Farm Pond: Digging the Keyway. Part 3/7 

John, you could use an auxiliary fuel tank until you finish the job. Also consider installing a check valve in the fuel line after the filters. It will help maintain prime when you have to open up the filter.

John, FYI I had the same problem on an old D6. I cut an access hole in the top of the tank and was able to clean the tank out completely. It actually wasn't too bad a job, just make the access hole big enough to get your upper arm through, cause it will be a deep tank. I drilled a hole pattern around the access hole, tapped the holes, and installed a removable cover plate with 5/16" bolts and a home made rubber gasket. I never had another fuel issue after that. Probably a half day's work in total, but worth it

You have "diesel algae" in the fuel tank, so you are fighting a loosing battle untill you clean that tank out. Mounting a temporary fuel tank on the rear of the dozer would be the best way to keep the dozer going for the time being.

I'm 57, from Nagaland, India and I've only begun watching RU-vid for 3 years. There are a nearly infinite choice of videos on any topic you can think of, but I've come to understand that there are only a few channels where every upload is worth watching. Yours is one of them. Your ability to engross people in the most technically difficult issues stems from your ability to simply things for the layman and your occasional self depreciating humour makes it very enjoyable. But above all, your narration takes you way above the average, RU-vidr, its almost hypnotic.

Hi John, my suggestion would be to eliminate the dozer fuel tank and set up an auxiliary tank (gravity feed) connected to inline filter for the mean time. Until you have time to clean the main dozer tank.

Andrew Cammarata would be proud of that self taper tailgate repair.

Heck yeah! Always a great day when another FarmCraft video comes out.

I hope Andrew Camarata sees your tailgate repair. He would be so proud of you! Whatever it takes.

andrew would approve that tailgate fix haha good job

Great video! Being a former operator and project manager for an earth moving company, I am slightly concerned that you aren’t achieving proper compaction on your keyway. We usually never did lifts thicker than 1’ and compacted each lift before proceeding to the next. Your dozer/ excavator doesn’t have the ground pressure to achieve proper compaction. Wheel-rolling with your dump truck lightly loaded would do the trick. Have fun and stay safe!

You beat me to the Andrew comment. Love watching.

Looking just like Andrew!

You should always film at 3X the speed. You get a lot more done. 😁

Lol John definitely pulling out his best Camarata impression

While watching I thought, this could be Andrew. Luckely you watch Andrew aswell. Great fix John.

A fuel sediment bowl like the ones found on older tractors might be what you need for the initial fuel filtering

Hi Jon, why not fit a temporary tank then clean out later? Many thanks.

Andrew Camarata would be proud of that tailgate repair.

That Andrew comment was hilarious! I was thinking the exact same thing

The tailgate repair is straight out of the Camarata school 101. Lol😮

I had no idea you were such a skilled body guy. The tailgate repair was spot on.

Hi Jon, Another great video! Fixing the tailgate was definitely a Andrew Camerata minute! Before you know it you'll be at a million subscribers you're almost halfway there! Also how about one of those glass bowl filters used on tractors that you can unscrew easily? You have great narration! As always God bless and take care from your long-time California subscriber.

Tailgate fix, Andrew Camarata style, love it👍

I think that quick in house fixes are the best. It may not look pretty, but if it works, it works and it spares resources.

The Andrew Camarata joke got a laugh and a like out of me. Love your channel!

As I watch you push dirt with the dozer, I cannot imagine the power to push that pile after hand shoveling earth over the past 60 years.

If necessity be the mother of invention Andrew gets it Done ✅

So cool how it goes from red to brown to bright red to dark Brown Soil neet Jon 😮 8:48 @FarmCraft101

A true Andrew Camarata style fix on that tailgate. Love your videos John.

Heck yeah! Always a great day when another FarmCraft video comes out.. Heck yeah! Always a great day when another FarmCraft video comes out..

“I’m almost ready to lay some pipe…” 😉😀🤣😂 That’s what He Said!!

John, once you have finished the pond, maybe weld up a flat deck for your pick up. Could be a cool project...

You can look at it as over paid, but you also got the opportunity to know your equipment in a deep way. That knowledge has a value. Also you know what has been fixed what may need fixing soon and what can wait.

30:28 that’s a Camerata fix right there Jon 😂

About the keyway... I hear you talk about it locking the dam wall and that is exactly what it does. Stops gravity sliding the wall down the valley when the water pressure starts. The keyway role is not to stop water... if there is a path the water will be happy to go down and up while there ia a level difference. So, the keyway keeps the dam in place, the clay seals the water in place. This means rocks are fine in the keyway so long as there is enough clay on the water side.

I love work. I can sit and watch it all day!!

Jon, unlike the people who give you professional advice, I know nothing about anything you are doing. However, I enjoy watching you fiddling around and trying to trouble shoot problems and dealing with hassles that come along in life. That said- here's something my grandfather told me that might be of value: "Time, patience and perseverance accomplish all things"

Just a suggestion John: I raced alcohol dragsters for years. We used a filter called an "Oberg". Screens were available in all deniers, about 5 inches in diam. & easily came apart / back together in minutes. (2-3). High flow; cleaned easy; quickly serviced. Just a thought.

