Digging Up A 40 Year Old Water Line in January

We dug up a water line that led to the barnyard that supplies the waterer for the steer lot!
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How Farms Work by Ryan Kuster is a KZbin channel based in rural Potosi, Wisconsin.
Our mission is to teach those who didn't grow up on a farm what the farming life is like.
These videos show the Kuster family working together raising cattle and crops. We believe everyone who wants to know more about farming should be able to share the farming experience with us and we look to educate the world on many essential agriculture topics.
How Farms Work takes place on ~1,100 acres with around 75-200 cattle at any given time. Four John Deere tractors are currently used on the farm, which are a 4020, 4640, 7600, and 8235R.

[@TomTalley]

Suggestion in cleaning skid steer tracks. Don't know if this will work, but it would be easy to try. Place a log or something solid under one side of the front end bucket, use that to lift one track off the ground, exercise that track only to aid clearing material from it...then do the other side. Best I can think of...mud and goo may not sling off enough to keep tracks from freezing ... Goo luck. Thanks for bringing us all along.

[@steinwaymodelb]

I bought a Yanmar VI015 at an auction 12 years ago, intending to use it for a number of excavation projects, then sell it when I was finished. I still have it, and I'm unlikely to sell it anytime soon. A mini excavator is just too useful.

[@MetallicaFadeToBlack]

As a bobcat mechanic it's hard to watch those breakers be "dry" fired. I both fix that equipment and farm so I know how it goes. Best of luck to you guys

[@ClaytonHartin]

MetallicaFadeToBlack I just cringed when it happened lol

[@RiverValleyAcres]

I love coming across some good farming videos. My grandpa had an old farm that I grew up on. It’s amazing to see the difference of a huge farm compared to what I grew up on lol. My 14 month old son loves the farming videos. Keep me coming 🤙🏼

[@robhakeman5873]

Water problems with livestock usually happen on the coldest day of the year and on weekends when the business are closed.

[@johnreynolds8170]

Team work makes dream work good jobs guys 👍

[@billb2079]

Great video...good thing the good ole rubber tired bobcat was around

[@MatthewHoag77]

Nothing like playing with the water works at 9 degrees. But when you need the plumbing to work, fixing it isn't optional, it's mandatory. I bet the plumber was happy to go home and cash the check as well. Thanks for the mid-winter video!

[@stanhensley3082]

Water 💦 water 💧 everywhere but not a drop to drink!! Big day out in the cold 🥶. Happy you got it fixed. Hats off to all the plumbers out there!

[@kopenhagenkid]

Great video Ryan

[@paulmech5220]

Yummy that water sure looks refreshing coming out of the line . While flushing it.

[@reggiefaggart196]

It always goes down when it cold or raining. Never on a warm sunny day

[@trendinvestor2893]

"Y" fittings are much better than T fittings because they are less likely to clog up with sediment.

[@danfinley3690]

Thanks Ryan for a great video great to see it all worked out

[@katiedeets4900]

Another great video Ryan keep up that hard work from your good ol Illinois farms!!

[@jasonstockbridge1489]

Thanks Ryan for another great video.

[@cmusic52]

1980 was 40 years ago? I feel old

[@bertsmith1682]

Found on this farm - when u find a problem you fix it - saves time and money in the long run

[@Alex-nr4pr]

This was a great video, loved the storyline...

[@craiga657]

i love these sort of videos.

[@geraldrumenapp4457]

you should consider getting a 20 gallon propane tank and brush burning torch for your frozen track problem thats what we do on my farm

[@tucobenedicto109]

I'd say get a heated pressure washer. But with a non heated garage the washer would have to be filled with rv antifreeze, or the like. Or kept somewhere where there is heat. Glad the cattle got water now. Calling for help was good. Digging up the tee was good. The bobcat attachment wanted the bobcat. Lol. Nice photo bomb by the creeper feeder!

[@jeffreyhouston2043]

You should get Zack Johnson and Randy the master pipe layer come fix it.

[@finbarroconnell9368]

👍👍 keep up with the good videos. You're doing great work

[@kevinwillis9126]

Great vid Ryan thanks...

[@dimduk]

We still have to haul water to the barn by hand for five horses. Don't have the money to put in an underground line. The cold makes everything harder to do, going to retire somewhere warm.

