Culvert cleaning

[Oldbinder]

Due to some extreme rain with flooding I have some 16” culverts that need to be cleaned out. They are full of debris and a lot of fine sand a gravel. I tried the trick of pulling a tire through the culvert with limited success. The tire cleared the debris put little of the sand and gravel. From my days of being a electrician I remember using conduit plugs “mice” to fish pulling ropes and cleaning out electrical conduit. So I made a plug out of two 14” dia. disk brake rotors I haven’t tried it yet and was wondering if anybody thinks it’s going to work and maybe some suggestions to make better.

 

[Mendonsy]

I suspect it will probably work, but maybe work too well. Looking at your 2nd picture I suspect that it could collect enough material that you could not pull it all the way through which would plug it up permanently. Maybe you could get your local fire department to flush some of that debris out with a fire hose??

 

[4570Man]

I’d be surprised if that clog slides out of the culvert but without much to loose you might as well try. Maybe attach a second chain on the back so you have some chance of pulling it backwards if it gets stuck.

 

[oosik]

I have one culvert under my driveway. I've never - in 43 years being out here - had water come down the valley. Much less go thru the culvert.

So....last year I decided to check it. Bent down and came face to face with a racoon. It was clean enough for me.

 

[Eagle1]

I have one culvert under my driveway. I've never - in 43 years being out here - had water come down the valley. Much less go thru the culvert.

So....last year I decided to check it. Bent down and came face to face with a racoon. It was clean enough for me.

Must be nice, I have Four 4 foot culverts under my driveway and at times they are unable to handle the flow until it lets up. I have an additional 2+ ac pond until the pipes catch up.

 

[mikester]

Our township used to bring in the fire truck to wash out the culverts. Now they just dig up the road replace the culvert.

 

[Thomas]

You maybe on to good idea,my only concern if not pull straight and get caught on culvert rib can you pull the idem back?

 

[Rustyiron]

The material in the pipe doesn't look "flowable" (it's dry) and I think that's going to cause trouble.
Like 4570 said, put a chain on the backside to reverse it if necessary but maybe a graduated approach like
pulling a length of 4x4 through, then a 6x6, then maybe your rotor rig or something along this thinking.

 

[Oldbinder]

I suspect it will probably work, but maybe work too well. Looking at your 2nd picture I suspect that it could collect enough material that you could not pull it all the way through which would plug it up permanently. Maybe you could get your local fire department to flush some of that debris out with a fire hose??

I tried calling the fire department and they gave ma a firm “NO”. I think they have been called about this way to many of a time lately.

 

[Oldbinder]

The material in the pipe doesn't look "flowable" (it's dry) and I think that's going to cause trouble.
Like 4570 said, put a chain on the backside to reverse it if necessary but maybe a graduated approach like
pulling a length of 4x4 through, then a 6x6, then maybe your rotor rig or something along this thinking.

I did get a tire through the culvert without any problem using a chain and a tagline rope. The tire just wouldn’t clear the sand and gravel