On the diagram of The Stalwart there are two tubes. Both of these will need to be extended to accommodate the depth to water in your well. The Stalwart pumping cylinder bottom section, and the top discharge section, make up 10’ of length. You should calculate the distance from the surface of the well to the water level, and buy enough 5’ sections of pipe and rod to match that depth. That way you will be upto 10’ in the water and protected against most seasonal fluctuations of water level.

The outside pipe and the inside tubular rod are matched in length to allow you to extend your pump in 5’ sections. Do not attempt to adjust length by cutting and gluing the unit back together. You could ruin your pump system.

The pumping cylinder with leather holder and leathers inside, one 5’ set of extension pipe and rod for at the top, a handle that screws onto the rod and a discharge fitting. A clear hose is included to discharge through, and a stainless steel clamp is provided to secure the hose to the discharge fitting. A 1/16" drill bit is furnished to drill a drain back hole in the 1/2" internal tubular rod below your frost level. Do not drill hole in outside pipe for any reason. This is to prevent freezing of water in the discharge pipe. You can also accomplish this by leaving the o-ring out of the joint of rod below the discharge head section. This allows the water to weep down to that level and yet remain in the pipe upto that level for easy pump startup. You will only re-pump up the 10’ above the weep hole area when you start pumping.

The pump is shipped with thread protectors on the ends of the bottom pumping rod, and upper pumping rod to prevent damage to the threads in shipment. Be sure to remove these so you will be able to screw the next section on.

You will need a 2 hole well seal for your well to offset the Stalwart pump, so it does not interfere with your submersible pump or the pitless adapter. Measure the inside diameter of your well casing to allow us to provide the proper size double hole well seal for installing your Stalwart. If you have question of whether the Stalwart will go past your pitless adapter in the well, get a 1" galvanized steel pipe and put it down into the well till it has passed the pitless. If it does not hit and hang up, your Stalwart will have plenty of room to pass. If your pump is underground discharge through a pitless adapter, you will need to plug the other hole in the 2 hole well seal.

When assembling pipe and rod sections, DO NOT USE A PIPE WRENCH, as damage to the end threads may be caused by too much torque. These only need to be hand tightened.

Begin the assembly by placing a chain vise or other type pipe holder near the top of the bottom pump cylinder pipe section. Be sure to keep a pipe holder locked onto the pump at all times. Using two holder chain vises will allow you to secure the section above and then loosen the lower vise to allow the pump to lower into the well that length. Neither the manufacturer or distributor is responsible for lost or missing pumps, and dropping it into the well could cause problems with your submersible pump operation.

After lowering the bottom pumping section into the well casing, screw a pumping rod into the top of the lower pumping rod. Next place an outside pipe over the rod and screw it securely to the lower pumping unit. Now clamp the upper chain vise to the top section of pipe, and when securely attached, loosen the lower chain vise to lower the unit into the well. NEVER REMOVE BOTH CHAIN VISES AT THE SAME TIME, UNTIL AFTER YOU HAVE THE PUMP COMPLETELY INSTALLED AND SECURED IN THE WELL SEAL.

Continue to assemble rod and then outside pipe sections until you have the pump approximately 10’ into the water. This will fluctuate based on the height above the ground you have the discharge. The top section will require you to unscrew the handle and discharge unit from the rod, remove the pipe section from the rod, and screw the rod securely into the bottom rod. Before placing the outside top section of the pump pipe over that last rod, place your well seal on the pipe, and put your second pipe vise on just above where your well seal should be. Next put the outside pipe over the rod and be sure the rod protrudes through the top of the pump before screwing it together. If necessary, push the rod up through the top of the pump pipe until you have room to secure the handle and discharge unit to the rod. After completing the reconnection of the rod, you can screw the top pipe section of the pump together and lower it into the well to a comfortable level for pumping. The manufacturer says a 3’ pumping stroke will produce optimum performance, however, you will have to decide how long a stroke you will feel comfortable with. With the top chain vise attached just above the well seal, remove the lower chain vise and lower the pump to the well casing surface. Keep the chain vise on the top so it can not drop into the well while you are tightening the nuts on the well seal to secure it into the top of your well.

