The photograph at left shows a blow out
caused by overinflation.

Cuts

All cuts should be inspected. Cuts that pene-
trate to the tire's cord body must be repaired
immediately, or they will spread quickly,
causing severe damage to the tire. Shallow
cuts should be skived with a knife or bullnosed
rasp to prevent small stones from becoming
embedded in the rubber and working through
the cords,

Rims and Flanges

Damaged rims and flanges should be checked
carefully. If tires are dismounted for re-
pair, the rims must be cleaned and painted
to make mounting easier and to prevent rust
damage. All oil or grease found on rim
assemblies must be removed because it causes rubber to deteriorate
quickly. It makes good sense not to park a vehicle overnight ona
greasy or oily spot. Also, caked mud and rocks must be removed from
tires, and especially from between rear-mounted duals.

Tire Wear

If uneven tire wear is detected, the cause should be located
and corrected as soon as possible. Mismatched tires on dual assem-
blies result in unequal load distribution. The new, larger tire wears
more rapidly, and the old, smaller tire usually scuffs severely. This
can be avoided by mounting tires of the same diameter on dual assem -
blies. If it is necessary to use a slightly smaller tire, it should be
placed on the inside position.

The condition of haul roads also affects tire life. Roads that
are well designed and properly maintained may double or even triple
haul speeds. Steep grades and sharp turns mean slippage and a short-
ened tire life. And loose or embedded rocks increase the chances of
getting cuts in the tires.

Storage

Tires and tubes stored under the wrong conditions can age
more quickly than those in daily service. Light, heat, oil, dust, dirt
and moving air are responsible for deterioration. Here are some use-
ful do's and don'ts of tire storage:

DO store tires in a cool, dry, dark area, that is protected
from the wind. Cover tires with a tarpaulin if such an area is not

17


The project forces using an
idea of Dragline Operator, J.
L. Hupf, ingeniously adapted
the effective rake pictured on
the cover of this issue. The
empty weed rake showing
cable and chains in position
for dragging is shown in the
photograph at the upper left on
the preceding page. In the
lower photograph on the pre-
ceding page, the loaded weed
rake is being dragged from
the canal section by the truck
mounted dragline,

D
7)
walls
aN In the photograph at left, the

improvised weed rake is in
the dumping position.

The special problem imposed
in cleaning the waterlogged
weeds from the canal was
quickly solved with the hay
rake and damage to the slag
protective layer was avoided.

DRAG BUCKET MAINTENANCE OF DISPOSAL CHANNELS
(Suggestion No. R1-CB60-136)

Maintenance of disposal channels (drains and wasteways) has
been most often limited to correctional procedures. A channel was
constructed according to the best engineering principles available. It
was operated according to the best practices known to the manager.

At some time before the channel became so deteriorated it could no
longer function, it was cleaned or otherwise rehabilitated.

A successful preventive maintenance procedure is one
developed on the Columbia Basin Project by O. A. Mowery. The pre-
ventive maintenance offers full season troublefree operation, rather
than a gradual reduction of the channel capacity. Costs of maintenance
and of operation are reduced, beginning with the first year.

The success of the maintenance operation requires an ade-
quate supply of water to carry sand, silt, and fine debris downstream.
More water is turned into the channel if the initial flow is too low. Ex-
tremely heavy grass berms or intrusions may require trimming by
ditcher blade or other means before the drag bucket procedures can be
started.

il


loader. Handling the heavy bridge timbers in this manner reduces
chance of injury from heavy lifting. In the photograph at the top of the
preceding page, the nail puller fabricated from drill steel to fit a
30-pound pneumatic paving breaker is shown. The bolts and nails were
loosened and raised high enough to allow the nail and bolt tongs to be
attached.

The photograph at the lower left shows the nail and bolt pulling tongs
attached to the cable hoist of a loader in position to pull 26-inch long
curb bolts and 8-inch long spikes after they were loosened and raised
by the pavement breaker.

The photograph at the lower right shows the recessed tool steel made
to fit a chipping hammer and used to drive 60d spikes and start 8-inch
spikes. Larger drill steel was used with a 30-pound paving breaker to
finish the driving of the 8-inch spikes.

