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Maybe A Dumb Question?

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super99

11-23-2007 16:45:38

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The last bin I put up is a 18' Gov't bin. Time was running out and I didn't want to take the time to put a ladder on the inside of bin. It's about 3 rings down from the top, and I want to get in and level off the corn for the air to work better. If I put a ladder in thru the inspection hole , can I get down the ladder and back out, or will it just keep sinking into the corn? I know if you get in and walk around on dry corn you sink in a ways, will the ladder stop going in after a foot or so? I don't really want to get stuck inside the bin and have to wait for my wife to come home to get me some help to get out. I give her plenty of ammo the way it is. Any thoughts? Chris

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Randy-IA

11-24-2007 09:07:24

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

A simple common sense answer is use a spotter and a good rope , REPEAT -- A GOOD rope -- one that you can hang onto comfortably with all your weight , not a ski size rope but a one inch thick or larger rope made out of a highly abrasion resistant material . Nothing sucks worse than to have a rope break when your climbing it . BTDT . Get a safety harness or better yet a climbing harness from a sports shop or a construction supply store ( neither option is cheap but how much is your life worth ? ) . Make sure it's adjustable enough to go over winter clothes/coats and bibs . If you have a sports shop available go there and have find out how to tie an ascension knot on a caribiner . Safety first and you'll live long enough to give expert advice like everyone here does from the school of hard knocks Ha-Ha . Take care ! ...Randy

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JanicholsonWet sleeves ar

11-24-2007 07:12:02

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

Tie the ladder to the top of the bin hole with a cross 2X4 so it can't go beyond its length. Drill two one inch holes in a 2X12 that is 3' long and tie it to the bottom rung of the ladder so it can go out flat. Use a rope with knots to supplement the ladder. Understand your arm strength. and have a person as strong as you are on belay. Holding the rope and able to stop your downward progress. Be safe. JimN

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budn

11-24-2007 06:41:36

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

The ladder will only settle a couple feet. I would level the bin. That way you don't get a heat build up in the center.

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Iowa corn and hogs

11-24-2007 05:49:23

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Re: Ladder won't sink very far in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

We have 20+ bins of corn. We turn on the fan, then crawl into EVERY one twice/month all winter, drag our feet around checking for a crust and using our nose--the smell of corn with a problem will be evident if you start the fan. We even have a special calendar that we use to keep track of the bins to make sure ALL get checked.

I would crawl in and level it off unless it was 14% or less when it went in.

I have unloaded dry corn from gov't bins thru the side door for 25 years and never had a problem. I don't use those old bins much anymore--for me the time and labor loading and unloading eats up any "free" storage advantage, by the time we go move the snow, set everything up, and them just have to tear down and haul everything to the next site every 3200 bu.

I cannot see what is unsafe about crawling into a bin that is not being unloaded

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IaGary

11-24-2007 06:13:33

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Re: Ladder won't sink very far in reply to Iowa corn and hogs, 11-24-2007 05:49:23

Same here Ia corn hog. I crawl in my bins every couple of weeks to check the grain.

If you have not taken any out there is no problem at all walking on it.

If you have taken some out and there is no cone down in the middle stay out and use a stick to bust it down from the roof. If it is coned down its OK to walk on.

Reminds me of a story. Federal grain inspector was checking the inventory of a Grain Elevator.

Came back to the office and said you got a spoilage problem in silo 4. Manger said silo 4 is empty. Inspector said no its not I just walked on the top. They went back out and the inspector looked in the open hole at the bottom looking up and saw he was walking on a crusted layer stuck at the top 70 feet up.

He walked to his State car, drove off and never inspected another bin for the rest of his life.

True story.

Ia hogs and Corn, what part of the state are you in? You must be new here. I'm on the edge of the Coralville Reservoir.

Gary

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JoeBob/IN

11-24-2007 05:11:39

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

I will say it again, there is no reason to level it off. Leave it be and run the fan like I said earlier and all will be ok. Now how are you getting the corn out if there is not unload tube? If you pull from the side and not the center you may collapse the bin. Surprised you get told you have to level it off but not that you almost have to unload from center.

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Tradititonal Farmer

11-24-2007 03:18:02

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

I worked in and repaired materials bins do not ever go into a bin without a safety harness and saftey rope AND a spotter on top watching you and controling the rope.

