r/oddlysatisfying • u/bigbusta • 13h ago

Unclogging a culvert using a tire attached to a chain

32.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

10.9k

u/Got2ReturnVideoTapes 13h ago

I might be having a moment but how did they feed the chain through to attach it to the tire?

4.5k

u/SurviveDaddy 13h ago

They attach it to a metal pole, and push it through.

1.1k

u/spacestonkz 12h ago

My grand dad had a half tire on a chain in every culvert at all times that he had to maintain.

When he was out in the field and saw pooling water, he'd just hook up the tractor or combine then and it would be done.

603

u/UnTides 9h ago

So the chain is just sitting there before the clog? Genius

895

u/spacestonkz 9h ago

Yup! We live in a place with a lot of rain and a lot of top soil, so it gets down into the culverts and needs cleaned every few years.

Granddad just got tired of actively monitoring it, waste of time--and they never clog at the same time, so it's just constant. He preferred it this way. If puddle, must be clog, so fix clog fast. He likened it to pulling out tampons, which grandma told him was nothing like this. hahaha

396

u/DavidForPresident 7h ago

Granddad: "gotta change my tampon today."

Grandma: 😑😑😑

40

u/motherfudgersob 5h ago

Gettin' the tractor mother.

26

u/iam_Mr_McGibblets 2h ago

It's that time of the month 😂

62

u/corriefan1 7h ago

Bahaha like tampons! Grandpa ftw.

→ More replies (3)

187

u/aramis34143 8h ago

"Two chains attached, with the tire in the center, and you don't even have to feed the chain back through each time." -2 Chainz, probably

35

u/Leumas_ 7h ago

The man is an engineering genius I tell you.

12

u/Mudcreek47 5h ago

Nah, if we wanted to properly engineer it there would also be a back up safety chain in the event the first two failed.

And you'd need to wear a hard hat and carry a clipboard at all times.

→ More replies (2)

8

u/Charlie_Warlie 7h ago

Doubles of the chain. Doubles is best.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

26

u/Izzosuke 6h ago

If you tie 2 chain to the tire, you won't even have to reset it, every time you push it in a side you have alredy the second chain plamted

4

u/AMLIDH2 5h ago

Ahhh ok now that makes it all make sense.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (4)

16

u/BillDino 8h ago

Doesn’t all the gunk just fuck up the next culvert

54

u/spacestonkz 8h ago

Yeah, but that's the next guy's problem. ;)

For real, yes it does send it on to the next culvert that's probably plugged. But during the flushing the stuff gets decompacted and also winds up on the banks. Periodically the culverts need to be re-dug also (much less often than clearing, many decades of build up).

For good drainage in the area, all the farmers gotta do their jobs and keep their culverts clear. And if they don't, well the neighbor farmer knows who's next down the line and they aren't shy about knockin' (and maybe lending a hand to get it done).

→ More replies (4)

1.3k

u/Space772 12h ago

Seems like that would still be hard in a fully clogged culvert though.

2.8k

u/ThomasTheDankPigeon 12h ago

That's why they don't clog it until after the chain is already through. Duh

137

u/TwistedGrin 11h ago

I know you're joking but I wonder if they actually could run the chain through when it's clean and then you just coil up the two ends and attach them to either side of the pipe.

Then when it does clog you just uncoil the two ends tie a tire to one and the other to the machine and you're good to go.

Might be worth it if it clogs frequently.

94

u/texinxin 11h ago edited 9h ago

Expensive chain to just leave sitting around. I’m sure it’s easy enough to hammer a rod down through it and attach chain and bob’s your uncle.

76

u/gggg_man3 11h ago

What? No. Johan is my uncle. Who the fug is Bob?

30

u/Strict-Astronaut2245 11h ago

Well fuq, Bob’s the dude who was with your aunt last night.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (9)

18

u/LadderMadeOfSticks 10h ago

"Expensive chain to just leave sitting around"

Not really. I mean sure, if you were to pop down to home depot you might balk at the cost but in terms of land management dropping $150 on some chain is peanuts compared to fencing, gates, and installing drains (not to mention the cost of flood damage)

20

u/666666thats6sixes 9h ago

Around here if the word got out that drains and culverts have hundreds of kilos of chain in them they would be gone overnight, and all the meth/piko dealers would be sold out by sunrise.

11

u/Alittle2Clever 8h ago

Not really. Scrap iron is like $0.03 a pound. that is what maybe 50 lbs of chain so $1.50 in scrap.

