We have a 3-acre pasture that's had Electrobraid up for MANY years. We used h-braces in the corners and they have been doing well for years but after a record rainfall this year they are starting to lean. I think I know the answer but is there a way to straigthen them without dismantling the entire fence? Thanks.
Sagging Fence H-Braces
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whistlepig
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What is a h-brace?
beenthere
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H braces need the diagonal wire from the top of the 2nd post to the bottom of the end post to keep them from racking. Maybe your H braces don't have the diagonals?
If in the fence line (not at a corner) then the diagonal wires form an X at the H.
If the H has the diagonal, then one or the other post is pulling out of the ground, and needs to be reset deeper and maybe with an anchor.
H braces need the diagonal wire from the top of the 2nd post to the bottom of the end post to keep them from racking. Maybe your H braces don't have the diagonals?
If in the fence line (not at a corner) then the diagonal wires form an X at the H.
If the H has the diagonal, then one or the other post is pulling out of the ground, and needs to be reset deeper and maybe with an anchor.
CMSporthorses
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Ahh Box Strainers sagging...fun ....it IS doable if you have something to anchor a chain block to, or a big enough tractor... Just chain block the end post back a touch past vertical and rebuild the box and diagonal bracing wire, then let off the strain.... all fixed!
whistlepig
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I understand. Does it have the #9 wire diagonal bracing as beenthere recommends?
Ken45101
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I'm surprised that you have problems. Do you have the Electrobraid stretched too tight? We have similar line (Premier 1) and I never even braced the corners, just put in 6" posts.
How deep are your posts? I usually put mine in about 2.5' deep if I don't hit impenetrable rock. We have heavy clay soil (except for the rocks).
IMO, that's the advantage of the electrified rope, no need for bracing corner posts.
You might be able to dig out on the backside (used a duckbill shovel to keep it narrow) and then force a diagonal brace down in place of the H brace to slowly straighten the post over time.
Ken
How deep are your posts? I usually put mine in about 2.5' deep if I don't hit impenetrable rock. We have heavy clay soil (except for the rocks).
IMO, that's the advantage of the electrified rope, no need for bracing corner posts.
You might be able to dig out on the backside (used a duckbill shovel to keep it narrow) and then force a diagonal brace down in place of the H brace to slowly straighten the post over time.
Ken
Thanks for all of the replies! Yes, it has the diagonals. Haven't tightened the line in a while but it could have been tightened too much in the past. I appreciate the suggestions. I'll be out taking a look at it today to see which might work.
Ken45101
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If it has the correct diagonal wire bracing, it's almost impossible for the post to get pulled. It's also possible to have installed the wire brace the wrong way, I've done that
The wire brace should be from the bottom of the corner post and to the top of the brace post (if my thinking is correct today, LOL, someone will correct me if my thinking today is backwards).All of this assumes that you have a horizontal wood or pipe spanning between the two posts.
FWIW, the electrified rope that I use recommends that the tension be set to where the tension spring is half way compressed. That's not a lot of tension, but enough to take the sag out of the line.
Ken
whistlepig
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Are the ends of your H-Braces attached to your upright poles in some way? There are different ways of doing this. I prefer buying 10" long x 3/8" diameter brace pins and drilling a hole through the upright in to the end of of the H-Brace.
