RDrancher's Photo Thread

[RDrancher]

Here's a few from a grading, culvert and driveway job last week. My mission...get it done with no imported dirt. And in a first for me, the homeowner will be pouring the concrete culvert ends himself.

 

[RDrancher]

A few more.

 

[LJH]

I can't...only one kidney left!

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

 

[LJH]

Assuming the topsoil gets put back (on the top) once you get grade, si?

 

[RDrancher]

Assuming the topsoil gets put back (on the top) once you get grade, si?

The black clay in this area is pretty fertile down to about 8". It's a real expansive and a pita to grade, which is why lime is mixed in on commercial jobs where importing good dirt would be too expensive. If you cut it right to grade and run over it with a compactor, it's full of lumps and bumps. For yards and such I cut it down about 4'-6" below my final grade, pile it, mix it, then spread it back out heavy and cut it one time.

Any decent soil without organic in it gets stacked and used to profile the driveway.

 

[weldingisfun]

I can't...only one kidney left!

I think that one will cost more than just one kidney. Maybe a lung and an arm, but he is your son and he wants it. Come on, daddy.

 

[RDrancher]

I think that one will cost more than just one kidney. Maybe a lung and an arm, but he is your son and he wants it. Come on, daddy.

Lucky for me...my favorite word is NO. Ask any of my kids and they'll verify. :laughing:

I've been subbing out all of the brush hogging jobs to my father in law for over two years. He has his own cutter now, but had been using mine. Yesterday I took my cutter out to do a couple of fields, old overgrown building pads and a few slopes for a long-term project I'm working on. Before taking off in the morning I decided to sharpen the blades and basically check out the cutter. I found and welded...a broken tailwheel brace and a large crack running from one blade bolt along the stump jumper. I'm glad he has his own BH now.

 

[RDrancher]

I picked up the TR today.


Here's what a $5400 repair looks like.

 

[EHargroves]

Ouch that hurts

 

[RDrancher]

Ouch that hurts

Yes it does, but it could've been worse. It pays to shop around...and country boys got your back. Two ASCO dealerships, one in Euless and one in Sherman. The estimate from Euless...$7k+. From Sherman...$5.7k. Sherman came in $300 under their estimate and threw in a few freebees including the latest joystick software update and sleeving the hydraulic hoses that blew. The machine was ready to pickup the same day the drivemotor came in too. They also provided a cab equipped rental for $275 a day. They've earned my business, that's for sure.