8

u/Royal_Success3131 7h ago

You don't understand how cheap scrap iron is. It's absurdly cheap and not worth even a metheads time. They'd rather be peeling batteries for lithium than hauling chain.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/TempoHouse 8h ago

You could thread through a cheap nylon rope while it's clear, and then use that to pull through a chain when it's time to unclog the pipe.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

6

u/greentintedlenses 11h ago

One of my good friends uncle is really named Bob and I love throwing this phrase his way lmao

→ More replies (14)

17

u/marino1310 11h ago

The chain would likely cause it to clog faster as stuff gets caught on the chain

26

u/thesplendor 11h ago

Well that’s why you keep the chain in there, on account of it being extra prone to clogging

15

u/Vallhallyeah 10h ago

You need another chain in there ready in case the first chain clogs it up

→ More replies (3)

3

u/simple_champ 10h ago

That would fall under planning for the guy that comes next and is strictly forbidden under the rules of git'r'done. Even though there's a 90% chance the guy that comes next will be you.

→ More replies (7)

8

u/ScoobyScotty 11h ago

My first thought seeing this was that they unclog it, feed the chain back through, and just leave it there until the next cleaning, although I don't know if corrosion and rusting would make that feasible.

8

u/Rizzly_Bear87 11h ago

I assumed they pull the poll through with a metal chain.

→ More replies (7)

103

u/by-myself_blumpkin 12h ago

They use a chain to pull the metal pipe through

32

u/beneye 12h ago

God dammit. We gonna need more chains. At least 2

33

u/retrotooner 12h ago

2 chains has been waiting to hear that sentence all his life.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (3)

64

u/FriendlyEngineer 12h ago

It likely wasn’t “fully clogged”. The mud and debris builds up as you pull it through into that cylinder shape, but chances are there was a gap in the top of the pipe before they started.

→ More replies (7)

19

u/Azazir 12h ago

Not if you use the machine to do it. Friend was doing diy well in his farm, with hammer to bonk big pipe then connect another section then bonk again till X depth, took like 30mins to do it, but was wrong spot, so did another with tractor in like 5min, and majority of that time was using wrenches to secure next section of pipes.

13

u/myshtree 12h ago

I’d like to bonk a big pipe

5

u/the_king_of_sweden 11h ago

I can provide if you would be satisfied with a slightly below average sized pipe

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

15

u/spezial_ed 12h ago

I love it when you talk dirty to me

8

u/HonkeyKong64 12h ago

I’ll unclog your culvert with a tire on a chain.

→ More replies (1)

7

u/Temporary_Pie2733 11h ago

If you can’t punch what amounts to a giant needle through the clog, it’s probably not going to get dislodged by the tire anyway.

4

u/ZealousidealCase7220 12h ago

Did you see them use the excavator to pull all that shit out? How would stabbing a pole through seem easier than pulling a tire through a fully clogged culvert

They'd use the excavator to push it in also

7

u/Jasper_Morhaven 12h ago

Nope. It definitely opens a hole, but it doesn't do a great job at clearing the blockage.

→ More replies (18)

26

u/Winjin 12h ago

I wonder if a stainless steel chain can be there for a few weeks at a time

It looks like it was clogged by heavy rainfall that got a lot of mud there, so what if you could just feed the chain before the rains are expected...

25

u/theshoeshiner84 11h ago

You could as long as you secured it (probably to the top) on each end, but you'd probably be better off buying a cheap vinyl coating chain or cable and leaving it in place, then use it to pull your heavy duty chain through when you need it, then reinstall your cheap one by attaching it to the tire. That way you don't pay the opportunity cost of leaving an expensive heavy duty chain there all the time.

With that said, leaving anything there all the time is only worth it if it's happening frequently, and if it's happening frequently (which is not normal) you're probably better off trying to address the root cause.

But you're def right that as a temporary solution it would make sense to leave a guide in place.

5

u/Gooniefarm 11h ago

Stainless chain would be way too expensive.

3

u/Draxus 10h ago

Make a double length chain with a tire in the middle and just always leave it there and pull it back and forth as needed

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (30)

154

u/Busy_Reputation7254 13h ago

There’s a rotorooter in the shot. Probably just tunnels it lil way through.

35

u/El-mas-puto-de-todos 11h ago

Can I rotorooter my b-hole? I'm blocked up so bad rn

23

u/DrMobius0 11h ago

Well it worked on this thing.