[@bete1588]

hello Ryan. we do washing up the plastic water pipe / line . which is 1inch great with the hy pressure washer . on the hy pressure washer is second Special thin water pipe and on that top is a drainage wash up jet . with this special water pipe washed up we the water line for cows and heifers two times in the year .

[@bradenknight492]

The farm I work at added air line fittings to the water lines in our equivalent place to your pit. That way an air hose could be hooked up easily to flush the line out. Our intentions are for when the waterer on the other end isn't in use the lines won't freeze but it may be useful in your application too. Just need to add a couple ball valves and one male air line quick coupler in between them.

[@wrightfarmshoffman8663]

Great video guys

[@SmallMartingale]

Not jealous of this job. Wouldn't want to have to do it in this weather, or pay the bill! Thanks for the cool video👍

[@arnoldromppai5395]

i had to do myy barn line i put down 10 feet in 197 ,, in winter 2017 it was 50 bekow for weeks, i had to rent an excavator an open up a hole, to open the lineit was in an area that when i had a D8 in stripping the land he built tthe road over the vally with stumps and tons of clay were i had hills cut down over 8 feet, water had washed though some stumps letting cold air down, i new a hole in the bank was there but didnt think it ran 70 feet in, it was only a 8 to 10 inch hole, but let enough cold air in to freeze it, working in 50 below i was use to being a welder in logging camps most of my life until 1987, but being out of it so long it was a bit ruff, but the machine i rented ripped it open like a can opener,, no more air hole, it may have been there since day one when the whole road was lifted 17 feet an 150 feet wide, red clay takes years to pack in, i could have pulled the 400 feet of 1 inch line out and replaced it as al l my water lines are in 4 inch solid black drain tile as well as my hydro lines, but at 50 below that black polys a steel bar

[@genechronister7085]

A nother great vid!

[@donburg5125]

You should park your tracks on wood, that way they won't freeze down, plus you need to keep the mud cleaned off of them

[@chevyon37s]

Don Burg it’s not the tracks freezing to the ground. The mud freezes around all the idlers and the planetary housing keeping it from turning

[@SimonKL11]

Great video👍

[@bigdreamsonsmallacres]

Nice new trucks and they take ol reliable blue!

[@fynbo1007]

Remember to pressure wash your equipment, it takes time yes, but it pays in long term. Thank you for sharing your interesting story. God bless you and your family.

[@FUNNYBOY12375]

Also habe to have right temps

[@doclull1989]

Hey Ryan!! Don't miss water pump, line, well problems at all. Always happens when its frozen or raining. Switched to rural water and no more problems lol.

[@Walshslandscaping]

awesome video

[@alanl.simmons9726]

Good Morning Ryan & Rocket. 🚀 I've too dealt with water well issues.

[@southaussiegarbo2054]

I like when wheels do that as most people drop the f bomb because it sounds like gun fire

[@flexturd]

For frozen up tracks our excavating company uses propane weed burners. Our skidsteers and mini excavators always freeze up no matter how clean you think you get them

[@TheRealJesseStoltzfus]

Hot water pressure washer does the trick, as long as you don’t mind getting plastered😂

[@brittblanton8342]

Water issues are a pain in the butt in winter time hope you don’t have any more problems Ryan

[@danielrandolph9170]

Good video Ryan glad all well on the water issue. Hello from Daniel from central Mississippi

[@wsawatzky6956]

Here’s an easy way to make a quick garage when you have to work on vehicles in the cold by yourself a 70 foot diameter parachute throw it over the vehicle that you’re working on put a propane heater inside with the fan when I was up in the Northwest territories and it was -40 out with the wind blowing we need it to work on a vehicle this is what we would do within 30 minutes it was +15 Celsius we were able to work on the vehicles with no gloves or jackets army surplus 30 years ago it cost us 100 bucks not sure what it would cost now Hope this helps

[@gregkortbein5108]

I graduated highschool in 1980. Going to reunion this summer. 40 years goes by in a heartbeat.

[@madox76]

Tracked biggest weakness ya gotta clean out those tracks especially during winter.

