what type of highbanker

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:10 pm

I was looking at getting a high banker for the ease of dragging them around anyway. has anybody looked at the Jobe 6.5 hp engine with a semi-trash pump 2" suction dredge not sure the pump size 100, 150 or so who knows I'm waiting on a call from the guy,the price is 750 new. should I buy it without the engine/pump and buy a honda thats my thoughts What's some thoughts out there?

James

Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 11:08 pm

I have a Honcoop and you do not have to classify it to 1/4. The machine classifies the material as it runs. I do use a classifier, but just to remove the larger rocks. The larger rocks will get you wet when they get under the spray bars

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 8:56 am

thanks for the links. I was looking at the combo unit with the 2" dredge attachment, comes with the header box seems like the ticket for me. 90 day warranty for engine is kinda low a 1 year would be nice so maybe I'll just upgrade to a Honda. much better quality. as i have never used a power lift engine, decisions, decisions

Dredger Joined: 22 May 2010 Posts: 605

Trash pumps are great for picking up the flat rocks that clog your hoses, but the round ones, the ones that knock the flat ones loose are heavier, and harder to pick up, because of lack of pressure. So, if you dredge with a trash pump, expect lower water volume, lower pressure, less lift, and less head. Also allow more time to get stuck flat rocks out of your hose.

Get the best motor and pump that you can afford, just expect trade-offs if you get a trashpump.

On the Honcoop - a GREAT MACHINE!
Jobe Highbanker - an okay machine
Keene Highbankers - WET Machines, but great
Proline Highbankers - My personal preference

If you are going to spend big money on a machine, get one that will handle big materials, and process them quickly. If you want to concentrate on getting all the gold, the Honcoop is the best, just slower. For quantity of material with a good recovery, then Keene and Proline. The rest are cheap copies or iterations of the big 3, emphasis on cheap.

The newer types of highbankers with drop riffles, step riffles, boil boxes, and plastic parts all have their following, but mostly because of the price point. When people with Keene and Proline start selling their stuff to buy the plastic units, then you will know they have arrived and been accepted by the mining community. Until then, you are relying mostly on the research of inexperienced prospectors.

Case in point, I have many metal sluice friends who have gone strictly to the Angus set-ups, and declare they won't go back. This is a big change in the industry, but that hasn't happened on the highbanker end yet.

If I had it to do over, I would buy a 5 hp honda with a Proline dredge pump, a set of Proline riffles and punchplate, and make my own highbanker. You can make a great highbanker for $200 if you have the pump and riffles.

Sam

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:00 pm

yeah i was thinking of spending a little extra and getting a honda pump, tractor supply has a honda 160 for 399.00 i think this will work much better then a power lift engine which comes with it. but the honda says 50 psi dont think that is enough

Dredger Joined: 22 May 2010 Posts: 605

Get a Honda and this pump:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330566293453&clk_rvr_id=233553570697

This pump coupled with a 4-5 hp Honda will easily drive a 2.5 inch highbanker/dredge combo.

Sam

PS - If you don't want this let me know, it's a great price and I'll buy it if no one on the forum wants it.

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 3:31 pm

yeah i can buy this stuff separate and save cash a guy i know ows a lawn mower shop and can get honda's at a good price,thanks for the link ill buy it for sure then spend 300 on the honda and save 250- thats gas money for 2 trips to the eastern gold bets for me lol

Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 6:06 pm

James,

Just make sure that whatever motor you buy has the correct shaft for the pump - threaded shaft vs. keyed shaft.

I'd suggest buying your pump first and see what the manufacturer requires for operating it, such as shaft requirements, engine size, etc.

I agree with Sam, to power the dredge you really should consider a pressure pump vs. a trash pump. Also, if you want to dredge, you should consider just getting a dredge - WITH AIR! Seeing what you are doing down under the water really is worth the extra cost. You'll be able to do some with a mask and snorkel, but if the bedrock is 4' down, you won't be able to get to it without air.

Just my .02 for consideration.

Good luck!

Keith

PS - if you ever need to see a dredge set up, just let me know and you can come check out my Keene 4".

Panner Joined: 13 May 2011 Posts: 22

Going to check out the 3" proline Combo this weekend , will relay my results here on Monday. Stay tuned Rolling Eyes

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 7:26 am

NC Boy wrote:

Going to check out the 3" proline Combo this weekend , will relay my results here on Monday. Stay tuned Rolling Eyes

Thats a beast of a machine! I like the way the dredge attachment is set up on the Prolines.

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 12:16 pm

not sure why no mention of the old keene 2 1/2 combo or power sluice or whatever the name is they call it. Probably the most common highbanker I see out there and you can dredge with it as well. A little bit of thought and you can mount it to a deer cart liker I did mine and then you can haul EVERYTHING in one shot instead of carrying in pieces. If anyone ever gets around to seeing my setup now I swear keene needs to take notes because this is the way it shouldve been made to begin with. Thinking of maybe patenting the mobile stand and coming up with my own highbanker mobile cart.

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 3:31 pm

i have a deer cart and was thinking the same thing lol, im in a toss up now lol. jobe, keene, proline,but heck no dealers will answers there phones i called 3 this week. anybody have a used combo maybe i should have asked that first lol. leaving for tellico plains tonite anybody going to be in the area?

james

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 4:19 pm

sysbee wrote:

i have a deer cart and was thinking the same thing lol, im in a toss up now lol. jobe, keene, proline,but heck no dealers will answers there phones i called 3 this week. anybody have a used combo maybe i should have asked that first lol. leaving for tellico plains tonite anybody going to be in the area?

james

Have you tried sending southernprospector(Shay) a private message??
He's the owner of the store but he is very busy so hardly available sometimes on the phone. Easier to PM him.

Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 5:37 pm

i did thanks