Ditch Witch 4010 Rehab

[MonkeysTractor]

I recently picked up this 1992 Ditch Witch 4010 with A411 trencher boom for a song in Houston. The air cooled Deutz 49hp engine runs great and the hydraulic cylinders were not leaking. One owner since 1997 when a new diesel engine was put on it so it is really a 1992 trencher with a 1997 Deutz air cooled on it with a mere 1189 hours on the diesel.

The trencher boom came with a completely shot set of sprockets and chain. The photos below show what we spent a few hours removing from the old machine this weekend.

So a couple of questions.

1. Have any of you used after market chains from like Ballentines or Georgia Underground on your trenchers?

2. I'm thinking that I am going to want to repaint the old machine. I am not particularly interested in using the two part epoxy paints because of the dangers of inhaling the aerosolized paint. Are there alternatives out there that aren't so dangerous to apply? Will they last?

3. Chain-The trencher is going to be used on mostly clay soils. Very little if any rock. Do I reassemble the chain with all dirt cups or go 50/50 with dirt cups and Terminator teeth?

Here the photos:

 

[Stimw]

You always have to look at after market parts to see if they will hold up as good BUT you can save a lot of money.
Chain wear is a long term equation.
When I was 16 (1964) I bought a used Harley. It had a worn out roller chain, Harley wanted $30. for a new one!
I was putting master links in it when it would break. I had it break in front of an Equipment Dealer (I think it was Case??).
I went in to see if they had a master link, I was paying about $1. at Harley for one. They had the right size and it was $.20 !!!
I ask the price of the length of chain I needed and it was $10.00 !!!!!!!!!!
That's when I learned to shop parts and I have saved a fortune since.
Trenchers are FUN!

 

[BMod]

We have one of these at work, except we have a backhoe on the front alone with the front blade. We trench in rock, clay and sand with only cups. We have a newer smaller ditch witch that has half cups, half teeth. Let me know if you need anything.

 

[Kernopelli]

Can't really give you many answers except to say around here it is clay with little rocks. Most set cups seem to use mostly ups.

I bought a D.W. J20 off bay some years back for $150. While a much older and smaller machine, it was cosmetically and sounds mechanically similar to yours. I considered it one of my "Best Buys" of all time.

 

[MonkeysTractor]

Thanks for chiming in fellas. We talked with two aftermarket suppliers and then with the local Ditch Witch retailer. Turns out that there is not much savings to be had thanks to shipping costs so we ordered the chain and sprockets from the DW dealer. Likely won't be in until next week and we have a terrible weather forecast for the weekend so I'm likely out of commission with my new pet project until then. THanks for the info on chain usage. I"m gonna stick with cups since we are primarily clay.

I'll post some photos of the new chain going on when we install it.

 

[/pine]

I have a 3610D w/ A322 BH...they are great machines...very well built...

Good luck with you trencher project...glad to see more Ditch Witch tractor subjects appearing on the forums...