Ditch Witch C99

[bigolpossum]

I am very happy having paid $600 for this C99 and trailer. I might have another two hundred dollars in it as it sits, and it runs like a sewing machine. I think that the guy I got it from was perplexed by the Wisconsin engine, magneto ignition, etc. and didn't want to learn how to work on it. That worked out fine for me!

Found a serial number list and this rascal was built in June 1981.

The new carb was not exactly the same as the one that I took off that is still sitting in a bath of penetrating oil. (Plan is to re-build it as a back-up over the winter sometime.) The long screw linkage between the throttle and the governor would not come off, so I fabricated a similar linkage from some stiff wire. (See picture) I put an Amazon $7 choke cable on it and adjusted it to length. This is where the stiff wire for the governor linkage came from as well.

Here is the bill:
New carburetor (Amazon special - $64 - probably chinese, not sure)
New choke cable (Amazon)
New belts (NAPA)
New spark plug (NAPA)
New spark plug wire (Brillman)
New spark plug wire contact in magneto box (Brillman) - See photo
New gas tank (eBay - OEM, Not quite the right model, made it work)
New fuel lines, cut off valve, filter (My small engine stuff box)
New kill switch (electrical junk box)
New gasket for magneto box (Brillman)
New screws for magneto box (Bennett Hardware)

To-do: Lube everything possible before trenching, figure out new air filter, chase down hydraulic leak, start digging trenches

 

[dcyoung9]

I have found that 1) I can trench more with rentals than I can possibly install in one shot, and 2) trenches do not age well.

The upshot is re-digging all those trenches out by hand with a contractor's shovel, or cobbling up something that allows the CUT to help with the chore. Neither have turned out well for me. Rain also disperses or compacts your backfill.

So, I bought a trencher off of Craig's List. Been stalking them for some time, but the $$ or condition put me off. Until now....

This "antique" Ditch Witch C-99 is an awesome little digger. It was $950 and I will call that good. The rope start kicks it on first pull every time (so far). It was well cared for and home-serviced.

View attachment 311511

Shifting forward and reverse is a little tricky. I can share one painful way not to do it, but it works pretty well once you get the hang of it. I can run an easy 2' deep when and wherever I want, and it's at least a little more maneuverable in some of the tighter places.

You trench in the reverse creeper gear, and once it's all going you can sit down and watch. It will just pull a straight line unless you hit something you should have known was there. Or an undocumented rock.

If anyone else has one, I have scanned the owner's manual and have the parts book as well. It's been out of production since at least '99.

I have finally got my pipes from the well to the house (and under the driveway, courtesy of a rental UnderWonder) and am finally making some real progress.

Hey daveshoot, I have one of these that is driving me nuts.

I have found that 1) I can trench more with rentals than I can possibly install in one shot, and 2) trenches do not age well.

The upshot is re-digging all those trenches out by hand with a contractor's shovel, or cobbling up something that allows the CUT to help with the chore. Neither have turned out well for me. Rain also disperses or compacts your backfill.

So, I bought a trencher off of Craig's List. Been stalking them for some time, but the $$ or condition put me off. Until now....

This "antique" Ditch Witch C-99 is an awesome little digger. It was $950 and I will call that good. The rope start kicks it on first pull every time (so far). It was well cared for and home-serviced.

View attachment 311511

Shifting forward and reverse is a little tricky. I can share one painful way not to do it, but it works pretty well once you get the hang of it. I can run an easy 2' deep when and wherever I want, and it's at least a little more maneuverable in some of the tighter places.

You trench in the reverse creeper gear, and once it's all going you can sit down and watch. It will just pull a straight line unless you hit something you should have known was there. Or an undocumented rock.

If anyone else has one, I have scanned the owner's manual and have the parts book as well. It's been out of production since at least '99.

I have finally got my pipes from the well to the house (and under the driveway, courtesy of a rental UnderWonder) and am finally making some real progress.

Hey, Dave, I have one of these that is driving me nuts. Can you tell me how to set up the magneto?
Should the points be completely closed until until the
magneto shaft snaps and opens them? Then what should the gap be? Even after the snap and the points are open I seem to have contact across the points. I'm hoping that this contact is through the coil and is normal. ThANKS FOR ANY HELP. Don

 

[bigolpossum]

The magneto has an eccentric shaped shaft. What worked for me was installing the points so that they are closed when the magneto shaft was at its lowest point, and then adjusting them to 0.015 inches at its highest point. There may be more to it, but that worked great for me!

 

[BeaconWoods]

The magneto has an eccentric shaped shaft. What worked for me was installing the points so that they are closed when the magneto shaft was at its lowest point, and then adjusting them to 0.015 inches at its highest point. There may be more to it, but that worked great for me!

That sounds about right. The spark occurs when the points open. While they are closed the magnetic field is building. It collapses when they open, resulting in current being induced in the secondary of the coil which creates the high voltage for the spark.