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RDrancher's Photo Thread
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RDrancher
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The weather guru said we "might" get a couple of showers before 2PM today. Well, I'd say more than a couple of showers. I have two 40" deep x six foot wide drainage ditches that feed my pond. One of the ditches has completely overflowed the 18" leftover culvert pipe I put in under the crossing to our side pasture. Our pond is now twice it's normal size and even the huge overflow can't handle the runoff. I stocked the pond with 100 bluegill a few weeks ago. I doubt if there will be any left, but I bet we have a more than a few new herds of fire ants!
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
I thought I'd share a tip for fixing a squashed corrugated steel culvert pipe. I have a lot of customers this year that have purchased RV's and need their driveways widened. This particular pipe was squished down so far that I could only get my smallest bottle jack in there sideways until I got it past the end to stand it up. It was also no longer round but flat on top. I jacked it up as far as it would go and then started using pipe wrenches to slowly bend the edge back up for a little room. Once I had room for the larger jack I continued to jack it up with a piece of 2x4 on top of the jack. Since a squished pipe doesn't like to stay round, I leave the jack inside while I get the bolt started on the band and then tighten up the bolt a bit to help the pipe hold it's shape and remove the jack. Once the pipe extension is inserted and the bolts on the band fully tightened up, the old pipe will hold it's new (old?) shape.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Here's the rest of job from the last post. I installed the culvert pipe extensions, graded out a flat parking pad for an RV cover then spread new gravel to it and over the remainder of the driveway.
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Back at the tree guy's place. So far these folks haven't made anything straightforward and easy. After grading and cutting a swale up to and around a fence, I get back there and the fence is gone. In the back I had completed the main swale, then they decided to take out all of the trees along the fence line, so I removed the stumps and moved the swale.
First thing...I hit an old concrete fencepost base and threw a track. My dunnage block, pipes and electric grease gun were on my trailer...which was sitting at my house. I used a bit of McGuyver-Fu and got it back on with some short wood and a stump. It actually took longer to pump the track adjuster full of grease then to get the track back on.
Like I said, they haven't made anything easy.
The old culvert...corrugated steel with asbestos pipe extensions.
Here you go Eddie. A bit of surge rock to firm up the base.
The customer also added on two building pads (so I need a to import dirt), more gravel and even more drainage grading. And it rained another 1/2"+ last night. I don't suspect I'll hear the fat lady singing anytime soon on this one.
First thing...I hit an old concrete fencepost base and threw a track. My dunnage block, pipes and electric grease gun were on my trailer...which was sitting at my house. I used a bit of McGuyver-Fu and got it back on with some short wood and a stump. It actually took longer to pump the track adjuster full of grease then to get the track back on.
Like I said, they haven't made anything easy.
The old culvert...corrugated steel with asbestos pipe extensions.
Here you go Eddie. A bit of surge rock to firm up the base.
The customer also added on two building pads (so I need a to import dirt), more gravel and even more drainage grading. And it rained another 1/2"+ last night. I don't suspect I'll hear the fat lady singing anytime soon on this one.
greenmojo
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2012
- Messages
- 297
- Location
- Badger Mountain, WA
- Tractor
- John Deere 4300, John Deere 450C
These driveway threads are inspiring... I just can't get the hang of making a decent driveway. I have about 2000' of driveway up to the house from the main road, and every time I take the dozer and tractor out, its almost like I just make it worse!
Great work, and awesome pictures!
~Moses
Great work, and awesome pictures!
~Moses
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Thanks!
kevin37b
Veteran Member
Waiting to here the rest of the story in the Bloopers thread .
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
First time I ever heard of an extenstion for culverts. I've broken a few plastic culvert trying to take them out and used them for extensions, but never thought to see if I could buy them.
Eddie
Eddie
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RDrancher
Veteran Member
Kevin - I updated the other thread for your enjoyment. :thumbsup:
Eddie - I pick up long pipes and cut them myself with a worm drive saw and abrasive blade. Most extensions are in the 3'-5' range, so I usually get 20' pipe so I have at least 10' left over to use. The connection bands are available to fit either straight or angled corrugations. I did use the straight bands on the last extensions since the existing pipe had a different measurement between the angled corrugations and the straight version seems to tighten up tighter. I used a ball peen hammer to bend the ends of the bands into the corrugations for a better seal. The angled bands have nubs that fit into the angled corrugations to act as a seal. This is the first time I've seen the corrugation measurements this far off so it's not the norm.
Eddie - I pick up long pipes and cut them myself with a worm drive saw and abrasive blade. Most extensions are in the 3'-5' range, so I usually get 20' pipe so I have at least 10' left over to use. The connection bands are available to fit either straight or angled corrugations. I did use the straight bands on the last extensions since the existing pipe had a different measurement between the angled corrugations and the straight version seems to tighten up tighter. I used a ball peen hammer to bend the ends of the bands into the corrugations for a better seal. The angled bands have nubs that fit into the angled corrugations to act as a seal. This is the first time I've seen the corrugation measurements this far off so it's not the norm.