Nice boat. Looks like a 90s like mine 🙂

[@organicpaulguy]

Nice video. Just wondering if you've ever heard of water jacking? My brother had a plugged water line between his house and the pit. The plumber guy used a rubber mallet and beat on the end of the waterline. It got the line unplugged. I guess it only works if there is water coming out of the line. It creates a powerful shock wave the ripples through the waterline and can break up the rust in the line. Just a very cheap easy inexpensive thing to do.

[@jaywest4102]

Rocket looked mad that you were paying them to dig holes when he’d have done it for free

[@diggermitch1]

park the jcb on planks then the tracks wont freeze down as bad plus you need to keep your tracks clean all the time at the end of the day

[@SJS-wq5wg]

Got to c two early 2000's GMC reg cab pickups in this vid 👍

[@peterjames2004]

dont forget to plug in the power to the lines

[@maxthedogandfriends4812]

What a mission. Atleast you got it sorted. 😧😥

[@drewclarke7123]

Finally, a Rocket snoot-booping... I can die happy now :D

[@leol1682]

Hey Rian , the JCB has to clean every time it's in mud it's like dozer .

[@davidriffle1210]

All in trouble shooting you either start at the beginning or at the end lol

[@dennishettinger4469]

liked this video thanks

[@AgentBiohazard]

A heated shop would be nice for your farm equipment to store inside to thaw out! Cows are happy now with the new chocolate flavored water? Lol!

[@geraldellis3664]

sounds like santa needs to bring you a heated garage for the tcb? expecially if and when it becomes a permament part of your farms! And if you dream big a heated machine shed to work on equipment in the winter. But as the saying goes? "That's farming!"

[@geraldellis3664]

and you use what you have.

[@makingithappen9722]

I am always impressed by a skilled plumber. They seem to feel where the error is.

[@daveblodgett9371]

One of those "this whole day is a pile of s$&#!" days

[@BWYinYang]

That circuit panel is antique, it need an upgrade to flip breaker. 🙂

[@clinthochrein888]

Those water lines are as old as me ! 😳😞

[@bumpkinrocks]

Can you not filter the water at the spring/bore hole before going through the pipes?

[@echutch]

I’m sure you all have a salamander heater on the farm. If you can’t get the tracks cleaned out, place one of those 3 or 4 feet from each track...15 or 20 minutes later you are rolling.

[@banjobenson9348]

That old fuse box now that could be future trouble , been there though

[@robhakeman5873]

Hello Ryan, is Okar a mineral ? I have a suggestion for you and Travis, back in the 70's when we were expanding in livestock we would put 3 well curbing with lids by ever water in your case outside the fence and have a 8 in. plastic tile go from the well curb to the cattle fountain and you also put tile line or plastic pipe 8 to 12 in. in diameter from well curbing to well curbing at every water and every T that way if your line would spring a leak or water problems you can pull a water line through and you don't have to dig the water line up as usually it happens on the coldest day of the year. All it has to do is happen once and this sounds like a great idea especially if you have to go under cement feeding floor and you don't have to tear up cement or pour cement when it warms up. We also would drill 4 holes like 6 inches down in the well curbs and put 2 steel rods crossways and then set a piece of styrofoam on top of the rods make the styrofoam really tight if you do it cuz the ground heat won't escape as much. You can also run your electric lines with the water lines in case you want to change things in the future cuz you can shutdown the water and electricity line at every well curbing. Have you ever seen the cattle and hog fountains that are electricity free as they use the ground temperature to keep them thawed out. We always used Ritchie water fountains.

[@jpw1490]

The tracks freezing up on the jcb is a perfict example why you would be better with wheels on the farm

[@randomdude8381]

Bad thing about tracks in the winter is when they freeze turns into a pain

[@philbindel6901]

I make that mistake once a year on not cleaning the tracks very good and it freezes the drive sprocket but that is an easy fix. I take my propane weed burner torch to the drive sprockets for 5minutes per side to thaw out a little to break them free of frozen dirt

[@piperdoug428]

Yeah where yer guy was standing down there....that's where our frost stops, all our lines have to be at or bellow 8ft. "what de ya mean yer waterers dont all break down in the summer time?" lol.

[@drakefalkner8046]

Do you have a rough surface bulb in that well pit or some type of heat so it doesn’t freeze up at all?

[@goodiezgrigis]

Too late to warn you now, but in the future, never run the jack hammer without back pressure on the needle more than few strikes.

