Yesterday, my BIL used his front end loader to crack a four inch irrigation
supply line under pressure.

It was quite a show.

Once we got it shut down, we went to removing the damaged section.

A common local practice is to drive 3/4" square concrete stakes next to the
pipe slightly on the diagonal to keep the pressure kicks from heaving up the
pipe.

We were trying to remove one of the 24" stakes with the bucket of a front
end loader. First we tried a soft nylon sling, but it kept slipping off,
even with a clove hitch basket rigging.

Then we did a 5/16" chain with a stopper hitch, and that held.

Then comes the interesting part. It took about twelve attempts to pull that
stake. Most resulting with the back wheels of the loader coming off the
ground. Only with constant pounding on the stake in all directions,
including DOWN, did it finally slowly pull out. This soil is sandy, but
they say once these stakes rust in, they are like pulling on a concrete
plug.

I have had extensive experience with heavy rigging, and this was one of the
darndest things I have ever seen. A hydraulic front end loader having
trouble pulling out a concrete stake from sandy soil.

Steve

Ionic bonding can be amazing!

Try a cement vibration machine or a jack hammer like that runs and just
vibrates the soil. Liquefaction really helps!

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
TSRA, Life; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
http://lufkinced.com/


SteveB wrote:
Yesterday, my BIL used his front end loader to crack a four inch irrigation
supply line under pressure.

It was quite a show.

Once we got it shut down, we went to removing the damaged section.

A common local practice is to drive 3/4" square concrete stakes next to the
pipe slightly on the diagonal to keep the pressure kicks from heaving up the
pipe.

We were trying to remove one of the 24" stakes with the bucket of a front
end loader. First we tried a soft nylon sling, but it kept slipping off,
even with a clove hitch basket rigging.

Then we did a 5/16" chain with a stopper hitch, and that held.

Then comes the interesting part. It took about twelve attempts to pull that
stake. Most resulting with the back wheels of the loader coming off the
ground. Only with constant pounding on the stake in all directions,
including DOWN, did it finally slowly pull out. This soil is sandy, but
they say once these stakes rust in, they are like pulling on a concrete
plug.

I have had extensive experience with heavy rigging, and this was one of the
darndest things I have ever seen. A hydraulic front end loader having
trouble pulling out a concrete stake from sandy soil.

Steve



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On Sat, 22 Sep 2007 20:20:28 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm,
"SteveB" quickly quoth:

Yesterday, my BIL used his front end loader to crack a four inch irrigation
supply line under pressure.

Um, oops!


Then comes the interesting part. It took about twelve attempts to pull that
stake. Most resulting with the back wheels of the loader coming off the
ground. Only with constant pounding on the stake in all directions,
including DOWN, did it finally slowly pull out. This soil is sandy, but
they say once these stakes rust in, they are like pulling on a concrete
plug.

I have had extensive experience with heavy rigging, and this was one of the
darndest things I have ever seen. A hydraulic front end loader having
trouble pulling out a concrete stake from sandy soil.

Concrete stake "rusting" into sandy soil? That's a new one. ]

I've been amazed at how tight stakes go into the ground after setting
up concrete forms.

--

EXPLETIVE: A balm, usually applied verbally in hindsight,
which somehow eases those pains and indignities following
our every deficiency in foresight.

Larry Jaques wrote:

On Sat, 22 Sep 2007 20:20:28 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm,
"SteveB" quickly quoth:


Yesterday, my BIL used his front end loader to crack a four inch irrigation
supply line under pressure.


Um, oops!



Then comes the interesting part. It took about twelve attempts to pull that
stake. Most resulting with the back wheels of the loader coming off the
ground. Only with constant pounding on the stake in all directions,
including DOWN, did it finally slowly pull out. This soil is sandy, but
they say once these stakes rust in, they are like pulling on a concrete
plug.

I have had extensive experience with heavy rigging, and this was one of the
darndest things I have ever seen. A hydraulic front end loader having
trouble pulling out a concrete stake from sandy soil.


Concrete stake "rusting" into sandy soil? That's a new one. ]

I've been amazed at how tight stakes go into the ground after setting
up concrete forms.



I always used a railroad jack to pull up stakes/posts that were stuck
tight in the ground.


John