactly how to build the pump with "off the shelf" items that are easily purchased. I went to Google and typed in "A Manual on the Hydraulic Ram for Pumping Water S. B. Watt" and got several hits.

verdugo106 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

hi man that´s a great item, how can I make one of this? do you have a plans or instruccions? because I´d like build one... have a nice day (by the way I´m from Mexico where te electricity is too far away from my home)