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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour?

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Markuss

02-08-2006 17:59:37




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ANyone ever use a ditchwitch - the larger ride one/sit down type - to install field drain tile?

I have 4,000 feet to install and wonder what kind of feet per hour you can dig...would be going about 32 inches deep in clay soil with minimal or no rocks.
Any idea of the rate of digging - rental place wont give me any idea.




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Markuss

02-10-2006 08:32:36




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 Would this work? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
Another piece of information, the parcel I am trying to tile is a side of a small hile and is on a downhill slop...so I would trecnch with the contour and always have slope as I would wrap around the contour and head slightly downhill at the same time. With this how important is being level if I make sure I have slope to it at all times?
I think to get a Professional ditcher with a tile plow or a wheel machine to come and do 4,000 feet would be too expensive and maybe no one would be interested?

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Leland

02-09-2006 22:11:31




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
It better have a laser depth control or you will be wasting your time as the boss found out trying to do it with a normal witch .



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Dave NE IA

02-09-2006 18:10:00




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
We hire it done mostly for cement footings, some operators are refused if they only consider per foot rates. In our heavy clay soil they tend to loosen the ground near the trench because their ground speed exceeds the trenchers ability to keep up---thus it tears the ground rather than cut it, the same is done with some backhoe operators that do not understand a bucket full means full and tearing the soil causes unneceary caveins. Few farmers in our area allow the ditch witch if the ground is not almost on a perfect plain. If the machine goes over a terrace the boom is hard to keep on a drain plain. Some of the soil will settle in low spots and restrict the flow. Most use laser tilling machines or backhoes to put it in correct the first time. Dave NE IA

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Tim...Ok

02-09-2006 10:18:13




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
I rented one once,dug about 200 ft in an hour,about 30 inches deep..this was a walk behind 20hp with front stinger,self propelled..would do it again in a heartbeat if i needed one..easy and fast for what I needed..

Tim



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Turk

02-09-2006 05:39:25




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
Lots of variables. If most of it is in a straight line you want a big machine. An operator would be handy too, they take a couple hours to master. The width of the ditch is the main thing speed-wise. In heavy NE clay at 42 in. deep my 50hp 4010 DW will run 12 to 14 ft. per minute digging 6 1/2 inches wide. Digging 50 in. deep and 12 in. wide it is more like 6ft. per minute. And be VERY CAREFUL, you will only trip and fall on that chain once. BillWhen someone calls for an estimate and tells me they are thinking about renting one, I always encourage them to go ahead and rent one to do it themselves, because they will usually never do it again.

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Merle Hoppenworth

02-09-2006 05:12:01




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
Used to sell them. Most people won"t tell you what the production per ft. is because the size of them vary alot, digging conditions vary by state and also with in a state. Iv"s seen conditions change within the same farm. If you have 4000" to do get 60-70 HP machine or larger.



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dlksw4

02-09-2006 05:07:13




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
Markuss, I owned a ditch witch for a short time and all I can say agonizingly slow, in heavy clay soil, digging 36" the best I could do: 20 ft an hour. Positive side, very neat job. Dave



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Farmered

02-08-2006 23:45:08




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
I don't know why you think anyone could tell you how many feet per hour you could dig. My Best estiment is to go get one and try it. I rented one for a half day and had about ten feet dug after getting it stuck in boulders several times. I took it back and got a backhoe. Ed



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Big M

02-08-2006 19:44:26




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 Re: Large Ditchwitch...feet per hour? in reply to Markuss, 02-08-2006 17:59:37  
I have a Ditchwitch J-20 with a 6" wide x 48" stinger and I figure about 200 feet per hour. A 36" stinger will dig faster at 32" than a 48" will. Pulls dirt up easier than dragging it foreward and then up.



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