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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