Pro tip: A chat with a retired operator changed how I think about pump pressure

I was grabbing a coffee in Duluth last week and got talking with an old timer who ran a big cutter dredge on the Great Lakes for 40 years. He asked me what PSI I usually run my jet pump at, and when I said 'as high as it'll go,' he just shook his head. He told me, 'Son, you're just making slurry soup and wearing out your impeller. Dial it back 15 pounds and let the cutter head do the real work.' I've been running my dredge at 110 PSI instead of 125 all week, and the material is way cleaner. Has anyone else found a sweet spot for their pump pressure that saves wear and tear?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly.nora1mo ago

That reminds me of a guy I knew who swore by running his pump just high enough to clear the hose, nothing more. Said it was like driving with the parking brake on.

phoenix3311mo ago

That parking brake comparison from @kelly.nora really sticks with you, doesn't it? It's more about the long term wear than the immediate cost. A pump fighting against itself all the time just builds up heat and stress on the parts. You might not see it break tomorrow, but it's definitely shortening its life for no good reason. It's like making a machine work harder than it needs to every single day.

stella_baker1mo ago

Okay, "like driving with the parking brake on" is a pretty strong image, @kelly.nora. But is it really that bad? A pump working a little harder for a short time isn't the same as constant mechanical drag on a car. It might just cost a few extra cents on the electric bill, not destroy the motor.