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#5631 05/15/06 09:26 PM
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160 hours in 2 weeks? Boy, you were working. I rented a track loader and barely was able to put 38 hours on it in 9 days.

#5632 05/16/06 07:02 AM
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Craig, my "muck" is heavily loaded with sand. Sand, being nothing more than finely ground rock, is good for making mountains to attract kids. Nothing much grows in it.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
#5633 05/16/06 08:06 AM
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dave in el dorado ca,


Thanks for a great post. I love posts about actual hands-on experiences because I think they add greatly to our knowledge base. You make a good argument for renting. I've been going back and forth on renting vs purchase, but the case for renting the track-hoe is more compelling than that for renting a dozer vs purchasing it. With property, many applications can benefit from a dozer, but the track-hoe seems very specialized.

160 hours in two weeks...you really moved some dirt. Thanks.

#5634 05/17/06 02:03 PM
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We've got Holt CAT dealers here in TX but they will not rent larger machines for short term use - they want longer term leases.

I'd like to get a D-7 for my farm/tanks. I have not priced excavators but noticed the United Rental yard had one with a long boom. I suspect you will find that an excavator becomes just as useful as your dozer, once you own it.

A friend told me that CAT excavators that sold new for $80k can be bought for $20, now (do not remember the model #).

I noticed that Richie Brother Auctions just sold a Hibachi excavator w/long boom for $37k (but I do not know what shape it was in).

#5635 05/28/06 09:11 AM
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Hello all. I am the proud owner of a track hoe. Hitachi EX150 with a custom built 7' bucket. Have only used it an hour or so but basically bought it because of the cleanout bucket. I tried a Cat 120 and seemed a little small. Hopefully I will get several hours on it this holiday weekend.

I am just starting to pile up the muck, which is about like pudding, into piles to be spread out with my dozer. This has been drying for over six months during our drought. The deepest is about 4' deep and the pond bottom is so hard it is hard to dig. I don't think the muck would ever dry out on its own.

Happy digging, Craig

#5636 05/29/06 08:59 PM
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Congrats, Craig. Keep us informed as to your progress. I'm interested in how "easy" it is to operate.

A guy told me that the only way to dry muck out was to pile it up and that gravity would help force the water out of it...sounded kind of like red neck engineering. I got some to dry by mixing it with dry sandy soil once but that's not very practical either.

I'm envious...keep us posted on the track-hoe operation.

#5637 06/09/06 10:58 AM
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 Quote:
Originally posted by switch:
160 hours in 2 weeks? Boy, you were working. I rented a track loader and barely was able to put 38 hours on it in 9 days.
i put (only) about 100 hrs on the dozer. the excavator was the real workhorse. i was goofin around w/ pics cause of that thread over on the questions forum, and found this one....this is how ya do 160 hrs in two wks.

oh, and a hearty good luck and happy ponding to you cw. congrats on your purchase.




GSF are people too!

#5638 06/09/06 12:32 PM
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My hat's off to ya guyz! As much as I like to think that I am "hands-on", I doubt that I will be running a dozer or track-hoe. It will likely be added to the list of things that I have succumbed to for out-sourcing: (larger jobs of) installing roof shingles and taping drywall.

#5639 06/09/06 03:06 PM
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D.I.E.D.

Slinging dirt so fast you blocked out the sun. ;\)

#5640 06/19/06 02:27 PM
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Here is the latest update. I have dug out half of the muck in the first pond with the trackhoe until I could stack it no higher. It actually doesn't stack that well the deeper you go. Like trying to stack pudding. In the deep end, the muck is 6 feet deep and gets less deep as you move away from the damn. I had to quit until my dozer arrived. Bought a D6 to help spread and dig the drier end of the pond.

I am using the 7' bucket as a cleanout bucket and switch to the 3' with teeth to dig with. If I only had the 3' bucket it would take forever.

AS of Friday I trenched through the second lower pond damn to let it drain. It has less muck in it, hopefully just a few feet. This will be an entire summer project. I will have to start reading and posting about pond design, drainage pipe, etc. Thanks for everyone's input. Will keep posting as I progress.

Craig

#5641 09/21/06 03:59 PM
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As of yesterday I am finally finished. Worked all summer on and off and every holiday starting with Memorial Day. Made a dike to redirect and divert water on the shallow side. Finished planting grass seed yesterday. All I lack is fixing the dam where I trenched it. This particular pond was dug down to sandstone. I would have to have a D8 or bigger with rippers to break up the sandstone which would gain me little. I will get photos posted if I can.

The only problem now is I have another one twice the size of the new one.

Craig

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