[@neusac4590]

Nice video and job guys. It's nice to see a family come together, I have seen many of your videos where both Travis and your Dad have been there to help each other out. I'm sure with the cold weather there's always a problem with freezing lines. Glad to see problem solved and cows have water. Was there any of that line replaced though? You didn't mention anything on that.....🤔👍👍👍👍🇺🇸

[@johnwarren-649]

Been though that before but with steel lines. Needless to say we replaced it all with new lines

[@sahholsteins1]

Same here on our other farm, we needed up taking them all.out amd putting in plastic lines because we just have two cattle drinkers now is all

[@timwright7087]

never dry fire a breaking hammer big no no..

[@0xFF48]

Rental so you can do anything with it as long as you bought the insurance.

[@williammcallister8398]

Made me cringe when I saw that

[@robertreznik9330]

When I was using micro tubes to regulate flow on planters, I would reverse flow. Strange that the first thing to get flow was no using reverse flow.

[@dgoatranch]

And dang, that's a deep water line. I guess that's normal for that far north? Don't ask me what the freeze depth is here in Texas. I don't think we have one...

[@dgoatranch]

No, don't dry fire that breaker!!!

[@FUNNYBOY12375]

I see why you upgraded the tracks

[@machinemoverman4614]

You are going to have to start mowing your lawn every week. There, I fixed it! lol 😆

[@stevemarineau8153]

Fuses not breakers ;)

[@1oddtech]

Dry firing a breaker is the worst thing that can be done to it

[@ffaube]

Thank you it killed me to see it! I was thinking the same thing!

[@1oddtech]

@@ffaube then I saw them prying with it and was thankful it wasn't attachment

[@ffaube]

Hopefully he will read the comments and if they rent a hammer again they will know for next time

[@1oddtech]

@@ffaube looks like he did

[@WetCoaster]

Joys of rental equipment. What you wouldn't do with your own equipment. Wonder if there was any chisel paste provided by the rental company.

[@shopshop144]

so, in plastic lines where is the rust coming from, or is the idea that it's in the water before the water gets to the plastic? Any idea what the blockage was, just build up over time?

[@bettykuykendall2083]

You shoulda built a fire on it. Use up the stuff layijng around. Jeeze Luize

[@marshakrebs4348]

*geez laweez. 😐😂

[@BadMax1962]

when you bring a tac hammer to a barn raising

[@johnhecksel695]

Ryan, I have a question and I hope you don't mind me asking, but is your house your Grandfathers old house? Something inside me had to ask. It's a Beautiful old farm house.

[@ronreuwer5265]

Any piece of equipment that has tracks rule number one Clean them after every use Rule number 2 Clean them after every use Any excavation company that's there first rule of a operator they make track shovels just for that specific job

[@imchris5000]

beats digging with a pick and a weed burner

[@jasperstaats4998]

Did you buy the jcb

[@mrdayyumyum3712]

You're not a happy camper in this video. Dad sets tailgate on the ground so it can get backed over. LOL

[@michaelmactavish1728]

hahahahahaha uh no jcb cant move lol

[@billylindauer3636]

What year was the bobcat made?

[@FoodwaysDistribution]

So the cows are having Caffe latte now?

[@carlwolf4865]

Should of just up and fixed it in the summer 😂😂😂😂😂

[@marshakrebs4348]

One of those things

[@daviemccallum7759]

Do you not have a space heater

[@plow9133]

Run your JCB on boards in the barn , will keep your tracks from freezing to the ground

[@afroman77825]

It's not a problem with the tracks freezing to the ground itself the problem is that the sprocket that turns the tracks themselves gets all that manure and wet crap in there and that is what freezes makes it hard to break loose actually drive the skid steer. I speak from experience as it sucks really bad when you need to use it in a hurry and cant haha

[@afroman77825]

Its not a problem with the tracks freezing to the ground it's more the fact of the sprocket that turns the tracks gets frozen from the manure and wet crap. I speak from experience so it sucks when you need to use it in a hurry and cant haha

[@SawmillerSmith]

Looks like the water system needs a filter. Maybe a filter that can be flushed out. Or just do nothing tell the lines get clogged in 40 years

[@426hemicuda1090]

Try cleaning the tracks before you put it away. :D

[@eddiemortontapman7252]

Y’all are in what state ? Or are you in Canada ?