[AT] Pulling a sheepsfoot with a Ford 8n

[Herbert Metz]

Another very important part of this project is the dozer operator; as this 
is a project where one must error on the safe side.     When we built our 
shed, considerable fill was needed.  I was very fortunate that the dozer 
operator was very conscientious; being paid by the hour worked best for both 
of us.   Each layer was less than 2", and dozer packed before the next 
layer.   Concurrent to that I rented a large skidsteer and had the bucket 
full of dirt, and continually ran alongside the dozer.   We added 4' on one 
corner, 8' on adjacent corners, and 11' on the far corner.   When we were 
done, he drove a loaded tandem axle dump truck around on top; tires sank in 
less than 1".   Most experienced grading contractors can tell you what 
compaction is adequate for dams and how it has to be done in your area; for 
example some GA red clay is a greyish and will not pack.
HTH, Herb

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Warren F. Smith" <WarrenSmith at PalmettoBuilders.net>
To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'" 
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 7:40 PM
Subject: RE: [AT] Pulling a sheepsfoot with a Ford 8n


>>>I would suggest that the biggest problem you might find with
>>>pulling a
>>>sheep's foot with a rubber tired tractor is traction and
>>>rutting if the soil
>>>is at all moist.
>
> The problem there is that if the soil is so moist that the tires are 
> rutting
> I'd suggest that the soil is too wet to be trying to compact it. In that
> case it's best to lay it down loose and let the sun/wind dry it then 
> compact
> it. A 4000lb roller is probably not heavy enough for a 6" lift either.
> Grading contractors usually only place 6" lifts with a huge vibratory 
> sheeps
> foot compactor. You may want to try 3-4" to start out. We have mostly a
> sandy red clay in our region (Upstate SC). A good field test for moisture
> content is to grab a small handful and roll it in between your palms. If 
> it
> makes a "rat turd" w/out completely crumbling or sticking to your hand the
> moisture is just right. I know other soils work differently but I think 
> you
> could get good advice by eating lunch at the greasy spoon closest to a big
> earthmoving jobsite. Sheepsfoot compactors have a tendency to bring 
> moisture
> to the surface but the soil won't dry as fast that way as it will if its
> "fluffed up".
>
> I'm not a gloom and doom guy but a dam is a serious undertaking. A dam
> failure can affect many people downstream/downhill so it's well worth the
> time you're spending to do some research and do it right the first time. 
> You
> didn't say how many cubic yards of dirt you were packing or how big the 
> pond
> is so maybe you're just building a small livestock watering pond. In any
> event, I think you should have no problem pulling or stopping the roller
> with your tractor, just make it worth your time!