Cable trencher/puller

[LD1]

think I am gonna make one to install cabling and invisible dog fence. Plan to start this evening and will post pictures, but I have this idea in my head and though I would ask opinions and thoughts if there is anything to improve. Cant really draw out what I want very well so I will describe and hope you get the visual.

Basically picture a subsoiler with the bottom removed. Just the cross/3ph mount. Now on the bottom, I will weld a 4" x 6" or so plate with the front angled up. Kinda like a snow plow skid shoe. This will control the depth.

Now off the bottom of that, at a 45" angle as looking from the back of the tractor, I will weld a wedge made of 2 1/4" plates. And will be approx 1" wide at the back. On the sharp "business" end, it will be angled as well to dig in. So picture a subsoiler, but where it makes the bend or hook forward, lay that over on a 45* angle.

On the back, I will run pipe down the backbone , follow the wedge/knife, and then 90* backwards into the trench. And will mount a spool of wire up top somewhere.

The idea of laying the business end over to 45* angle is to kinda slice under the sod and lay the wire in place, instead of a vertical trench where it would be more likely for the wire to not stay in the bottom.

Thoughts?

 

[ishiboo]

I think a regular sub-soiled would work fine. You don't need anything on the bottom if you add weight, the shank itself is wide enough for the wire to get in. Without weight, the "foot" will be needed to pull it down into the soil.

Before you spend money on materials/etc., consider how close to the surface invisible fence wire can be installed, how small it is, and how fast it is to do with a small edger/trencher combo that will leave the soil nearly undisturbed by the tractor/sub-soiler/etc.

 

[LD1]

I dont have a regular subsoiler other than the ripper shank I made years ago for ripping out roots. I dont want to rely on weight alone to hold the depth of 4-6" or so. Which is how deep I plan to go. I tend to be hard on the yard driving the tractor or BH on it when too soft. I dont want to catch the wire in the future using the tiller, blade, disc, etc fixing my rough yard. So the plan is somewhere 4-6" depth.

And I am gonna be burying ~2500' or more. At my old house I used the ripper then laid the wire in by hand. It was an all day job to do ~1500'. And dont even own an edger. This project will be built with material I already have on the rack. Just a little time to fab it up.

 

[kennyd]

Here is a good read, including some pics of a simple one I made: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/166757-cable-plow.html?highlight=trencher

You can use the Google search to find some more with the term "cable plow"

 

[LD1]

Nice attachment kenny. If I was going deeper or pulling heavy wire that would be the ticket. But my concern is right wire only a few inches down not wanting to stay in the trench. Thus the angle.

Here is the progress. Still gotta do the tl and hitch pins as well as spool holder.

 

[LD1]

Finished. Might get a chance to try it Thursday or Friday

 

[kennyd]

Wow, great job LD :thumbsup:

 

[LD1]

Wow, great job LD :thumbsup:

Thanks.

Those that read this thread prior to me posting pictures, does it match the image you had in your head after reading just the description?

Only thing I would have liked to have done different is to make the cutting part all one piece. But I didnt have a piece that large or thick enough. So its comprised of several pieces. The edge piece is 1/4" sharpened. Attached to that are two pieces of 1/2" x 4" flat bar, that are touching in the front (where the "knife" is welded) and about 1/2" gap in back to form the wedge to clear the tube. The a short little gusset of 1/2" between it and the bend in the pipe.

I dont forsee having any issues. Only concern would be a tree root, where a vertical one I could lift the 3PH and lice through, cant do that a well with the angled cutter. But I am hoping it will help the wire stay in place better. In my head I picture it working like a moldboard plow. Slicing the sod, and placing the wire under there, but instead of turning the sod, the sod will just settle back into place ontop of the wire.

 

[kennyd]

I can only relate my experience with the one I built and used for a few quick projects, but I'd expect yours to work just as you anticipate LD.

I think it will do just as you said, and a quick drive over will make the small trench all but disappear. I would suggest a "dry run" over your route though, that way any roots, rocks or other obstructions can the cleared before you start actually laying wire.

 

[LD1]

Only area with trees to worry about are right at the starting and stopping point. Everything else is wide open. Hope to try tomorrow and I'll be sure to take some pictures and let everyone know how it works

 

[parvodog]

I used a commercial unit a long time ago to do some stuff at my place.
The only thing I can see that might cause the throwing of things and cussing, is the top of your wire guide.
If there is much tension on your spool while the wire is pulling from the side, it can catch the edge of the tube and strip insulation or break the wire.

Maybe some sort of funnel?

It looks great!
Tim

 

[merlynr]

Wondering if that angle will affect anything when making a turn?

 

[s219]

Looks good! I agree with the idea of a dry run, no wire, to make sure it slices into the ground and stays put like you envision. Seems like it should work pretty well to me. Tim's suggestion for some sort of guide or bushing or funnel on the inlet pipe edge is a good idea too -- funnel sounds perfect.

 

[ericb2400]

Did you check the fence charger to make sure it would work through 6 inches of earth? The one we had was picky and did not work burried that deep. Just a thought. Love the idea otherwise.

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[LD1]

I'll have to see if a funnel of sorts is needed. Or maybe just a plastic bushing turned down to fit inside the pipe snug but a shoulder on top. Good suggestion. I may go ahead and do that allthough I did clean the end ot the pipe up real well and buttied the de-burring tool. There are no sharp edges at all.

Did you check the fence charger to make sure it would work through 6 inches of earth? The one we had was picky and did not work burried that deep. Just a thought. Love the idea otherwise.

I know it will work. At my old house, I had it burried under the creek, and also about 1' under the drive in hose and it worked.

At my current house, for temp containment, I laid the wire on top of the ground, but at the driveway, which is paved, I ran it in the metal culvert. It also worked fine. So 6" of dirt shouldnt be an issue.

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[LD1]

HAd to add another edge to the front of the cutting edge on a little more angle to help it bury itself. After that, it worked like a charm. 2000+ft of wire in and took about 20 minutes or so.

 

[Carmyne]

Nice job! Are you taking orders? If not you ought to. very nice

 

[Sodo]

The idea of laying the business end over to 45* angle is to kinda slice under the sod and lay the wire in place, instead of a vertical trench where it would be more likely for the wire to not stay in the bottom.

Interesting. What would make you think of that? Had you seen it somewhere, or had trouble with the wire climbing out? Looks like a good time of year to "lay some cable ".

 

[LD1]

Interesting. What would make you think of that? Had you seen it somewhere, or had trouble with the wire climbing out? Looks like a good time of year to "lay some cable ".

Dont really know what made me think of it. I have never pulled cable in before. At my last house, I just used my straight ripper, but then placed the wire by hand. My ground here is uneven, and not wanting to bury the wire 2' down, I was just concerned that a straight ripper would just leave an open trench in the ground and nothing really to hold the wire on the bottom while driving over to to back it back in.

The fence I just burried is not ment to be permanent. Its actually a double loop in a horseshoe shape to allow the dogs access to the front of the pond. Had to do the double loop to give them the pond, cause I didnt want to go around. After the barn is built, I am knocking out the pond dam and re-doing it, so didnt want to tear up my wire doing so. Once the pond is done, and once construction around the barn is done I'll re-do the fence again. But there is room for improvement on cable puller which I may modify for next time...

First, I would make the ski larger. At times it was wanting to take chunks of sod with it. Second, I would make the cutter be at the edge of the ski. I think part of the issue was the knife edge wanting to lift sod, but it was trying to lift it right up into the ski. See pic

 

[CNC Dan]

could you add a wheel behind, to push the sodd back down? And you might want to add a cutting wheel in front to help keep grass from building up on the knife.