Now that you have the unit completely assembled, you should attach the tubing to the discharge fitting and begin to pump the unit to pump water into a pail. The Stalwart does not require priming, however it will take a few strokes to get the water up to the surface the first time you use it. This is because you are filling the pumping tube full from the water level up to the top. If you are in a freezing area, you left an o-ring out or drilled a hole in the tubular rod between 5’ and 10’ into the well, which allows the water to drain back into the well to prevent freezing. The next time you pump water, the pump will refill the section of pipe that drained back into the well, and begin pumping water for your needs.

You can buy longer discharge tubing to connect to the pump discharge to allow you to pump up or over to a reasonable distance from the well. This allows you to pump into a cistern or other holding tank nearer the point of usage.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Isn’t food the most important provision which could be interupted in emergencies?

A. No. Without water, human beings can live only a few days. It is essential for life, health, and sanitation. Availability of water should be a top concern for everyone.

Q. How can I prepare for possible water shortages?

A. Some water could be stored in barrels and jugs, but those households with private wells now have additional options of installing a hand pump alongside their submersible pump for continual and long term use in an emergency.

Q. Do I have to pull my existing pump out of my well to use this hand pump system?

A. No. The Stalwart emergency hand pump is designed so that it will not interfere with the ongoing funtioning of your existing submersible pump system. The unit will slide down into the well along side the submersible drop pipe.

Q. How long will it last?

A. The Stalwart emergency hand pump in either the stainless steel model or the PVC plastic model, is constructed with all non-corrosive materials, which should last for many years.

Q. What is the advantage of the stainless steel over the PVC model?

A. The manufacturer recommends the stainless steel model to withstand wear better. Both are highly functional, long lasting models, but if in doubt, order the stainless steel model.

Q. Would there be any advantage to buying one now and waiting to install it when I need it?

A. No. The Stalwart emergency hand pump is designed to be installed any time in order to use at a minutes notice. Right now, pump setters are available to install it, but in emergencies, they may be hard to find. We recommend that you not wait until an emergency to get it installed.

Q. Could I install it myself?

A. Yes, you can. With proper tools and some assistance, you should be able to handle the installation. Manufacturer and distributor assume no responsibility for lost or missing pump, damage during installation, or improper installation. If you feel that this is more than your abilities allow, call a professional pump installer to install your Stalwart hand pump system. He will have all the tools and the ability to do the job right.

Q. What type well will the Stalwart hand pump system fit?

A. It will fit into most wells with an inside diameter of at least 4". If you feel that there is any question, use a piece of 1" galvanized pipe to slip into the well past your pitless adapter, to be sure there is adequate room to install the Stalwart system. If the 1" steel pipe passes the pitless, your Stalwart will too.

Q. Will I need to change well seals?

A. Yes. A double hole well seal will make your installation easier. It offsets the 1" hole for the Stalwart to be installed through, so it passes the pitless adapter in your well without hitting it. You will plug the other pipe hole with a plug that will keep your well clean and protected against things falling in through that hole.

Q. Does the Stalwart need primed after installation?

A. No. After you finish your installation, it will only take a few strokes of the pump to deliver water to the discharge head.

Q. May I use my Stalwart system in freezing weather?

A. Yes. When the Stalwart is installed in a freezing climate, a 1/16" hole can be drilled in the tubular internal pumping rod below the frost level, or you can just eliminate the o-ring at the rod joint 10’ below the top of the pump to allow the water to drain back into the well. Then only a couple strokes will refill that area of rod and deliver water when you need it.

Q. How deep can I pump with my Stalwart emergency hand pump system?

A. The manufacturer recommends pumping from 170’ or less for best results.

Q. How hard is the Stalwart to pump?

A. A 30 lb. pull and push will pump from 150 feet at upto 2 gallons per minute.

Q. Will I be able to use my Stalwart to fill an above ground storage tank?

A. Yes. The Stalwart can pump water uphill. The shallower the depth to water in the well, the further uphill you will be able to deliver water.

Q. Is the cost of the pump my only cost?

A. No. You will need to purchase the pump and the extension 5’ lengths of pipe and tubular rod sets, in order to lower the pumping cylinder down into the water below your water level approximately 10’. If your water level is 50’ from the surface, you will need to buy 10 sections of pipe and rod sets to extend down into the water the proper depth to protect against seasonal fluctuations in water level.