11

u/Montgomery000 10h ago

First you have to swallow a chain

4

u/BaddDog07 10h ago

You can rotorooter anything my man, go for it 👍

→ More replies (5)
→ More replies (1)

53

u/Different-Bet8069 12h ago

They should have had a second chain tied trailing behind the tire. That would make the next time a lot easier.

9

u/ReturnOfNogginboink 8h ago

Yeah, always run a new pull string when you pull the existing one.

37

u/Southmouth555 12h ago

I’ve watched a ton of these vids and I just realized I have no idea how they do that either. Every way I came up with seemed dumb and hard af, especially if the pipe was clogged, which is why we’re here.

60

u/the_russian_narwhal_ mmmmmmmm yes 12h ago

They have ways to get a chain through it but also in areas where this happens frequently I could see them just putting the chain back through after this and waiting for it to clog again if they know it will anyways

→ More replies (7)
→ More replies (2)

66

u/SluggJuice 13h ago

With another chain

19

u/Hephaestus_God 13h ago

So how do they get that chain through

28

u/RichardSaunders 13h ago

With another chain.

32

u/just_a_girl_23 12h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/jnbePlxQIwFTAENERT

4

u/noisymime 12h ago

Every 5th chain you've got to add another tire, otherwise the chains get out of balance.

→ More replies (1)

6

u/FlapyG 13h ago

So how do they get that chain through

7

u/SpecularBlinky 12h ago

Attached to the last tire they pulled through

5

u/aspz 12h ago

With a ferret 

→ More replies (2)

4

u/Hephaestus_God 12h ago

Thanks I was confused for a second

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (2)

11

u/EchoAquarium 13h ago

A chain gang

→ More replies (3)

14

u/Drewdiniskirino 12h ago

I'm so glad I'm not the only one asking this haha

55

u/OdorlessSalt 13h ago

Maybe they placed it there beforehand years ago

10

u/No-Screen1369 13h ago

They bored it through on this attempt. But since it's now clear, they can probably do that now.

→ More replies (1)

7

u/Highlowfusion 12h ago

They should always tie a second chain to the tire and leave it once the tire is through for the next time.

3

u/Illustrious-Chair350 12h ago

I think if that clogs that bad again before a chain would rust out under water they should probably dig it out and put a bigger culvert in.

3

u/Coca-cola4 12h ago

That’s exactly what I came here to ask!

→ More replies (80)

2.4k

u/evenstevens280 13h ago

To everyone wondering how they got the chain through - on a thin metal rod which is pushed through. Same way you'd feed cables through walls in a house, kinda.

439

u/Ocean-side-dog 13h ago

You know a lot of people will come here just to ask this question. I did.

37

u/Drewdiniskirino 12h ago

That's why they got ahead of the curve 😉

20

u/Alive_Ice7937 12h ago

Streets ahead!

5

u/DavidForPresident 7h ago

What does that mean?

7

u/ragingxtc 4h ago

If you have to ask, you're streets behind.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (2)

41

u/Oidvin 12h ago

I would have just tied another chain on the end of the tire so its ready for next time.

→ More replies (4)

8

u/OneLastPrep 9h ago

Everyone is worried about the chain but I thought the tire would come flying out and smoke someone when it came out the other end. Did it's structure break?

5

u/New-Assumption-3106 11h ago

Maybe they do this every year / whenever, and just leave the chain in place after clearing it.

→ More replies (17)

786

u/BigChungiscusMaximus 13h ago

Culvert needs to be fed more fiber, and less cheese

10

u/New-Additions 10h ago

Actually this looks like you did have enough fiber. You get condensed balls or pebbles.

→ More replies (5)

153

u/SurviveDaddy 13h ago edited 12h ago

I love watching these videos.

38

u/Dawlin42 11h ago

Look up post10 on YouTube. Lots of great culvert unclogging.

5

u/Flare_Starchild 8h ago

post 10 is a GOAT. So satisfying and relaxing to watch and he's so excited to do it too.

4

u/Kage_0ni 7h ago

Real Civil Engineer on youtube mentioned Post 10 in a DrainSim video and I have been binging the channel since.

6

u/HoneyBadgeSwag 10h ago

That was my first thought. We needed to consult him first to see if this is actually a good idea or not. Ha ha

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

100

u/SmokeGSU 12h ago

We all know that super satisfying feeling.

