Gauteng Smallholder April 2017 | Page 26

WATER AFFAIRS

From page 23 top layers of the dam ' s bottom, creating an effective seal. Although it is usual to treat the entire surface of a leaking dam, if you know more or less the actual spot at which your dam is leaking it is possible to treat this exclusively, simply by applying the granules directly above where you know the leak to be. Naturally this( and all dam sealing activities, for that matter) should be done on a calm, wind-free day to ensure that the granules expand and sink in the right spot, and aren ' t blown away. Most leaking dams and ponds can be treated with Aqua Plastech. Exceptions are dams
Small granules of compound are spread upon the water
In addition to sealing the dam, Aqua Plastech clarifies the water by agglomerating fine suspended solids in the water and using them to bind the base of the dam
with very steep sides( the material can ' t attach itself effectively to a vertical side but will rather sink to a flatter bottom), or lined dams where

MACHINERY

From page 23 applies to a recalcitrant pullstart lawnmower insofar as spark plug, air filter and fuel mixture are concerned. But with a mower you can additionally turn it into an“ electric start” machine, thereby entirely doing away with the need to yank on its starter cord. Simply remove the starter mechanism at the top of the
the lining has been severely punctured, for example by a cow or a horse, and it will need very heavy dosing with Aqua Plastech to seal a dam
engine. This is usually secured as a separate mechanism with a set of small bolts and, once removed, should reveal a substantial nut securing a flywheel on the top of the main( vertical) drive shaft. From your socket spanners choose a socket to fit the nut and, using an extension shaft, attach this to your electric drill. Open the throttle fully, put the socket over the nut and, holding the drill firmly ~ yes, firmly, because it will want to spin around against the resistance of the engine ~ start the drill. The engine will spin. And spin. And, all else having been checked and cleaned, it WILL fire. Quickly lift the drill off the nut. You will soon become adept at
which is dug in very sandy soil. Those exceptions apart, users have reported improvements
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doing this without unnecessarily running the drill in place and wearing down the nut. This method of starting a lawnmower engine does not comply with Health & Safety regulations and can result in the socket coming loose and flying off the drill. As a result it is best not performed in front of an audience.
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