Trenchers?

[BAGTIC]

Question about the trenchers, both chain and wheel. Do they have to be used in reverse or can they be used going forward? Because of my neck arthritis I have a lot of problem working in reverse. The main reason I bought a PT was because I could keep most of the work in front of me.

I would like to lay a lot of irrigation pipe in the orchard and pastures. Leaving them on top of the ground results in too much damage from the tractor, cows, and mowers.

If the bucket trenchers are only supposed to last about a mile does anyone have any idea how long the big wheel trencher would last. If they only last a mile I will just hire someone to cut trenchs for me as I'm looking at, at least two miles.

[pajoube]

I have the trencher with the 6 inch larger blades. I have dug more trenches than I care to remember these past three years and so far everything is working just fine.
I would assume those that trench in rocky soil will cut the life of the machine much shorter than those that trench in just good old dirt or clay. Most of my trenches that I cut have been in dirt and clay.
PJ

[MossRoad]

Have you thought about getting a very wide rear view mirror and mounting it under the canopy so that you can flip it up when not in use and down for driving backwards?

[BobRip]

Originally Posted by MossRoad

Have you thought about getting a very wide rear view mirror and mounting it under the canopy so that you can flip it up when not in use and down for driving backwards?

Moss, I had done just that. I have an automotive mirror hanging in the middle of the front of the canopy. What I have found that works is to set up a stake in the ground about 4 feet high and guide on that through the mirror. My neck is also getting old .

I

[BobRip]

Originally Posted by MossRoad

Have you thought about getting a very wide rear view mirror and mounting it under the canopy so that you can flip it up when not in use and down for driving backwards?

Moss, I had done just that. I have an automotive mirror hanging in the middle of the front of the canopy. What I have found that works is to set up a stake in the ground about 4 feet high and guide on that through the mirror. My neck is also getting old .

I was told of the mile limit. I think the main point is the trencher is like a chain saw, it takes a fair amount of maintenace. You can bolt on new teeth periodically, which I have not done yet. I would estimate that I have about 2000 feet on my trencher (very rough guess as I dug a pond with it once) My biggest problem is getting something like a strap or vine caught in the shaft seal and then having to replace that seal.

[J_J]

Bagtic, I have used a wheel trencher for 15 yrs, installing irrigation systems. I also have the PT stump grinder/trencher, and the chain drive trenchers that I have used also. Some trenchers dig when going forward and others only dig going backward. If you have a wheel trencher, you might be able to simply turn the blade around, so that it digs as you go forward. I also have the hydraulic vibrator kind that you hook up to the pipe and set the pipe as you dig. If you have the newer stump cutter, I believe that you can reverse the blade, and trench fairly well with it. I have done landscape and irrigation for about 15 yrs. I have installed an irrigation system for a grape orchard with automatic controller's several years ago.

[Barryh]

Originally Posted by J_J

Bagtic, I have used a wheel trencher for 15 yrs, installing irrigation systems. I also have the PT stump grinder/trencher, and the chain drive trenchers that I have used also. Some trenchers dig when going forward and others only dig going backward. If you have a wheel trencher, you might be able to simply turn the blade around, so that it digs as you go forward. I also have the hydraulic vibrator kind that you hook up to the pipe and set the pipe as you dig. If you have the newer stump cutter, I believe that you can reverse the blade, and trench fairly well with it. I have done landscape and irrigation for about 15 yrs. I have installed an irrigation system for a grape orchard with automatic controller's several years ago.

This topic is of great interest to me. A question for anyone that cares to answer, not to take away from the trencher specific topic, do you feel the stump cutter would be heavy duty enough to hold up well as trencher??

The price is more affordable. I've been thinking of buying this for my 180 as a landscaping tool for use as a tree stump cutter and as a trencher. Bob's comments about carving out his pond come to mind.

[JD-Beach]

The vast majority of landscape folks around here use a vibratory plow to install underground piping. It goes in fast, in one step, without tearing up the surface a great deal. The only digging that is needed is a foot or so at the pipe intersections and at the sprinkler heads. With the weather conditions here the pipe does not need to be too deep. Toro - Professional Contractor Compact Utility Attachments

[J_J]

Originally Posted by Barryh

This topic is of great interest to me. A question for anyone that cares to answer, not to take away from the trencher specific topic, do you feel the stump cutter would be heavy duty enough to hold up well as trencher??

The price is more affordable. I've been thinking of buying this for my 180 as a landscaping tool for use as a tree stump cutter and as a trencher. Bob's comments about carving out his pond come to mind.

I think Bob carved out his pond with a chain trencher, if I remember right. However, either one will chew up the ground or loosen the soil.

Yes, the stump cutter will work very well as a shallow trencher. You should be able to trench about 8 in deep. The wheeled trenchers will trench to about 12 in. Of course, if it is used in rocky soil, you can expect the teeth to wear more. You could make your self a nice trencher, by using a similar hyd motor, a hub to fit the shaft, a 30 in diameter disk, just drill the disk for the bolt on stump cutter teeth or trencher teeth. Put this together, with a quick attach plate, and you have a trencher.

[J_J]

Originally Posted by JD-Beach

The vast majority of landscape folks around here use a vibratory plow to install underground piping. It goes in fast, in one step, without tearing up the surface a great deal. The only digging that is needed is a foot or so at the pipe intersections and at the sprinkler heads. With the weather conditions here the pipe does not need to be too deep. Toro - Professional Contractor Compact Utility Attachments

Those vibratory plows are not cheap, around $1500 just for the shaker. I have one of the Davis vibrating units, and it does a good job. You can also lay wire with it.