Ok maybe it wont be the next hit show on the Discovery channel, but I thought I'd share it anyway.

I've got an old Keene triple sluice dredge and haven't hardly had a chance to go dig much at all this year. Well today me and my dredging buddy had a go at it. Here's some pics...

The first pic is the wagon ready to be unloaded at the claim. When its all put together most people don't believe that all fits in (and on) the wagon, but with my tetris like precision, it sure does.

The second pic is a scenic view of the claim. It's on Clear Creek, a bit west of Golden Colorado. A local prospecting store owner has leased this claim and opened it up to the public. The gold isn't great, but better than having no claim at all.

Third pic is the dredge frame assembled before being carried down to the water. It's 7ft from stem to stern. Even with all of the gear on board you can still hop on it without risking capsizing.

The fourth pic is the frame with the sluice box on back and the engine mounted up front. You can see a bit of white smoke from the engine, its running in the picture. The engine is a single cylinder 10hp diesel and is one heavy beast, 106lbs dry without ancillaries. It has no glow and is only a pull start so once the engine is bolted to the frame we fire it off for a few minutes. That way there is residual heat in the motor making it easier to start once the pump and compressor are mounted up.


More to come....

Attached Thumbnails

       

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff