Ditch Witch C99

Chuckrhyand · Aug 7, 2014

I have been look for manuals for some time now I would love to have a look at them

daveshoot · Aug 7, 2014

schmism said:
dude you need like a marketing award or something... you single highhandedly must have brought like 40 new members to the forums

Ha, I do get a lot of requests, and I try to send them all out. The biggest hang up is no email, but if they PM it to me I send 'em out. I love my Ditch Witch, dangerous life-threatening beast that it is. I have messed up the shifter a bit so it's been sitting by the last trench it dug until I can get to it.

Haven't had much time for the ol' tractor forum lately but I do enjoy checking in from time to time. I got my 20 x 30 garden plot going, the largest I have ever tried (down in my useless pasture). I trenched 2' all the way around it and sunk 1/4" hardware cloth for my little gopher friends plus the rabbits. And that's where the trencher sits at the moment. It's kept the critters out for now.

Bob Coe · Aug 9, 2014

What is missing here, and how to fix it? Thanks in advance.

(Just got a C99. Haven't tried to crank it yet.)

daveshoot · Aug 9, 2014

Looks like the old key ignition switch. A very simple device, that someone apparently bypassed. It does have to be connected if you're going to run it.

If you are blessed with the rope starter as I am, you should be able to just complete the circuit to allow spark. If you are burdened with a battery start (doesn't look like it) more attention would have to be paid.

Your trencher is basically hot-wired.

A poor cell pic of the back side:

You could probably wire in a Radio Shack toggle switch if you want to be fancy. A positive shutoff is a nice thing. You just have to remember to switch it ON before rope starting (wasted quite a few pulls that way).

msb1956 · Aug 23, 2014

JEMurray said:
Hello Dave:

I am trying to purchase a C99.

I test-ran one recently, but I found the operation of the "clutch" mechanism for selecting between "forward", "reverse crawler", and "neutral" difficult and confusing.

The owner was not much help, so I have not purchased the unit yet.

Maybe it was "operator error", maybe the mechanism needed lube or adjustment, or maybe it was fundamentally broken.

I think a copy of the operator's manual and/or shop manual would help me further evaluate the C99.

I think you have offered copies of these to others.

I am also in southern California (Tehachapi).

Regards -- James

conf

I am looking for a operators manual too!!Mark

msb1956 · Aug 23, 2014

I have bought a C99 and need a operators manual too!!!!Where can i find one?

daveshoot · Aug 24, 2014

msb1956 said:
I have bought a C99 and need a operators manual too!!!!Where can i find one?

I would need an actual email address, to which I can attach document files. You can Private Message me, but I need an address to send them.

msb1956 · Aug 24, 2014

daveshoot said:
I would need an actual email address, to which I can attach document files. You can Private Message me, but I need an address to send them.

thank you daveshoot,please send to mark.blust@yahoo.com

wlpepper · Sep 7, 2014

Please send the c-99 parts and user manuals. These will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

daveshoot said:
I get a few requests for the owner's and parts manuals for this valuable old critter and I am happy to share. However, I can't send attachments with a TBN response, so if anyone needs these files in the future, just drop me a pm with an actual email address and I will send them right along. I can't just attach them to a forum post, it seems. Not surprising.

I also found you can't post PDFs to Photobucket, or I'd leave a link to them. The OM is about 2.7 Mb and the parts breakdown is 3.5, just give me a valid addy and they are on the way.

GW, thanks for sharing. There is also a zerk on the planetary reducer housing and I hope pumping that sucker full of grease eases the shifting process. Gonna try it in the morning. Shifting has been my biggest headache.

PS: I have always loved the word "zerk" so in the course of this reply I looked it up... worth a post in itself, if you like this sort of thing: Oscar Ulysses Zerk (1878 - 1968) - Find A Grave Memorial. Thank you, Oscar U. Zerk!