The problem with concrete around the pole in clay is the freeze heave and dry cycles. In the winter, freezing and thawing action causes heave and expansion that wants to move it around which is why you get the post below the freeze level. During the summer, unless you are in the rain belt, the clay dries up and pulls away (retracts) from the post and concrete around it. That is when cracks in ground appear and some get so wide you can stick your hand in it. Then the wind loading action against the barn makes the posts move ever so slightly enough to begin wallowing out the post hole and you lose the support. Packing the hole with sand or small limestone allows the fines to move with the clay as it expands and retracts. Not allowing the ground to dry out helps in that regard and probably some parts of the country doesn't see what dry clay does just like some parts of the country doesn't deal with the freeze level.
You will also notice that clay in the early spring after it has gone through the freeze cycle is much softer and less compacted due to the process which makes it easier to dig and auger. The summer drying process just compacts the clay to make it very difficult to dig and auger.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Women and Tractors - by Teri Burkholder. The View from the Garage - Never a doubt, everything on our farm is a learning experience. I've been working very hard to get our two rundown Farmall A's sanded, primed , bondo�d, fiberglassed and painted before our big local tractor show called the Tulip Festival. My husband Ben came in the garage one rainy day to see if he could "help". Well if you knew Ben you wouldn't want him anywhere near your spray gun, fiberglass or bondo! So I pulled out the 2 old yucky looking magne
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
For sale Farmall super A tractor is complete and has just been setting for awhile,it was running when pulled out of the barn,shouldn’t take to much to get it going asking 1100.00
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
