WATER AFFAIRS
Repair leaky dams without emptying
If you suspect your dam or earth pond is losing more daily than it should through evaporation there is a quick do-it-yourself solution that you can apply that does not require you to empty the contents, and will not harm fish, frogs or other wildlife in or around the dam. And, if your dam water is cloudy and muddy following the recent rains this compound has the advantage of agglomerating the suspended inorganic solids( eg clay fines) in the water and clearing the water as a result. The compound, imported and marketed in South Africa by Aqua Plastech, is a super absorbent polymer, technically a polymer acrylomide, not unlike the material contained in babies ' disposable nappies that mops up
MACHINERY
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pulls. No? Here ' s where we become bush-mechanics. Remove the air filter, open the throttle fully but do not engage the choke, and direct a constant jet of air into the air intake from your compressor while having an assistant pull the starter cord vigorously. The added oxygen thus being forced into the cylinder will, the wetness. Supplied in a rough small granular form, it is spread upon the surface of the water using nothing more sophisticated than a fertilizer or seed spreader. Upon contact with the water the material expands greatly and spreads itself evenly over the area treated, before gently sinking to the bottom as a slimy goo. There, it is sucked into
surely, make a wonderfullycombustible mixture and even the most recalcitrant engine will kick over, firing up, and then roaring lustily, often in a cloud of smoke. Let it settle down to a smooth idle as you replace the air filter. As you do so you will notice that the engine slows and its sound deepens. That ' s because the air filter, while it fissures and cracks in the base of the dam by the“ hydraulic forces” created by the water that has already leaked into the soil dispersing further and deeper into the ground. And having agglomerated the suspended inorganic particles in the water, these aid in forming a durable, longlasting layer of impermeable material that is drawn into the
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cleans the air entering the chamber, also restricts the airflow: there ' s a trade-off between its ability to microfilter the air and allow sufficient into the engine to ensure a lean, combustible air-fuel mixture. That ' s how you can get a brushcutter or chainsaw started. Much the same
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