I’d be very curious to have you tell us your schooling and background employment.. you are very knowledgeable about so many things.. Cutting an access port on the dozer fuel tank and cleaning would be one answer.. 😊👍

Amazing how fast the work gets done when in hyper timelapse mode :) That beginning shot was neat.

I had the same issue but with my parts washer i use PCS1000. I use 3 filters, a 2 micron CAT filter but before that i run a run of the mill oil filter that fits the fitting on the adapter. I suggest you do the same thing. Put a oil filter housing inline and run a $3 oil filter, you should get a fuel hundred running hours out of that and it will keep the $$ filter you have for the injection pump in VERY good health.the trick is to use the CHEAPEST filter you can get, shoot for at least 30 micron, the FRAM filters seem to be about 35 to 40 microns. As for your comment on that filter, its a 1R0710 and that is a 20 micron NOT 30. I cant see the CAT number but all diesel filters need to be a minimum of 11 microns as the injectors would be damages from anything larger. Here are the 2 filters i run Caterpillar 1R-0750 as my final filter and a Baldwin BF7633 as my stage 2 filter and a cheap FRAM Extra Guard PH8A as the 1st stage I use Empi 00-9245-0 Oil Filter Adapter and a 2 WIX Filters - 24770 to mount them. Cant hurt to throw some magnets on the outside of the 1st stage. I run my parts washer for about 2 hours each day on a high flow pump Little Giant 518550 at about 300GPM, and i get MONTHS of use in this config. for a few hours of work this could solve your issue seeing as you probably use 20% of that flow! I change the fram filter about once a week and the Baldwin about once a month and i have been running the cat filter for about 3 years now. I know its time for a change when the flow is getting slower

Could make an external pump and filter setup so that you circulate fuel from the tank through the filter and back into the tank then just let it run for half a day. Hope this helps to avoid cutting a hole in your tank.

Andrew would be proud of that tailgate fix.

Andrew camarta would be proud of that tailgate fix

You'll figure it out, with help from the commenters and Patrons and whatnot. And I am here for that journey! 😊

37:49 - niece playing John😊. Music to my ears. Keep up the good work

Keep your head up. You do an awesome job with your work, and filming adds a layer of complexity. We appreciate you sharing our adventures with us and we can all learn from your calm approach to problem solving! I've said it many times before, but this is one of my favorite channels!

You could always use a boat tank, you would just have to refuel more often. But it would bypass your problem temporarily enough to finish the job.

Careful John, you're approaching Camarata territory with your tailgate fix.

That truck gate repair just cracked me up!

I agree no choice but to take dozer back to shop and fix tank. Again I say I hate fuel problems in the field. You have my sympathy, at least once fixed this issue will be in the rear view mirror. Good Luck. Ray Stormont

The moment I saw that bent up tailgate, I could hear the unmistakable sound of a chainsaw being started, and the immortal words: "If i painted that, it would look like it was just painted"

Andrew Camerata would be proud on the truck Repair!

About truck repair -- there is part of Camarata in all of us :)

Damn you move that yanmar quick. No wasted movements and you know exactly where to place it

You are reaping the benefit of all the hard work sorting the Yanmar. Certainly looks to be running powerfully now. Excellent job. Thank you for posting. Best from the UK

I'd love to do this type of work! For 2 hours... Damn that "actual speed" segment's really a reality check. That dozer ain't breaking no records :D

A 4ft wide or larger mud bucket would be a game changer for you and that machine

As a few have said, temporary tank fed by gravity connected to the inline filter should eliminate the problem and keep you going until the job is done. We use a similar setup when getting old cars which have say for years up and running

take that pre-filter line and split it up with as many T fittings as you want, like a manifold, basically a manifold into a bunch of filters back to a manifold with a single in and out

Cleaning that gas tank is going to be SOOOoooooooo satisfying.

Man. I thought I was cuttin' corners by using pop-rivets. Well done, sir.

Love the metal nuts in tailgate😂

Nice job on the keyway 😊

Hi John. You can temporary use another external fuel tank (any kind and volume) and block embedded tank from line. You can install it on roof or on back of cabin or anywhere else - this is temporary solution. When you done with damb, bring your dozer back home and fix tank.

Andrew Cammarata would definitely approve of that tailgate fix.

Come for the pond constuction, stay for the Camarata-grade body work.

THAT WAS FUNNY ABOUT ANDREW … I WAS THINKING THE VERY SAME THING AT THE TIME 🤣😉

At least you had fun working on it.

I scanned the comments to this video and almost all were about about the dozer fuel. This is about your dam building methods. I agree with thehardway406. I worked for a nationwide general contractor. Excavating and compacting dirt was one of their specialties. There is no compaction of the fill in this keyway. I recommend a small vib. roller that this dozer could pull. Grade one foot lifts and compact them and repeat for each lift. You probably didn't bid it that way, if it was bid, but it's the right way to do it.

