Found a trick for cleaning cutterheads on the Ohio River job last week

I was working a job outside Cincinnati on the Ohio River and kept having trouble with clay building up on the cutterhead every 2 hours or so. Usually I'd just reverse and let the suction clear it, but it was taking way too long. A guy from a different crew told me to try spraying the cutterhead down with a mix of diesel and old motor oil before dropping it in. I figured it was worth a shot since we had the supplies handy. It actually worked better than I expected - the clay just slid off for almost 8 hours before I had to reapply. Has anyone else tried greasing or oiling their cutterhead ahead of time for sticky material?

2 comments

2 Comments

fisher.thomas15d ago

Old diesel trick works every time on sticky mud

gracethomas15d ago

Worked a job on the Monongahela a few years back. Same problem with that grey river clay packing up every couple hours. Tried the diesel and old oil mix too. Made it through a whole shift and a half before it needed another coat. Just gotta make sure you get it in all the nooks between the teeth. Saves a ton of downtime.