O/T 1230 ditch witch depth setting

[Joe T (CO)]

I rented a 1230 ditch witch tonight to extend my current hydrant out to the barn.

The rental guy said it would dig 36" and I am only getting 27" after cleaning out the loose dirt in the trench. Is there a way to adjust these things? Rental place is closed tomorrow so I take it back monday.

It has a hydraulic up/down knob that stops short of the 36" depth. I looked at the online manual and it does not show any adjustments but does state it wil dig to 36". I am thinking it is a limit stop that is keeping it from going past 27"

We have a 30" frost line and my current buried line is at 33. Looks like I am going to be doing allot of hand digging for my $190 rental.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Joe

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 01:04:27 08/02/08) I rented a 1230 ditch witch tonight to extend my current hydrant out to the barn.

The rental guy said it would dig 36" and I am only getting 27" after cleaning out the loose dirt in the trench. Is there a way to adjust these things? Rental place is closed tomorrow so I take it back monday.

It has a hydraulic up/down knob that stops short of the 36" depth. I looked at the online manual and it does not show any adjustments but does state it wil dig to 36". I am thinking it is a limit stop that is keeping it from going past 27"

We have a 30" frost line and my current buried line is at 33. Looks like I am going to be doing allot of hand digging for my $190 rental.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Joe

Here is the manual:

http://www.ditchwitch.com/pdf/manuals/Ditch_Witch_1030-1230_Manual.pdf

Color-coded controls are within easy reach of the operator.
These compact units fit through most standard yard gates, and
the machines are balanced for easy jobsite maneuvering. [color=red:56f2f42aec]A
choice of a 24”, 30”, or 36” (610-, 760-, or 915-mm) digging
boom,[/color:56f2f42aec] along with several chain options, make these machines
flexible enough for most soil conditions. The axle lock feature
aids smooth, easy turns and straight trenching.

 

[Joe T (CO)]

(quoted from post at 05:32:30 08/02/08)

(quoted from post at 01:04:27 08/02/08) I rented a 1230 ditch witch tonight to extend my current hydrant out to the barn.

The rental guy said it would dig 36" and I am only getting 27" after cleaning out the loose dirt in the trench. Is there a way to adjust these things? Rental place is closed tomorrow so I take it back monday.

It has a hydraulic up/down knob that stops short of the 36" depth. I looked at the online manual and it does not show any adjustments but does state it wil dig to 36". I am thinking it is a limit stop that is keeping it from going past 27"

We have a 30" frost line and my current buried line is at 33. Looks like I am going to be doing allot of hand digging for my $190 rental.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Joe

Here is the manual:

http://www.ditchwitch.com/pdf/manuals/Ditch_Witch_1030-1230_Manual.pdf

Color-coded controls are within easy reach of the operator.
These compact units fit through most standard yard gates, and
the machines are balanced for easy jobsite maneuvering. [color=red:1de91203de]A
choice of a 24”, 30”, or 36” (610-, 760-, or 915-mm) digging
boom,[/color:1de91203de] along with several chain options, make these machines
flexible enough for most soil conditions. The axle lock feature
aids smooth, easy turns and straight trenching.

Thaks Dunk, that is the manual I was refereing too. It only tells you how to raise/lower the boom but not how to get the full travel out of it if the handle limits the travel. If that makes sense.

Having some coffee now, getting ready to go take a look-see at this contraption.

Joe

 

[Dunk]

You may find out that it doesn't have the 36" boom on it, Joe.

Then I would be thinking that it was the rental places screw up.

 

[Sean (TX)]

Sounds like you need a bigger trencher.

 

[Sean (TX)]

Well Joe? How did it go?

 

[Joe T (CO)]

I had to use the "tinless man" to scrape down about 3 inches.

That go-kart gas tank sure came in handy. I may never put the tin back on :wink:

I have been reading on the internet that styrofoam blue board can be used to help insulate. They claim 1" is equivelant to one foot of dirt.

I am pretty worn out from digging some of it by hand. Hopefully next year it will all have grass on it like the pasture grass in the picture. I will have to keep the hay burners off that part for a year after the grass sprouts.

I will do some whinig at the rental center tomorrow since they told me it would do 36" (BS)...

Joe

 

[Sean (TX)]

Works for me. I had no idea that you were trenching that far..

 

[Joe T (CO)]

80' of it was for the water line to the barn.

The oppisite direction I went 12" deep for 90' to run a sprinkler line while I was at is.

I also ran a trench across my driveway (recycled asphalt) so I could drain water from the north pasture to the south when they run the ditch water too high. I pumped 750,000 (yes thousand) gallons of water off my pasture last year. That is why I have so much green in the picture. It creates a lake 16" deep and 40' across. It keeps filling when they run the water so I have to pump it.

Water out here is $40,000 a share and they waste it like it was free. That is good for me though

 

[Dan in CO]

Joe:

Great looking place, you must be north or east of Denver, looks like you have had some rain. We have had NONE in Castle Rock!!

 

[Joe T (CO)]

(quoted from post at 19:53:18 08/03/08) Joe:

Great looking place, you must be north or east of Denver, looks like you have had some rain. We have had NONE in Castle Rock!!

Thanks Dan, actually just south east of Wellington a few miles.

Not much rain, just allot of ditch water overflow. I did use $100 worth of domestic water last month on my lawn and trees right before the ditch water started flowing :lol:

 

[Joe T (CO)]

Dunk, it was a non-standard bar length like you had posted in RED. They gave me all of my money back. I was sure thrilled to know there is still honest folks in the world. I will rent from them again.