ROK OK OK OK Ok

GPO 842503

21



The device was fabricated from scrap materials at a cost of
about $120, and consists of a roller mechanism and a cutter which are
both mounted on a working platform or table. The roller mechanism
is adjustable for various packing sizes. Packing is fed through the
roller by a crank which drives one of the rollers that has small teeth
for gripping the packing. The cutter is a shear type which makes a
square cut.

KOK OK KOK OK

LOW PRESSURE ALARM ON COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEM
(Suggestion R2-59-158)

It is important to have a reliable supply of compressed air
at the Tracy Pumping Plant on the Central Valley Project, California,
so that there will be no delay in starting a pumping unit according to
schedule. It is even more important when a unit is being shut-down in
order to prevent damage to the thrust bearing; the oil film in the bear-
ing is lost at about 20 rpm so that air-operated brakes must be
applied to stop the unit with a minimum of rotation at slow-speed.

Since.the compressors at the plant are located in a base-
ment-level room and the operators are normally on the pump (ground)
floor, the loss of the station air supply is only discovered when it is
needed or when a routine inspection is being made. To overcome this
problem, Andrew D. Lyons, Jr., and Bernard T. Sherry, plant shift
supervisors, suggested that an annunciator system be wired to the
control panel board on the operating floor, as an addition to the pump-
ing plant protective system.

OK KOK OK OK

LUBRICATION OIL PUMP MAINTENANCE
(Suggestion R2-59-159)

Paul L. Mayse, Pumping Plant Shift Supervisor, Plant Oper-
ations Unit on the Central Valley Project states that during the annual
maintenance of direct current lubricating oil pumps, it has been found
that the motor commutator has been corroded and in a rough condition
due to lack of operation. When a pump is prepared for starting, the
direct current lubricating oil pump runs only a few seconds and the
alternating current lubricating oil pump then takes over. During the
entire pumping season, the direct current pump probably runs less
than 20 minutes.

To alleviate the problem somewhat at least, Mr. Mayse sug-
gested that some schedule be set up so that at various times while a
pump is in operation, the alternating current unit can be taken out of
service, giving the direct current unit a chance to operate. This, it

2



available. DO pile tires on a wood foundation to keep them off dirty,
oily floors. Keep the same size tires together.

DON'T store tires in the same area with gasoline or lubri-
cants. The rubber will absorb lubricant vapors and deteriorate rapidly.

DON'T place a large tire on a smaller one.

If tires are stored outside, protect them with a waterproof
covering. It is essential to keep water and oil from the inside of the
tire casing. A good way of doing this is to mount the tire on a spare
wheel and to inflate it to 50% of operating pressure. The entire assem-
bly then should be covered with a tarpaulin.

Here's another good thing to remem-
ber: There is a best time to buy tires
to get longer tire life. The cooler a
tire runs, the longer it will last. And
tires that were bought in the fall and
have run all winter have thinner treads
and run cooler than new tires by the
time summer comes around, New
tires with heavier treads run hotter,
wearing down about 30 per cent faster.

A careful watch on overloading is a
must. A 20 per cent overload, for
example, cuts expected tire life by 30
per cent. The ratio continues, until

at a 100 per cent overload only 25 per
cent of normal tire life can be expected.

REDECKING FARM BRIDGES
(Suggestion R2-60-154)

During the redecking of farm bridges on the Friant-Kern and
Madera Canals, Central Valley Project, California, it was necessary
for the crews doing the work to pull 26-inch long curb bolts, 8-inch
long spikes, remove and manhandle 3"x12" decking timbers, reinstall
and secure the new decking timbers. Due to the bulky size of the tim-
bers and the length of the bolts and spikes, the job was slow and tedi-
ous, taking a great many man-hours per job.

To facilitate the operations, Mr. Frank W. Athos, of the
Fresno Operations Field Branch, Fresno, California, called upon his
ingenuity and fabricated: 1. timber tongs for use with a power hoist
to handle the heavy bridge decking timbers; 2. nail and bolt pullers

18


20


_- FLAG POLE
USTEEL PLATE

_ CONCRETE SLAB

_—-- WELD FLAG POLE PIPE GUIDE
TO STEEL PLATE

__-- FLOAT
DETAIL A
__-—FLAG POLE SITS
; ON FLOAT
CONCRETE SLAB~ See Detail A~~ INDICATING
~ WATER

15



A recent examination has disclosed the encased wire ropes to
be in perfect condition, which is rather remarkable considering the
length of time the ropes have been submerged in the reservoir.

ORR ROKK
USE CARE IN DRAINING SOME PIPE LINES

Extensive damage to large steel-lined concrete siphons can
result from development of a vacuum inside the pipe during draining
operations. This damage can take place where there is a hump in the
profile of a siphon equipped with air and vacuum relief valve to auto-
matically admit air to the pipe, as it is drained and where a mal-
functioning of the relief valve or some other factor results in a vacuum
being developed. The vacuum developing in a steel-lined pipe of this
kind can result in the liner being buckled from the arch with extensive
repair being necessary.

The possibility of large pipe lines being damaged by the cre-
ation of a high vacuum within the pipe and the resulting expensive re-
pairs has been called to the attention of operators on Bureau of Recla-
mation projects. Should valves fail to operate properly while draining
pipe lines and a vacuum develop, serious damage to the structure may
result. It is, therefore, important to determine that vacuum relief
valves are functioning properly both before and during the time lines are
being drained. This checking should, of course, include making sure
that any guard valve located between the relief valve and main pipe line
of siphon barrel is open at all times, except during emergency repair of
the relief valve when the siphon is under pressure.

ORK KKK

REMOVAL OF ELECTRIC LAMPS AND SOCKETS
(Suggestion R2-60-17)

The method of removing bulbs and socket bases from the
lighting fixtures in the Shasta Dam Parking Area, Central Valley Proj-
ect, California, as illustrated on the following page, may have applica-
tion on some of our projects; however, the suggestion has been very
useful where it is difficult to secure a handhold on the bulb in street
light type fixtures with bases that closely surround the bulb.

Charles M. Fouts, Electrician of the Shasta Operations Field
Branch, made the suggestion, and it is used to pull the light bulbs and
sockets from street lights and certain other types of fixtures when
replacement of bulbs is necessary.



Stainless steel on
tips of cutters

Counter Weight
Ye" Plate lron---~

Cent Hole

Counter weight-*

‘-4" Plate iron weld to

5," iron-~ . :
Ye Cold rolled iron Ye" Plate iron

“turn shaft for Ye" drill

Pipe cleaner Their device, shown on this
blode is 5%" round, page is used to remove very
, hard lime deposits

The cleaner shown was designed
for use in 6-inch diameter pipe,
but similar cleaners have been
used in pipe as small as 4-inches
in diameter. The tool accom-
plished the work speedily and
completely without damage to the
pipe and did not affect the coating
of galvanized pipe.

As shown on the drawing the shaft
of the device was turned to fit a
1/2-inch drill, which provided
sufficient power for the work.

aK OR OK Ok Ok

‘Stainless steel on
tips of cutters


is believed, would not only be advantageous insofar as the commutator
is concerned, but would tend to dry out moisture that collects in the
motor due to the high humidity in the plant during the summer months.

HR KOK KK

PIPE CLEANERS
(Suggestions R1-59-116 and 123)

In Release No. 33 of the Operation and Maintenance Equip -
ment and Procedures release, there appeared an article describing the
use of a Commercially available drill and cutter for removal of calcium
carbonate deposits in foundation drains at Hungry Horse Dam. Other
less costly project constructed devices have also been used for clean-
ing deposits from pipe drains and for other pipe cleaning jobs on the
Hungry Horse Project.

One suggestion by Orville R. Ritzman of the Mechanical and

General Maintenance Branch is the device shown at lower left, used
in cleaning calcium deposits from pipe drains in the foundation gallery
of the dam. It consists of a small wheel to which is attached cross
chains from a conventional type automobile tire chain. In one pipe,
grout was encountered
in the last five feet of
its depth. This was also
Provide for easily and quickly re-

attachment to moved with the device.

sewer snake ~~

The wheel is designed
for attachment toa
"sewer-snake", which
in turn is rotated by an
electric drill. The
device was constructed
in the project machine
shop with the wheel be-
ing made of round steel
stock. Tire chains with
across bar appear to
give best results.

Another device used to
clean larger diameter
sump pump piping was
developed by William A.
McLauchlin and William
F. Oberem also of the
Hungry Horse Dam,
Mechanical and General
Maintenance Branch.



The particular application made of the suggestion by Mr. Bird
may not be needed on many projects, but it may have other applications.

OK OK OR KOK

MAKING TIRES GO A LONG WAY
(See Introduction)

Huge tires on earthmovers have boosted haul road speeds
and cut the costs of off-the-road operations, according to an article in
the September, 1960 issue of Construction Methods and Equipment.
But the savings can be lost unless a few common sense rules are fol-
lowed to prolong tire life.

Key to such prolongation is daily tire inspections with em-
phasis on the following four points:

1. Checking inflation pressures,
2. Inspecting cuts.
3. Checking rims and flanges.
4. Checking tire wear.

Inflation

Check tire pressures with a low-pressure gauge marked in
1-lb gradations. Do this in the mornings when tires are cool. Ifa tire
is considerably underinflated, do not operate the vehicle until the cause
of the air loss is located and the damage
repaired,

Underinflation causes rapid wear on the outer
edges of the tread, as well as causing exces-
sive flexing that builds up internal heat.

Blow outs frequently result from this. Also,
continued underinflation causes radial cracks
in the tire walls as shown in the photograph
at left.

Overinflation, on the other hand, causes
rapid wear at the center of the tread and
often leads to sidewall breaks due to impact
loads. Should pressure build up during the
day, it is advisable not to bleed the tires
because the added pressure automatically
compensates for heat generated during oper-
ations. This prevents sidewall flexing which
would generate more internal heat.

16


various species of submersed pondweeds exposed to environment of
various concentrations of two types of suspended sediments.

A joint investigation by the Chemical Engineering Laboratory
Branch and the Hydraulic Laboratory Branch was undertaken to study
the shading effects of suspended sediments on certain hydrophytes.
Species of submersed pondweeds, commonly found in irrigation canals,
were planted in pots and grown in drums containing a range of suspended
sediment concentrations. Ungerminated plant propagules and estab-
lished cultures of pondweeds were used in the study.

Two different sediments were used, one a commercial
sodium -base montmorillonite-type bentonite, and the other a natural
occurring bentonite -type sediment obtained from Angostura Reservoir.

Light quantity and spectral quality, penetrating the sediment -
laden water, were measured by use of a limnophotometer which has a
specially constructed photoelectric cell system. Light measurements
indicated thé intensity and spectral quality of sunlight were consider -
ably changed upon penetration into water containing suspended sedi-
ment. The sediment from Angostura Reservoir caused greater light
reduction at lower concentrations than did the commercial bentonite.

When plants were exposed to reservoir sediment concentra-
tions of 50 ppm, the percent reduction of dry weight of plant material
was approximately 33 percent less than the dry weight of plant material
in the control drum. Reservoir sediment concentrations greater than
1, 250 ppm were not effective in producing additional significant growth
reductions than that attained at the 1, 250-ppm level. The commercial
bentonite sediment caused growth reductions of a similar trend but
required greater concentrations than field sediment to produce similar
effects.

RRR OK KK
PROTECTING WIRE ROPE HOIST CABLES

On the nine spillway radial gates at Altus Dam, W. C. Austin
Project, Oklahoma, 6 x 37 hemp center wire rope is used for hoist
ropes. Service life with normal protective procedures was about 2 to 4
years. Due to galling, stainless steel ropes gave little if any better
service in the corrosive water of the reservoir than did the hemp center
rope.

Reservoir Superintendent, Jim Savage, reports that new
cables of the ordinary steel hemp center type were put on the gates
in 1951 and cables for 8 of the 9 gates were additionally protected by
covering that part of the rope below the water line with rubber air
hose. The space between the rope and the hose was filled with crater
compound or a heavy transmission grease.


Department of the Interio~TM
Bureau of Reclamation

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
RELEASE NO. 34

October, November and December 1960

CONTENTS
phate Packing Shaper and Cutter

ow Pressure Alarm on Compressed Air System
Lubrication Oil Pump Maintenance
Pipe Cleaners

Cautions in Using Epoxy Resin Compounds
Effects of Suspended Sediment on Pondweeds
Protecting Wire Rope Hoist Cables

Use Care in Draining Some Pipe Lines

Removal of Electric Lamps and Sockets
Automatic Operation of Dump Truck Tailgate
Hay Rake Removes Weeds

Drag Bucket Maintenance of Disposal Channels
Pressure Handle for Portable Drills

Water Level Indicator

Making Tires Go a Long Way

Redecking Farm Bridges

LAST COPY - DO NOT REMOVE


an adjustable anchor
"E'' is fastened to the
truck frame near the
rear end of the frame.
A lightweight cable
"D'" is threaded through
eyes fastened to the
bottom member of the
dump bed and attached
to a fixed lever "'C"'

on the tailgate locking -
handle head-rod "G".
As the body is raised
the cable tightens,
pulls on the lever and
trips the tailgate.

Another lever '"'B" is
fastened to the tailgate
locking -handle head-
rod parallel to the
standard locking -han-
dle "F". As the body
is lowered this lever
strikes a slotted bar
"A'' which causes the
lever to turn the head
rod to the locking posi-
tion closing the tail-
gate locks, and posi-
tively holding them locked until the body is again raised.

More detail of the adjustable cable anchor is shown in the
photograph at top left. The dumping angle of the truck bed may be
changed by screwing the eye-bolt up or down, thus lengthening or short-
ening the cable. Additional detail of the automatic locking device is
shown in the photograph at lower left. As the bed is lowered, the lever
"B" contacts the slotted bar '"'A' mounted on the truck frame, causing
the head-rod to turn to the locking position. This bar is slotted to assure
that the lever cannot slip. The tailgate locks then cannot be opened
until after the bed is in the fully lowered position.

HK OK KK OK

HAY RAKE REMOVES WEEDS

Water logged weeds had to be removed from the first 2-1/2
miles of the Upper Meeker Canal in the Frenchman-Cambridge Division
of the Missouri Basin Project, Nebraska, to avoid the plugging of down-
stream turnouts and other works. The problem was complicated by the

9


As illustrated in the photo-
graph at left, a length of
one-fourth-inch diameter
rope, with each end
spliced over the opposite
ends, forms a loop that
can be placed around the
neck of the light bulb.

The method of removal
eliminates the possibility
of the lamp bulb breaking
in one's hand.

AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF DUMP TRUCK TAILGATE
(Suggestion R2-60-51)

A device which operates off of the tailgate locking-handle
head-rod of a dump truck to automatically open the tailgate locks at a
predetermined angle of the raised body, and positively lock the tailgate
automatically when the body is fully lowered has been developed on the
Central Valley Project in California, by Lee Goodson and Leland
Willingham of the Fresno Operations Field Branch. As illustrated



CAUTIONS IN USING EPOXY RESIN COMPOUNDS

At the present time, as reported previously in Release No.
29 of the Operation and Maintenance Equipment and Procedures bulle-
tin, the research work of the Bureau of Reclamation on the use of epoxy
resin compounds as bonding agents and patching materials is in the pre-
liminary stage. Numerous applications of the material have been made,
and they do look promising. However, this article is not to report on
installations made or performance of the material, but is to point out
the need for care in the handling and use of epoxy compounds.

It is known that many epoxy resins and curing agents are
sources of skin irritation; therefore, it is also recommended that all
possible precaution be observed during the handling of the epoxy resin
compounds and particularly that contact with the skin be avoided.

In handling all epoxy resin compounds, the following rules
should be observed:

1. Wear rubber or vinyl gloves for handling epoxy resin com-
ponents.

2. Work under good ventilation.

3. Keep working area clean. Any spilled epoxy should be wiped
off immediately with disposable paper towels.

4, With contaminated gloves, do not handle items touched by
others, etc.