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super99

11-24-2007 01:33:31

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

Thank you for all the reply's. I am not taking any corn out of the bin, just got it put in last week. This is my first year with any bins and am learning as I go, but everyone has always said that the corn has to be level for the aireation to work right. If the corn is peaked, the air will move thru the outside and not the center of the pile. Doesn't have a unload tube in it, so can't take any out of the middle, but then if I put it back in it is peaked again. I plan to seal the corn and would like to have it level for them to measure. I KNOW NOT TO GET IN A BIN WHILE UNLOADING!!!!! !!!!! 5 years ago, 80+ year old that I had worked for when I was a kid, [like a father to me] was unloading an 18' bin and just had to get in and push a little to the center to get the door out. When the corn quit coming out, his sil went to get help, but it was too late. Sil has health problems, couldn't get into bin to help. Can take you to 3 or 4 bins in a 20 mile radius that have had a hole cut in them to get a body out. That being said, thanks again for the replys, doesn't hurt to remind people to be careful. I have been on the roof of the house and had the wind blow the ladder off the roof and had to wait for a car to go by and try to get them to stop and put ladder back up so I could get down. too cold to do that again right now. Chris

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Jack in Fla

11-23-2007 19:32:35

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

Fellows, I have never been the situation you are talking about grain bins, But, I did go to a train wreck one time and operate a D 8 Cat. The cars were mangled, twisted, and loaded with soybeans, beans, shelled corn, and other stuff. I consider myself a good dozer operater, (done it all of my life, 65 years old), but I backed into the shelled corn and was the stuckest I have ever been in my life, (embaresed too) Jack

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JoeBob/IN

11-23-2007 19:07:35

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

There is no reason to level it off! The best thing to do would be to pull the core out if you are that concerned. If you don't want to sell any just leave it be. Run the fans roughly once a month for about a week straight. If you get a rapid temp change that stays for over a week run it then too. Been doing it this way for a long time and haven't had any problems with bins from 18'-24'-30'-36'.

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edchainsaw

11-23-2007 18:52:14

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

Im going to make every one of you Mad but I think some of you need it. I am sorry in advance ok, but I've been around this subject and have read the safty stuff for a lot of years.

So here goes:

1 your ladder will settle some. It will not settle 4ft but a rope is Never a bad idea.

2 ALWAYS tell someone what your doing---and try to have them with you.... as in WAIT till your wife can be near you.

3 You will not settle in up to your nose either unless the grain is beeing pulled out or has been pulled out and has left an empty cavity below a crust

4 IF you do get covered in grain keep your hand infront of your mouth -- if it doesnt crush you first- but if a 160lb man gets covered in grain it takes a body builder to pull him out. So your pretty much DEAD.... (this happen to my grandmothers cousin, and my cousin's father inlaw and my father got out 1time because he had Grampa and a pole/rope with him)

5 YES you do sometimes need to shovel the corn to help but BE CAREFUL--- but dont be scared.

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buickanddeere

11-24-2007 06:32:09

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to edchainsaw, 11-23-2007 18:52:14

Right on with this post and others stating it's just common sense to have a spotter, a knotted rope, safety harness and proper ladders. A void space under a crust of normal looking grain is normal rather than being the exception. You just have to break through one once.

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Marlowe

11-23-2007 18:38:49

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

just about every year we have to pull some one out of the corn in a bin [[[[NEVER]]]] go in with out other people on stand by always use a safety rope when working in a bin and never walk on the corn or beans with out help on the out side drowning in corn is NOT pretty

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notadeere

11-23-2007 18:17:49

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

For one theres never a dumb question & two Um im not even a farmer & id say tie yourselt to top u sink in U are F****d or better yet play it smart dont go in at all

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RobMD

11-23-2007 17:55:31

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

maybe you can walk on corn... but I don't think you'd try the same thing with grain, now would ya?

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RJ in OK

11-23-2007 17:00:41

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

In addition too whats been said I think I would put a 1 by 12 or 2 by 12 between the rungs off the ladder, that should keep it from sinking I would think. Best off luck.

RJ,

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phillip d

11-23-2007 16:56:52

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

If it was me,I would use an extendable 20 footer just to be safe lol.You would gain alot of weight if all you had to eat all winter is corn!

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d21man

11-23-2007 16:56:52

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

just tie the ladder to the outside ladder on the bin

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quess

11-23-2007 16:56:08

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

Smart answer stay out of the bin

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DiyDave

11-23-2007 16:55:01

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Re: Maybe A Dumb Question? in reply to super99, 11-23-2007 16:45:38

I just got through reading the latest issue of Farm Show magazine, and there was a tip in it about this very subject. I think a ladder would probably sink, and you'd be breathing grain, and that ain't good. What the tip said was to throw a rope in, with knots every 2 feet, tied to the top of the bin. What I would add is don't go in alone, have someone to watch over you, life ain't worth a few bushels of grain! Good luck, and god bless!

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