The Art of Delivery, fuel'd with questions...?

[TBDonnelly]

Hey TB,

Have you ever thought of running some type of plumbing under that pile and circulating some fluid through it to heat the house?

What do you think the temp in the center of that pile is?

Phill

With an ambient outdoor temperature of 40 degrees today the temperature of the compost pile taken about 2 foot into the pile was 117 degrees. I've added a lot of fresh leaves to the pile over the last couple weeks so it's still in the process of 'heating up'.

The pile has to remain accessable to the tractor to flip ('oxygenate') about once monthly. Pipes under the pile would need to be protected from damage by the tractor/front end loader. The pile also needs to be kept in a moist state.

Most years the compost pile when covered with snow has bare spots showing up from the heat migrating up and out of the pile. I've been known to be out there flipping the pile in mid January to re-oxygenate the pile so it's doesn't compact down.

It would be an interesting project for a supplemental heat source.

Don

 

[JoelD]

I think the problem with the tractor is most likely the front wheel allignment being slightly off.......just noticed, you fixed it, great.

Question for you, as I have tons of leaves and sticks and stuff, just how do you make and tend to a composte pile, I could really use the good soil that results.

Thanks,
Joel

 

[TBDonnelly]

I think the problem with the tractor is most likely the front wheel allignment being slightly off.......just noticed, you fixed it, great.

Question for you, as I have tons of leaves and sticks and stuff, just how do you make and tend to a composte pile, I could really use the good soil that results.

Thanks,
Joel

Joel, I know I started off this thread with a riddle but now you really have me puzzled. I'm having difficulty making a connection between a wheel alignment and a fuel pump/fuel delivery issue. I could stretch it and say an out of aligned front end could transfer back to the engine, throw the cadence of the camshaft off thus mis-pulsing the fuel pump injecting air into the system. But, I don't know if that theory could hold water.

As far as starting a compost pile. I use grass clipping because they start to cook almost immediately. Flip some grass clipping and leaves together, in a weeks time you'll have a cookin' compost pile. Flip it once or twice a month, adding new material when available, keep the pile moist not wet. By spring I have coarse compost, by next fall I'll have fine, rich, black dirt. I've been composting enough years now that I always have a fresh supply of fine 'black gold' ready to use.

Don

 

[JoelD]

HI Don,

Thank you very much for the answer to the mulch pile question, my dad used to compost but I'm not sure he got it right, I remember the process being a bunch more complicated and involving kitchen waste.

I have plenty of clippings and leaves and I look forward to making my first pile. Final question, when you say keep it damp, is that as in watering it with a hose? Do you sprinkle water over top?

As far as the wheel allignment, you get a lot more thought to my answer than I did, just thought I'd throw something silly out there as you guys had already diagnosed.

Interesting how your feeder pump ended up being the problem, usually with pumps they work or don't, rather than being a source of air.

My honest guess in reading first part of post was injector pump failing, super glad that was not it as those are big money.

Thanks again Don,
Sincerely,
Joel

 

[TBDonnelly]

HI Don,

Thank you very much for the answer to the mulch pile question, my dad used to compost but I'm not sure he got it right, I remember the process being a bunch more complicated and involving kitchen waste.

I have plenty of clippings and leaves and I look forward to making my first pile. Final question, when you say keep it damp, is that as in watering it with a hose? Do you sprinkle water over top?

Thanks again Don,
Sincerely,
Joel

Kitchen scraps are fine EXCEPT for meat items unless you want to feed the animals. Damp as in slightly moist. I've never watered my compost pile, we've always gotten enough rain to suffice. Too much rain/water the pile will compact down and smother all the ameba like creatures who don't know how to swim any distance, then additional flipping is necessary to re-aerate and redistribute the ameba like creatures so their feeding frenzy can continue.

That wheel alignment thing.....I almost called in Island Tractor so he could use some big foreign words on us to explain what you were talking about.

Don

 

[TBDonnelly]

Since this fuel delivery issue has been dogging me I've wanted to purchase a Mr. Funnel (www.mrfunnel.com) to filter the diesel as it's poured into the fuel tank. I finally did and it was delivered the other day. I've read about Mr. Funnel here on TBN and the only concern was that the filter screen slowed down the fuel passing through the funnel. With the fuel cap located through the hood of the CK30 I did not want to extend my time holding a fuel can up over the hood any longer than necessary. I went with the largest size Mr. Funnel offers which has a dual screen for faster fuel delivery. The screens are off the bottom of the funnel about 1/4" to collect any water/debri that may be present. This 'sump' will also hold 1/4" of fuel if no water or contaminates are present. My thoughts are, if the fuel in the sump looks clean to pour it back into the fuel can for next use. The best price I found was at Amazon.com See the pic's.

 

[IslandTractor]

You were smart to get the double filter model. I have the single and it slows me down as well as requiring constant monitoring. I now use a rotary pump from a thirty gallon drum so it is not easy to just pour back the half ounce that remains. I 'discard' it into a jar I keep for cleaning greasy stuff.