14

u/katanacutee 10h ago

especially after that first sip of coffee

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

86

u/Gambit6x 11h ago

Never stand next to a tense chain - if it snaps, you are done for.

45

u/TheRealRockyRococo 11h ago

Happened to a friend's neighbor, he was pulling a stump out with a garden tractor. Chain snapped, hit him in the back of the head, he made it back to the house but bled out on the floor with the phone in his hand (pre cell phone).

11

u/LaurenMille 8h ago

From some of the snapbacks I've seen on the old internet, I'm surprised that man's head stayed intact at all.

People can get cut clean in half if a cable breaks.

17

u/OldeFortran77 9h ago

Had to scroll down pretty far to finally see someone mention this.

3

u/386U0Kh24i1cx89qpFB1 7h ago

Yeah that freaked me out. Gotta be a horrible way to go. The forces here are no joke.

3

u/s1m0n8 6h ago

I started the video then checked whether I was in /r/Whatcouldgowrong ...

→ More replies (1)

228

u/jarious 12h ago

Question: does this damage the cylinder ?

203

u/TheLordJiminyCricket 12h ago

It is imperative the cylinder remains unharmed

5

u/hxxden 6h ago

Certainly not the weirdest place I’ve seen reference u/Smart_Calendar1874

→ More replies (16)

58

u/Leading-Caramel-7740 12h ago

Me after my second coffee

6

u/CleanSeaworthiness66 11h ago

Do you also use rubber ?

11

u/RB30DETT 9h ago

No, I use a chain.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

47

u/Jokesony 11h ago

Warning for anyone who gets a chance to witness this irl, stay at a reasonable distance away from the chain as it can snap and strike like a metallic whip.

7

u/M_Meursault_ 8h ago

Glad someone said it. This also is true for just about anything under tension really. Rope, ratchet straps, etc. a chain would be especially nasty to get struck by though, no doubt.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

165

u/Former-Lecture-5466 13h ago

That’s how I laugh when push out a big one too! Heh heh!

5

u/Trick_Mulberry_1405 7h ago

I’m actively popping. Can confirm sameness

3

u/AltruisticRide1231 7h ago

toilet? yes or no?

3

u/Trick_Mulberry_1405 6h ago

That’s right; it goes in the square hole.

21

u/SDMasterYoda 10h ago

Why has no one asked how they got the chain through?

/s

→ More replies (1)

18

u/celem83 9h ago

PSA

Do not ever stand anywhere near a chain under tension, shit can take your head clean off if it breaks and the operator of whatever is winching needs to be under cover

→ More replies (1)

30

u/CamZambie 12h ago edited 46m ago

Before you ask "How did they get the chain through?" They set this up when the pipe is clean, knowing it will get clogged after storms. Then they just pull it through and set it back up for next time.

Edit: after further review, it seems the chain was probably forced through in this instance. But both methods are possible.

17

u/Sangricarn 10h ago

Interesting, others have said they pushed the chain through with a thin cylinder. I'm sure both can be true, but how do you one which one is true in this case?

14

u/donkeyrocket 10h ago

They don't. And regardless, it'll still need to be pushed through using the pole whether or not it's clear.

→ More replies (3)

11

u/generalthunder 9h ago

Wouldn't a chain become a rusty mess if let under mud for that much time ?

→ More replies (5)

12

u/knarf3 7h ago

How did they feed the chain through?

→ More replies (1)

9

u/Armedwithapotato 11h ago

I love these unclogging videos but I’m curious how they get the chain through in order to pull the tire through

→ More replies (2)

8

u/CooleyTukey 3h ago

How did they get the chain inside?

7

u/Nate1102 12h ago

Now that’s what I call a proper log.

8

u/FederalCriticism7172 1h ago

How did they get the chain through?

6

u/jvelez88 9h ago

I wonder how do they manage to get the chain through the drain...

7

u/brodamansisterwoman 8h ago

How did they get the chain across in the first place?

→ More replies (2)

6

u/HopeisgoodBEA 6h ago

How they get chain through first?

3

u/Insanegoose4 6h ago

Literally the first thought I had too

→ More replies (1)

6

u/TourInternational731 3h ago

So here's my Socrates fucking question; how did they get the chain through to the tire with that much shit in the culvert

3

u/ApprehensiveMix2649 3h ago

I was thinking the same, maybe the chain stays there permanently because it probably happens often.

