Laying Sprinkler lines

[Giant]

I am a newbie. I have a chance to buy a '93 John Deere 855 at a reasonable price. I have about a 3 acre lawn and would like to add automatic sprinklers. Is it reasonable to consider using a 1 bottom plow on the 855 to cut trenches that would allow 1.5" poly pipe to be buried?

 

[fishman]

The plow will work just fine, but others have used a subsoiler in conjunction with a guide fastened on the back of it to install flexible water lines. Basically the subsoiler opens the ground and the line is fed through a fixture welded to the back of the implement down into the ground as the tractor moves forward. When finished, I think one justs drives over the disturbed ground to flatten it back out.

I'd bet the relevant threads are in the attachments or projects sections, but they might also be in the rural living or related topics. Do a search using subsoiler and water lines and something should turn up.

Sorry, I don't have any direct experience with this approach.

 

[Giant]

Thx for the thoughtful response. I am looking into your suggestion right now.

 

[DaveInColorado]

Been there, tried that, though with a much smaller tractor. You can't get it go as deep as you think. I could only go down 8-10" so I just rented a trencher. A trencher also leaves relatively clean ditches which helps out. I suppose you could rent a puller for poly pipe, but I'm afraid that all my trees would squeeze a poly pipe flat in a few years.

 

[keeney]

You can also "Pull" the flexible poly lines using a subsoiler.

Dig a small starter hole.

Attach the pipe to the bottom of the backside of the tip of the subsoiler.

Have somebody feed the poly (to prevent kining as it unwinds) as you drive away from the hole to the destination (pre-dug, dig after you arrive, or pull up the 3-pt).

The poly is slippery enough to slide throgh the slit opened by the subsoiler.

As mentioned, drive over the slit wiht a wheel to push the disturbed earth back down.

Photos of me doing this in my yard here:

My Equipment (and Crew) Pulling Sprinker Lines

Close Up

- Rick

 

[jdmar]

This is a link to a post a while ago. Several here have done this, but this post has great photos to show to tool and the process. Hope this helps.

Layin' Pipe the easy way

Peter

 

[Giant]

My cup runneth over. This would seem to be a very doable thing. You guys have been most helpful. I most certainly now need to get the tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif


Giant

 

[gabby]

Why pull flexible pipe when you can pull PVC just as easily? I pull schedule 40 PVC pipe. I've pulled 900 feet of 1" pipe in one stretch, and I've pulled all sizes up to 2 inch diameter.
Gabby

 

[BrettW]

Gabby,
You do have to glue it up right? then do you just have it laying beside the trench and roll it in? I've got to run some water lines to various flower beds, just looking for the best way to do it. thaks, brett w

 

[gabby]

Brett,

Lay it out behind your subsoiler and glue it up first. Attach it to the foot of the subsoiler. Dig a starter hole for the subsoiler, drop it down in the hole and just start pulling the pipe underground behind you. It's so easy you won't believe it. You might have to make a dry pass first with the subsoiler to make sure you get enough depth when you pull the pipe.

Make a pipe pulling head out of a pvc cap with a hole drilled in it for an eye bolt. Glue a 2-foot piece of pipe to the cap, couple it to the run of pipe, use rope to tie the eye bolt to the subsoiler. Cut the pipe off at the coupling when you're finished pulling and you can re-use the pulling head.

I posted a picture of my pipe pulling foot a few weeks ago but I don't know how to search for it.

Gabby

 

[Dennisfly]

Giant,

I haven't pulled pipe, but I do have a JD 855 and like it alot. If it is in good shape and reasonably priced, don't hesitate.