The great thing about this job /video is that you realized what a job like this consist of and the scope of it for future jobs. The fuel tank may be the main reason they sold the dozer.

Glad I found your channel it's really cool watching others build dams and lake projects. I built my first lake for myself 3 years ago after watching letsdig 18 and dirt perfect along with researching like crazy lol. I ended up buying a hitachi ex 200 escavator, a hd-11ep dozer, a hd5g loader crawler, a 977 cat loader crawler and a 6x6 military dump truck. I'm currently building a large dam/ lake for a customer. Excavating and lake building has become my 2nd business and I really enjoy it. It's not work if you enjoy it😎. Keep up the great work👍🏻

John, I really enjoy what you do… being a Virginia boy myself… I get you!

Truck repairs, Andrew Camarata style, Muhahaha. Well done John!

Cleaned out a good used 275 #2 fuel oil tank this year. Drained it into a big pan and pumped it back into the tank, making sure not to pick up sludge settling out. After that it started to run clearer. Good enough for heating. I bet you could set up an eternal filter system to finish it off. Lots of flow to break up the sludge piles in there. You are spoiling us with content!

Hahaha John - saw the custom tail gate repair and my first though was 'Andrew Camerata School of Bodywork Repairs' 😂😂

I love your ribald sense of humor...totally not lost on me! ;)

I second the auxiliary fuel tank idea. Hopped on here to suggest it but saw a few already have.

At first I thought Andrew Camerata then I remembered Pole Barn Garage. He loves the self tappers. haha

Install a ball valve after the "pre-filter", that way you can keep the rest of the system primed. A check valve, as suggested by another viewer, is another good idea except that a good ball valve would be more reliable.

Also a trick I have done to get around a cruddy tank is welding a riser inside the pet clock so it won’t draw fuel from the bottom but instead a few inches up.

Like button already hit and looking forward to part 4 John.

The John i know would've put 4 filters on, like in his house! thanks for the video!

Dude i thought a pond was just a depression that held water...Boy was i wrong..lol.. would be cool if you explained the science behind it all. Keep up the good work John

As some who builds many structures as this I’m convinced a day of downtime to clean the fuel system would pay dividends in the long run to finish this project.

Loving this project. Thanks for sharing :)

Wait ! Now you've turned into Chip Foose 😁😁😁😁😁 ! Nice angel work 👍👍

All this work Is Making your Skills Better Man you are becoming a Smooth Operator There Jon with that Yanmar Backhoe @FarmCraft101

He went full "andrew Camarata" on the tailgate repairs :)

Looking forward to the next video on the Pipe What a cool project thanks for sharing Jon @FarmCraft101

Thank you for your repair videos they helped me with my vio 40 repairs such as swivel joint.

I have watched many of your videos and the thing that strikes me the most is that every time you do something you are trying your level best to do things right and I for one appreciate that. There’s to many people who halfass things they do, I have tried to do my best on every project I have ever done and that applies to when I worked for someone else. Please have a great day sir.

Leave some of the big rocks in the pond bottom in piles for fish habitats. Not sure if he’s going to put fish it it but its great for the future because who has a pond around there house without fish…

KEEP DIGGING BROTHER ❤️👍🇺🇸🐊🌴🍊🚜🌄🦾🇺🇸 !!

Great job digging this pond, John! You could use an external fuel tank and bypass the dirty tank completely.

John, these are your choices. 1. Use axillary tank until this job is finished. 2. Empty tank. It is possible to remove it but you need to dismantle the dozer. Allow at least 5 full days for this. Check the level of rust. If not too bad clean tank out. To do this buy an expensuve ryst remover and preventer, very exoensuve or you can do it the economic way which is to fill it with 2 or 3 gallons of warm water, depending on size of tank. Add 1/2 pint of barcarbinate of soda. Swish it about until disolved and leave over night. Next miring swish about again then remove the mixture using a standard hose pipe. It must be long enough to reach the corners of the tank and into a container. Use gravity or a pump to remove tank contents. Rince with cokd water until all rust is gone. Once dry coat the inside with a special purpose tank liner. Empty contents of liquid liner then rotatate tank until all sides are covered. Leave to dry, 24 hours then refit tank and fill with diesel. If you don't choose to remove the tank then buy the rattle can option, which is more expensive but comes with a specialist rotating nozzle. 3. Do it your way and cut a hole. Once ckean coat the sides to prevent the return of rust. Continue to use the secondry filter without aditional holes. 4. Buy a new tank! 5. Buy a new dozer. You're welcome 😉

John. I had to laugh at your dilemma of dealing with rocky soil. Greetings from northern NH!

That body work is on point!

Throw an electric pump and massive filter on there and recirculate at a high flow rate to clean it up. Add some dry ice to the tank to stir it up!

I'm ok with screwing my truck back together. I'm shocked that you did this though, as you're always the person to do things the way it should be done.