Finishing dry clay dike

[ndnewbie]

Just put 100 dumptruck loads of clay on our ringdike which protects farmstead against overland flooding. (Rented 320s, didnt use my Toolcat.) I want to finish it, put dirt on it, and seed it. Two questions:

The clay has gotten dry, making it hard, and difficult to shape. Other than digging it up, any suggestions on how best to shape it? Techniques or attachments? The dike is about 8' high, with between a 3:1 to a 4:1 slope.

Second, any good thoughts on how to spresd black dirt, other than just bucketing it on? Currently planning to till it up, and buicket it on.

Thanks for any thoughts!

 

[radman1]

I just moved about 200 yards of fill clay with my compact wheel loader, then spread and leveled it with my TC. My wheel loader can carry almost 1.5 yards. I spread the clay as I hauled it from about 50 yards away where it was piled. Then topped it with 60 yards of black dirt. Dry clay is difficult to work with. Moist clay will move and pack well. If they just dumped the clay, I suspect the surface maybe dry but once you start to spread it, it maybe more manageable.
I find spreading the clay and black dirt is easiest with a boxblade. Spread your clay and pack it as you spread. Then add the black dirt.

It is easiest to spread the clay as they dumped it. I did thay with my driveway. Truck came with 10 yards about every 10 minutes. I quickly knocked down the pile with my CUT and quickly spread it out. When the next truck came, it would drive over what I spread and really packed it nicely. They also drove out over the road as they left. It was like cement when they finished hauling 400 yards.
I assume you have multiple piles next to each other? If so, you will just have to start with the end piles, push and level them down as you go across the tops. A dozer of big wheel loader would be best. CUT can probably do it will take time and not get higher centered. A tracked skid steer could also probably do a nice job.

 

[20 20]

. A dozer or big wheel loader would be best. CUT can probably do it will take time and not get higher centered. A tracked skid steer could also probably do a nice job.

I'll second this.

 

[ndnewbie]

Thanks.

Fortunately we originally got it onto the dike and in to pretty good shape when the clay was damp. We used a couple of T-320s, which worked great. When I wrote this, we were trying to do some finish work after the clay had dried. That was like trying to work concrete.

I found we were being too picky. The black dirt we covered it with covers a multitude of sins, and is much easier to work after the fact.

Thanks!