Few implement questions for you guys

[kris77]

I have a few projects I need to get done over the summer. I have a few ideas, but need some help and advice from you guys.

1. I have to extend a drain line from the middle of my yard, under a 40 yr old hard pack gravel driveway. I can dig the yard with the front loader. I was thinking about buying a subsoiler from TS and trying to bust up the gravel with that first before trying to dig it out. I dont have the backhoe (REGRET!!!). What do you guys think? Think a subsoiler or plow would work to break up the hard pack so I could dig it out with the loader? I just need to go down about 8-10 inches. Just enough to cover a 4" piece of sch40 PVC.

2. I installed an inground pool a few years ago and decided to just spread the excess dirt out over my yard and smooth it out and replant grass. Well, i didnt have the tractor at the time and did most of the smoothing out with a drag behind my ATV. I really need to break all that up and smooth it out properly. You think I just kill the grass and get a tiller and tear up the top 3" or so and then smooth it out properly?

 

[johnjk]

I do not have an answer for you on question one but on the second, you could try making a drag out of some chain link fence, iron bars and some weights. I helped my brother in law construct one that we hooked to his draw bar and attached a couple railroad ties as weights. Did a great job breaking up clumps and leveling out the yard for seeding. All in I think he spend $40 on it. I saw a video this past week where someone cut up old tracks off a skid steer and used them to smooth out / break up cow patties in his pasture.

If you have a tiller, land plane or disc harrow they could all be used as well. Bit more cost on these if you have to rent or purchase.

 

[ccoon520]

1. I have to extend a drain line from the middle of my yard, under a 40 yr old hard pack gravel driveway. I can dig the yard with the front loader. I was thinking about buying a subsoiler from TS and trying to bust up the gravel with that first before trying to dig it out. I dont have the backhoe (REGRET!!!). What do you guys think? Think a subsoiler or plow would work to break up the hard pack so I could dig it out with the loader? I just need to go down about 8-10 inches. Just enough to cover a 4" piece of sch40 PVC.

You might be better off just renting a mini excavator for this project. Fighting through compacted gravel would probably the subsoiler or plow to have significant weight to even start digging especially since a 3pt doens't add any downward force. While a mini ex is fairly cheap to rent and will be able to put more force and dig up the compacted stuff better. It'll also be much more precise than an FEL bucket for the rest of the run too both width and depth wise.

 

[Creature Meadow]

Q1- I had to do similar, for putting a piece of pipe in the ground to run a water hose through. It was across a gravel road been driven on for decades. I used my potato plow a few inches at the time to cut a trench in it about a foot deep worked great. Did not need to go deeper as I only use it in the summer to run garden hose trough to water garden, the pipe buried in the road prevents neighbors from running over my hose that did run across road and I had to unhook and roll it up each time I used it.

Q2- assuming it is not too packed you may could try wetting ground and using the float feature on you loader to back drag and level. rake away any big rocks or clay clogs that want break up but if it is top soil with little moisture in it should level out nicely.

If packed then some means of breaking it up is needed like the tiller or disk harrow.

Good luck

Jay

 

[old and tired]

Potato plow... add weight through the driveway! Need to make multiple passes...

 

[kris77]

The middle buster I'm looking at has an option to attach a potato plow on it or use the smaller ripper. I think i'm going that route. I need the plow anyway and it looks like as long as I take it a few inches at a time, it will work fine for my situation.

The backyard is a different story. I need to rethink my plans on that.

 

[RCW]

The middle buster I'm looking at has an option to attach a potato plow on it or use the smaller ripper.

I took the mouldboard off my MB and made a small ripper tooth attachment that bolts in its place. Re-purposed part of an old manure spreader paddle.

My driveway is ~70 years old, and I was able to get through it with several passes of the ripper, then bolted on the mouldboard….

More weight like old and tired added would have helped.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

q1... rent a trencher, they're faster and better at it. specially if it's a one time deal......

 

[fabman]

I agree, a walk behind trencher is least invasive and you can drop your pipe right in and backfill without disturbing the whole area. You can also rent or buy a York rake which would likely work well for your other project. Tell the wife its required.
Good luck. Share pictures if your able, it always helps