Creating a Lake

[EddieWalker]

After running around in the water and mud, the tires were pretty caked and slippery. The sides of the dam are also pretty steep. For either reason, I was unable to get up the sides of the dam with the backhoe. Stuck again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The edge of the dirt not dug out yet is four feet tall. I used the front bucket to cut a ramp up to dry ground.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

The reason I wanted out of the wet area, beside the obvious, was to dig another drainage trench for the water on the other side of my peninsula. This is were my good spring is at.

This is also a very wet, sloppy, nasty mess. I was buried something aweful several times. The front bucket had to be tilted to act as a sled and keep the front anchors, (tires) out of the mud and in the air.

The back tires are also useless and I had to move around with the hoe stick. Both sideways and forward. Of course, half the time while pushing the tractor with the bucket, it buries itself in the mud and I end up having to pull myself back to get it out, then try it all over again, but at a different angle. One anle will dig itself deeper, another angle will push you through the mud.

This picture is of the water as it started running down the ditch. I like it because you can see the dry section before the water gets all the way through.

Eddie

 

[bmac]

Eddie,

Man, that is one big hole you've dug! I can't wait to see it filled with water. What's your best prediction for time of completion on the lake?

Will the state stock it with fish for you or is that something you have to do on your own?

I'm enjoying following this project. Keep up the good work.

 

[EddieWalker]

bmac,

Thanks. Not much getting done on it lately. Weekends I like to do things around the house and spend time with Steph and the kids. Plus the dozer wouldn't start. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Dead batteries. I put a new alternator in back in September and it's putting out over 26 volts, so that's good. I charged each battery and they each read over 13 volts, so that's good, but when I tried to crank it, nothing. I put jumpers on one of the batteries and was able to get it started. This told me one or both of the batteries was bad.

I replaced one battery when I put in the new alternator. Now everyone tells me you have to replace both when one goes bad. If not, the older one will ruin the newer one, and it will go bad real soon anyway. Who knew??? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I had both batteries tested yesterday and the new one is still ok, but the older one was bad.

From another post, it was suggested to use the anti oxidation stuff on aluminum wire to feed electricity for a house would also work on battery terminals. I cleaned my termanals really good. Got them nice and shiny, than spread that stuff on the terminals.

Sunday we all took a walk down to the lake. Steph only gets to see it on the weekeds since it's dark when she gets home during the week.

This picture shows my dozer on the shoreline road in front of the hill. If you remember from the beginning of this post, the dirt from the berm was originally going to be used to build the dam. Since we had the drought and my springs all dried up, I'm able to get all the dirt I need by digging out the bottom of the lake. Bigger dam, deeper hole all add up to better lake. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The two flat areas on the left are going to be submerged islands. They will contain the spread of lily pads, provide cover for minnows and the edges will off good holding locations for my bass.

The dirt pile on the right is what Golfgar (Garry) did while here. It's my good dirt pile for the keyway that is currently the drainage ditch to keep the water level down.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

As for finishing, I'm hopefull I'll have most of the major dirt work done by the end of February. Weather is my biggest hurdle right now. First I have to finish the inside of the dam. This will include putting in a drain and primary overflow.

The emergancy spillway will be worked into the exterior of the dam and my landscaping. I don't want it to look like a dam from a distance, but a hill gently sloping up to the lake. With enough dirt, it will be amazing!!

That's more along the end of things to get done.

Then I need to dig out the remainder of the inside, remove what's left of the burn pile and spread the stumps around the shoreline as cover for the fish.

The shoreline where my main spring is has me really concerned. I want to dig it out, but it's way to soft to work around. Just walking around it is dificult. My thought it to dig out the middle of the lake first and get as close as I can to it while staying on solid clay. Then cut some drains into the hill and get the water flowing away. Hopefully this will allow the rest of the soil to dry out enough to allow me to get in there and remove some material.

This will be a nightmare, but if I get lucky, it could turn out really well and add to the overall beauty of the lake. If I do it badly, I bet most people wont know the difference from what it could have been as oposed to what it ended up being.

It's a tricky situation that I'm still worrying around in my brain.

This picture is of me and the kids on one of the submerged islands. I like it because it shows the dam really well and gives you an idea of it's size.

Eddie

 

[donaldprice]

Congratulations! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Don

 

[EddieWalker]

I've had a little set-back on the lake.

I was minding my own business, digging and pushing some dirt, when all of a sudden I was engulfed in a white cloud.

White smoke everywhere, but mostly from the exhaust pipe. I looked in there and saw oil dripping from the exhast just past the turbo. Bad news!!

Now I need to see what's involved in getting it rebuilt. Any body every have a turbo rebuilt?

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Eddie, that Holset turbo looks just like the one on my Dodge's Cummins. If so, you should have no trouble finding a repair shop or a new one. I'm sure they aren't cheap, but they should be pretty common.

 

[ScottAR]

Turbo City Just an idea...

If I think to, I'll ask one of our customers that rebuilds stationary farm engines where he orders from...

 

[EddieWalker]

Jim,

Cummins and Case have a close working relationship and most of the Case Equipment has Cummins engines from the mid 80's on. Mine is a little odd since it has a Case engine, but I wouldn't be suprised if the turbo is the same used on the Cummins engines.

It was a real pain to take out, and I need to start asking around to see who's reliable in rebuilding them. Since I don't know anything about them, it would be real easy for somebody to take advantage of me.

Scott,

Thanks for the link. Now I have an idea of what a new one will cost. That gives me a good basis to work from.

Eddie