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PSA: A sudden silt surge nearly took out my cutter head in Mobile Bay
We were pulling a 14-inch line about 300 yards offshore when the density meter spiked from 1.2 to over 1.8 in seconds. The whole dredge shuddered and the engine load redlined, so I had to kill the pump and reverse the ladder to clear it before the shaft could bind. Has anyone else hit a hidden silt pocket like that and what's your go-to move to save the gear?
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wesley_jones2mo agoMost Upvoted
Man that sounds rough but honestly, is it really a "surge"? Sounds like you just hit a bad patch of mud. Gear can handle a lot.
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vera_lewis22mo ago
Seen that everywhere lately. Systems pushed past their limits.
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spencer_owens582mo ago
Pushed past their limits" feels a bit strong. Things are strained, sure, but broken? I see a lot of complaining online but not much actual collapse.
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