OK OK KKK
EFFECTS OF SUSPENDED SEDIMENT ON PONDWEEDS

In the past, field observations have frequently been made re-
garding a possible correlation between the amount of suspended sedi-
ment contained in canal water and the amount of aquatic plant growth in
canals. Field observations have often indicated that as suspended sedi-
ment increases, the amount of aquatic weed growth decreases. Reports
of observations reviewed have in no case given details of various factors
contributing to suppression of aquatic plant growth. These statements
have been of a general nature. To obtain more information under con-
trolled conditions on this subject, a joint study by the Weed Control
Investigations Unit of the Physical Investigations Laboratory Section,
Chemical Engineering Laboratory Branch, and the Sediment Investiga-
tions Unit of the Hydraulic Laboratory Branch was initiated to deter-
mine shading effects of suspended sediment on aquatic weeds. The
scope of the program consisted of determining the growth response of

5



for use with a pneumatic paving breaker to loosen and raise the nails
and bolts high enough to attach the tongs; 3. nail and bolt tongs for
attachment to a power hoist to pull spikes and bolts after they had been

P214-D- 23589

19

loosened and raised with the pave-
ment breaker, and 4. a nail
driver for use with a chipping
hammer to power drive the large
nails and spikes into the bridge
timbers. The individual tools are
shown as numbered in the photo-
graph above.

The tools made the job easier and
safer, cutting the man hours ordi-
narily required to re-deck a 90' x
16' farm bridge from 450 to 340
man hours. Five bridges across
the Friant-Kern Canal and two
smaller bridges across the Madera
Canal were re-decked. There are
additional bridges to be re-decked
and the various tools developed
have filled a definite need.

Several photographs of the tools

in use are shown in the following
photographs. In the photograph at
left, the timber tongs are shown
attached to a cable hoist on a small


SHAFT PACKING SHAPER AND CUTTER
(Suggestion R1-59-154)

Luther Jackson, Machinist at the Grand Coulee Power Plant,
Columbia Basin Project, Washington, has developed the device shown
below, for shaping and cutting various types and sizes of shaft packing
from 1/2-inch square to 1-1/2-inch square. Usually the larger sizes
of packing are purchased in bulk form and are shipped wound on wooden
spools, Frequently, packing shipped in this form is deformed to the
point where it must be reshaped in order to place it in the gland with
a minimum amount of effort. Previously, this reshaping was done by
hand beating with a wooden mallet. Localized beating often produced a
non-uniform cross section which required greater pressure on the pack-
ing gland to control water flow through the gland.

In one year's time including the overhaul of two main units,
approximately 400 lineal feet of heavy packing is used. By using the
device, the time required to prepare packing for repacking a gland, or
adding additional rings has been cut in half,



Drag bucket drain maintenance requires access or roadways
on both sides of the channel. As shown in the accompanying photographs
a truck-mounted dragline operating on one side of the channel is
employed to jointly pull a special lightweight open-web bucket, and to
dump the bucket as it becomes full of debris. A crawler tractor with
cable winch is used on the opposite bank to pull and to keep the bucket
aligned in the channel. The bucket is designed to very nearly fit the
bottom of the channel. The square teeth are set to hold the bucket
steady, yet not dig excessively into the channel.

The effect of a first pass through a channel is to clean off
most sandbars, to straighten beginning meanders and to cut a light
channel through sloughed deposits, as shown in the photograph above
where the drag bucket is moving downstream, cleaning the drain during
the first pass. During this first pass, cattails and tall green weeds are
pressed against the banks and dry weeds are accumulated and lifted out
as necessary. One or two additional passes may be required if bars or
meandering are beyond the beginning stage.

12


PRESSURE HANDLE FOR PORTABLE DRILLS

There is now on the market the pressure handle for portable
electric and pneumatic drills shown in the photograph at the left. The
pressure handle is reported to take the hard work out of using a port-
able electric or pneumatic
drill with no fatiguing push
needed to feed the drill into
the work and no effort
required to support it. The
operator simply guides the
tool and the pressure handle
and the motor does the work.