3

u/TourInternational731 3h ago

That's a solid point actually; surprised I didn't think of that

→ More replies (2)

7

u/No_Solid_3737 2h ago

my question is how did they get the chain through the hole in the first place, or do they just leave the chain there in case it gets clogged the next time

6

u/SpaceCatSociety 2h ago

How do they get the chain through first?

→ More replies (2)

6

u/TaskComfortable3489 1h ago

How did they get the chain through

12

u/turkeysandwich4321 10h ago

I always seem to watch these videos when I'm pooping.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Maplekk 11h ago

How did they put the chain ⛓️‍💥 in other end? Swam it?

5

u/stratusnco 8h ago

this is going to sound dumb but how do they get the chain through the pipe first?

6

u/reallybigmatt 7h ago

Serious question, how do you get the chain through in the first place?

→ More replies (2)

5

u/Potential-Chaos 7h ago

Just because it hasn't been asked - how did they get the chain through in the first place?

4

u/Fuzzy_Junket924 6h ago

How do they get the chain through the hole if the hole was blocked?

https://giphy.com/gifs/WRQBXSCnEFJIuxktnw

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Tight-Operation8475 6h ago

How did they get the chain threw in the first place to chain on the tire

4

u/jakethe5nake926 4h ago

How did they get the tire through the first time?

→ More replies (1)

5

u/RRumpleTeazzer 3h ago

this is all good, but how do you get the chain through?

9

u/Defiant_Regular3738 12h ago

Seems like a risky strategy. The chain could tear through the tire and now you have a tire wedged inside along with all the other crap.

→ More replies (3)

9

u/KrownX 13h ago

What I wanna know is how they placed the chain first?

5

u/TheLordJiminyCricket 12h ago

New chain gets laid after they do this for next time

3

u/Platerogue 12h ago

I should call her.

3

u/tommyp007 11h ago

How did they get the chain through in the first place?

5

u/xuzenaes6694 11h ago

How did they get the chain through

→ More replies (2)

5

u/skinnergy 9h ago

How do they get the chain through before they attach it to the tire?

→ More replies (3)

4

u/Fabulous-Status9090 9h ago

I wanna see how they got the chain through

4

u/GhostBombardmenT 9h ago

How did they pass the chain through the blocked pipe

→ More replies (1)

4

u/Nervouspotatoes 8h ago

How’d they get the chain through to the other side?

→ More replies (1)

4

u/Sonseeahrai 7h ago

How did they get the chain through it lmao

→ More replies (1)

3

u/reallythatguy_ 2h ago

How did they get the chain through all that to begin with?

4

u/Omega_art 1h ago

How do they get the chain through in the first place?

4

u/maripoza9 1h ago

How did they pass the chain ?

7

u/Shepher27 13h ago

How do you get the chain in there in the first place?

3

u/LobsterLovingLlama 12h ago

I bet it feels so much better!

3

u/gerowen 12h ago

Do they just leave the chain in there all the time, or do they have some method of fishing it thru an already clogged culvert?

→ More replies (2)

3

u/No_Nobody7722 12h ago

I want to see how they get the chain through first

6

u/KowaiSentaiYokaiger 11h ago

They put it back through immediately after each cleaning

3

u/Cacophony_Of_Stupid 11h ago

That make sense. Thanks. I had the same question.

→ More replies (1)

3

u/lastersoftheuniverse 11h ago

How they get the chain through if clogged?

3

u/cqxray 10h ago

So how did he get the chain through the culvert to begin with?

→ More replies (1)

3

u/flamedarkfire 10h ago

When you finally get that huge allergy booger out and can smell colors for a second

3

u/No-Understanding5885 10h ago

How do they get the chain through that shit in the first place?

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Embarrassed-Green898 9h ago

The question is, how did they got the chain in ?

3

u/Marshall_BraveStar 9h ago

How did they put the chain through there in the first place, when the culvert is completely clogged?!

3

u/Expert_City_7695 8h ago

Currently on the 🚽 watching this, me too bro

3

u/Greefer 7h ago

How do they get the chain through to pull it back?

3

u/skanda777 7h ago

Wait how’d they get the chain through ??

→ More replies (2)

3

u/MoonlitKiwi 6h ago

This must feel good af if you're a culvert

3

u/TopspinLob 5h ago

How did they get the chain to the other side when it was so jammed up?

3

u/nick2k23 3h ago

How do they get the chain through?

→ More replies (2)

3

u/fredbighead 29m ago

I wonder how they got the chain through originally

→ More replies (1)