Cistern finally a thing of the past......

JimMorrissey · Aug 1, 2005

Bone,

The cistern was used to water animals at one time, then somebody built a buliding on top of it to store things...best I can tell. It had a big copper inlet and an outflow off the side. I have no idea why they made this thing to brutal. I have never seen anything so small that was built so strong. Not a fun demolition project.

The septic line was just off the side of cistern, maybe 26" or so and my bucket is 24". I just nicked the top of it and cut a gash in the pipe about 36". Unfortunate, but not too difficult a fix.

SkyPup · Aug 1, 2005

Nice work there Jim, I know the feeling of getting a job like that completed and everything looking the way you wanted it, that is a good feeling of accomplishment.

Glad to see that L-39 has come in handy for you and is capable of doing allot of the heavy scut work for which you purchased it. Those slabs of concrete would be a major chore for removal.

What did you do with them? Dig a hole with the BH and toss them in and bury them?

JimMorrissey · Aug 1, 2005

Sky,

The concrete really took it toll on the poor L39. Pushed it to to absolute maximum all day Sunday. I guess it's OK though. That's what pressure relief valves are for, right.....I'm just missing lots of paint, have a near puncture in my boom, twisted the left hoe foot mount, and think I slightly bent my loader bucket with the huge piece /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Other than that, she looks pretty good. I hit the hoe and loader hard with grease mid way throught the day yesterday.

I've got a concrete dump over by the barn. It'll all stay there along with some other concrete from another old slab I busted up last year. I'll likely use it for fill behind a driveway retaining wall I'm thinking about building.

SkyPup · Aug 1, 2005

Yup, I know that story well after all the limerocks I excavated and moved. You do not go to war and then come home unscarred..... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Some Orange paint will get things looking like nothing ever happened.

riptides · Aug 1, 2005

Dang!

That is one massive job. Glad you made out ok.

Why is it concrete is never really where you want it unless you pour it yourself? Even then THAT is debateable. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JimMorrissey · Aug 1, 2005

I told my wife that it would have been about $1000 to have that taken care of by a pro. So the L-39 paid for 1/40th of itself yesterday /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Farwell · Aug 1, 2005

Jim,
I live in an old farm house with a cistern in the basement. One of the previous owners opened up one of the walls and put in shelves for storing their caned goods. The wall of the cistern is right around 10 inches thick with metal rods through out for strength. I imagine the floor is as thick or thicker. They did a good job, it is around 70 years old and has no cracks in it. Cement may have been cheaper back then.
Farwell