Trencher maintenance

Rick_Taylor · Dec 25, 2005

I need some help from anyone owning the 3' trencher for their 425, who attended the training in Tazewell. I've owned my trencher for almost 3 years and it has done some very serious work. I'm having trouble now in that it appears to be digging slightly crooked. By crooked I mean the ditch is vertical on the left side and a slightly rounded 45 degree on the right. I don't remember it doing this in the past. I am also having trouble with the chain loosening, then trying to come off. It gets slightly untracked, then jams. The trencher then comes to a halt until I get off and kick it back onto the nose gear. Tightening the chain fixes this problem for awhile, but I am wondering how much longer I can tighten it. I appear to be running out of movement. I'd guess I have about 1" of movement left. Since the trencher came with NO instructions of any kind, can someone pass along PT's maintenance and chain tightening wisdom? I think I am keeping it straight when I tighten, it is hard to tell for sure. What about lubrication. I try to squirt some canned spray oil all into and around the links. Is there anything else I should be doing? This trencher was expensive and I really need it so I don't want to kill it. Thanks in advance for any help. I hope you all had a merry Christmas.

BobRip · Dec 25, 2005

I have had the trencher for about 5 years. I was told to pour about 1/2 of a quart of motor oil onto the chain and bar prior to use. I relube about every 100 feet. The tension on the chain should be as follows.
1. Level the trencher bar with it and chain off of the ground.
2. The maximum gap between the bottom of the bar and the chain hanging down under it should be the width of your 4 fingers (about 3.5 inches). Adjust the tension appropriately.

As far as cutting strange, I don't know. Talk to PT and see what they say. I have seen chain saws cut an arc. I had to get the chain sharpened professionally and file a little on the bar.

Sorry for not having more information. I probably don't have as much use on mine as you do. Oh, I was told that the life of the trencher is about 1 mile. Of course I am sure this depends on soil conditions and lubrication.

Bob Rip

HRDS · Dec 26, 2005

Check your sprockets and chain (aligment) at each end for signs of uneven wear. That could be the reason your uneven cut (right-side). Also, the teeth on the right side may be bend enough to cause the uneven cut

wasabi · Dec 28, 2005

Rick,

I've had a four foot PT trencher for a few years...not the same sie but perhaps close enough for parallel insights.

Last year I had trouble similar to what you describe. It turned out the bearing in the end wheel of our trencher was shot. I replaced it along with several worn cutting teeth and have had no trouble since.

Keeping the tension right is essential to keep the chain on track. I'm sure you've noticed there are two nuts...tighten the second against the first to protect against "drift".

Best,

Sabi

BobRip · Dec 29, 2005

This is a little off subject. I had the trencher motor leak and sent it back to PT for repairs. They replaced the front seal and a bearing. The charge was about $75 plus shipping. Not too back considering it is about 5 years old and I have dug about 1500 feet of trench (I count the pond that I dug with it to be about 300 feet).

Bob Rip

toy · Dec 29, 2005

A man that lives relatively close to me told me of takeing he machine to them to have the variable volum pump replaced he thought they were real reasonable on their maintanance costs and he also told me that they went over his machine and even cleaned it and painted it. I thought he was just a kidding but seems like someone on the forum told of a similar experience. I think they are a good bunch of people to deal with.

BobRip · Dec 29, 2005

When I compare Power Trac to your typical company this is what I see.
You talk to a factory expert, not just somebody who might have taken a factory class.
You talk to somebody who has used the machine and has input into design changes and new attachments, not somebody who has never seen a machine.
You talk to somebody who speaks English with an American accent and speaks from knowledge of the product, not just reading it from a computer screen.
You don't have to move through 2, 3, or more layers of tech support to get an answer.
Overall, I would say they have much much better support than most companies.

Bob Rip

Rick_Taylor · Jan 4, 2006

You talk to a factory expert, not just somebody who might have taken a factory class. 
 But you'd think they could also write, as in a users manual for the attachments. I'm telling you, one of these days, someone is going to sue the socks off of Power Trac and win after they or a loved one gets hurt using an attachment that came with no safe operating instructions.
 Overall, I would say they have much much better support than most companies. I agree I can do without the 'ya'll be careful' pages in most manuals but just a little bit of safe operation guidelines and how to maintain the piece would not bankrupt the company. I VERY seriously doubt that the other manufacturers of power equipment put all those manuals together, including the 'be careful' sections, just to be nice. I am not saying they are not nice, helpful people. They are, and Terry has helped me several times when I was in a fix. BUT, I belive the lawyers lurking on this site will agree with my assessment of their poor legal position regarding product liability.

BobRip · Jan 4, 2006

Points well taken. I would love to see a good manual. I always buy the service manuals for my vehicles and it has always paid off. I doubt if anybody at PT can write well enough, but they could hire outsiders.

Bob Rip