The pressure handle feeds
the drill by pulling it into
the work. One end of the
feed chain is fastened to
the work, and the other end
is placed over the chain
sprocket on the pressure
handle. A slight twisting
pressure on the grip turns
a worm gear which rotates
the sprocket and creates an
enormous pulling force in
the chain. To install the
handle on any side handle type portable electric or pneumatic drill, it
is only necessary to remove the standard "dead" handle and screw in
the pressure handle. Tapped plates are available for drills with
factory attached hand grips.

PX-D-23587

For further information, write the Division of Irrigation
Operations, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center,
Denver 25, Colorado, Attention: Code 400.

RK ROKK

WATER LEVEL INDICATOR
(Suggestion R3-PD-59-28)

The water level indicator devised by Foreman, (Gardener),
Clifford J. Bird, of the Parker-Davis Project Office, and shown on the
following page, makes it possible to judge the depth of water in an irri-
gation sump without going back and checking the water level. Ata
glance, it is possible to tell whether the water level is dropping or rising
and makes it possible to save water, pumping power costs and above
all save time that can be spent more profitably than watching the water
level in the sump.

14


OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
Release No. 34

October, November, and December 1960

INTRODUCTION

The article "Making Tires Go a Long Way," on page 16 of
this issue of the bulletin, lists several rules, that if followed, will
prolong the life of tires in general, although written primarily for the
care of tires on large earthmovers. The article, which appeared in
the September 1960 issue of Construction Methods and Equipment is
reproduced herein with the permission of the publisher, Copyright 1960
by McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc. ; further reproduction is
prohibited,

This bulletin, published quarterly, is circulated for the
benefit of irrigation project operation and maintenance people. Its
principal purpose is to serve as a medium of exchanging operation and
maintenance information. It is hoped that the labor -saving devices or
less costly equipment developed by the resourceful water users will be
a step toward commercial development of equipment for use on irriga-

tion projects in a continued effort to reduce costs and increase operat -
ing efficiency.

We would like to publish your ideas for labor -saving devices
and more efficient operation and maintenance procedures. Send them
to the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, as shown below. Illustrative
material such as photographs, drawings, or sketches add interest.

To assure proper recognition of those individuals whose
Suggestions are published in this and subsequent bulletins, the sug-
gestion number as well as the person's name is given. All Bureau
offices are reminded to notify their Suggestions Awards Committee
when a suggestion is adopted.

KKK KKK

Division of Irrigation Operations
Commissioner's Office
Denver, Colorado



COVER PAGE

Photograph shows hay rake removing weeds. This rake was used
in the Upper Meeker Canal in the Frenchman-Cambridge Division
of the Missouri River Basin Project, Nebraska. PX-701-247.


fact that it was
necessary to
remove the weeds
without damage
to a 4-in. thick
layer of slag that
had been placed
on the side slopes
of the canal to
reduce erosion
of the loessial
type material
through which
the canal had
been excavated
and of which a
compacted earth
lining had been
constructed in
some reaches.
Removing the
accumulated
water -logged

weeds at a reasonable cost was, of course, a further consideration.



In the photograph below, looking downstream, the drag
bucket is moving upstream, cleaning the drain after one pass had been
made in heavy cattail growth and through an area the banks of which
had sloughed the previous year.

With a pilot channel made to conform to the proper alignment
of the drain, the water flowing in the drain then performs most of the
additional work. Excessive deposited materials are laid up on the slopes
in thin rolls which readily "melt" into the flowing water. Further down-
stream the materials are deposited as a fairly uniform layer.

Grasses seeded for waterline protection and weed control
may be temporarily covered with a thin layer of soil; however, recovery
occurs within a few weeks. Cattails bent sharply during the operation
appear to be retarded, the density of stands greatly reduced. Willows
had been previously controlled with 2, 4-D.

The drag bucket method of cleaning of drains and wasteways
has been effective on a new disposal system which lies in sandy soils.
It is expected that heavy cleaning will not be required so often as the
system becomes older. Costs of cleaning by the drag bucket method
ranged from $40 to $70 per lineal mile, compared with $125 to $500
per lineal mile by conventional methods.

P20 2-D-g3 58h

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