Post Trenching Trench Cleanout - MicroHoe

BobRip · Feb 2, 2006

The trencher for my 422 puts some of the dirt back in the trench and we usually clean it out with a special shovel. I was thinking of making a "microhoe" to clean out the ditch. It would attach on my triple receiver plate attachment. I was thinking about taking a C channel and welding a plate at the end (90 degrees out) and then put sides on it to keep the dirt in the little bucket that is formed. It's basically a little mini bucket. I would appreciate any suggestion for improving on this idea or a completely different idea.

Thanks,

Bob Rip

J_J · Feb 3, 2006

Would something like this work for you in keeping the trenches clean?

BobRip · Feb 3, 2006

( Would something like this work for you in keeping the trenches clean? )

Great, that is a good starting point.

Thanks,

Bob Rip

pajoube · Feb 3, 2006

What we need is something on the trencher itself that would throw or dump the dirt more to the side. This would keep your trench clear. The other option is some type of scoop that when going backwards would scoop up the loose dirt on bottom of trench into a trough sliding it up and outward.
PJ

MossRoad · Feb 3, 2006

Lots of trenchers have a corkscrew type deal on them that augers the dirt away from the trench as it is brought out.

LBrown59 · Feb 3, 2006

IF the trencher's going to leave the dirt in the hole what do you need the trencher for?

LBrown59 · Feb 3, 2006

( Lots of trenchers have a corkscrew type deal on them that augers the dirt away from the trench as it is brought out. )

No matter what tool he uses or how deep he digs he'll never get all the dirt out of the ditch so why not just leave it there?

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J_J · Feb 3, 2006

Both of your comments have no validity. Have you ever used a trencher? The purpose of a trencher is to get as much dirt out of the trench so as to put something in the trench besides dirt, and then back fill with dirt to completion.

BobRip · Feb 3, 2006

( Lots of trenchers have a corkscrew type deal on them that augers the dirt away from the trench as it is brought out. )

The PT trencher has this feature. However there is some dirt that comes off the end of the chain and returns to the trench. Not a lot.

Bob Ripley

BobRip · Feb 3, 2006

J J, where did you find this bucket? From the design it looks like you could actually dig ditches.
Thanks,

Bob Rip

J_J · Feb 4, 2006

Bob, I find a lot of my pictures by surfing the Internet.

J_J · Feb 4, 2006

Bob, This is another picture showing the offset bucket. If you were to build something like this, I would build it so that the bucket would slide to any position , left side , right side, or any position in between.

LBrown59 · Feb 4, 2006

( Have you ever used a trencher?
)
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The last time I rented a trencher it was all my muscle bound friend and I could do to manhandle that thing.
By the time we got the 125' ditch done we were totally exhausted.
I could have gotten someone to come in and do it with a BH for less than the rent of the trencher and no work for us.
That was when I swore off trenchers.

I still say you can't get all the dirt out of a hole ditch or trench.

MossRoad · Feb 4, 2006

While you can't get al of the dirt out, it is nice to get as much as possible out of the trench. Same thing for post holes.

HRDS · Feb 4, 2006

I agree with Moss. I have used many different trenchers for my business. Bobcat T-190, Case Maxi Sneak, Ditch witch 1250, Dingo 425 and PT-180. Never have I had a clean line. The trick is to over dig to allow for fall back debris.

As for using a walk behind trencher. I would just throw it in the water unless it was a Dingo. I use the Bobcat T-190 for big jobs and the PT-180 for my small jobs. I am impress with the PT-180 trencher.

My local Bobcat dealer in Norflok, VA was impress with the PT-180 trencher.

BobRip · Feb 4, 2006

With the PT trencher I have dug as much as 450 feet in one 8 hour day. I was not exhausted or really even tired. My neighbor rented one that you had to manhandle and I had to finish up some areas for him. The PT one is not like that.

The amount of dirt left in the hole is not really that difficult to remove, I just like to perfect things.

The real weakness on the PT trencher is depth. At 18 inches (Virginia's frost line) I can dig about a yard a minute. Go down another 4 inches and that speed drops in half or slower. Still it's a very useful tool bacause you can really breakup soil and make your other attachments much more effective.
I think it is one of the most effective PT tools versus the amount of discussion it gets.

Bob Rip

BobRip · Feb 4, 2006

( Bob, This is another picture showing the offset bucket. If you were to build something like this, I would build it so that the bucket would slide to any position , left side , right side, or any position in between. )

J.J., I appreciate your comment, but since the trencher is centered, and it would add a lot of complication to make it moveable, I don't quite see the need. Do you feel that the bucket you are showing can be used for other purposes? Can it also dig without a preexisting trench?
I was hoping to use my triple hitch receiver as the basis for this.

Bob Rip

J_J · Feb 5, 2006

My thoughts on the off centered bucket would be to dig up close to a foundation, or fence. You should be able to dig like a regular bucket, just point it at an angle and power it down and scoop out a narrow trench. If you have the mini-hoe, you could make yourself a narrow bucket.

BobRip · Feb 5, 2006

OK. I was not sure what they called that bucket and what it purpose was.
I thought about the minihoe microbucket. It would have to be at least six inches wide I believe to mount to the existing arm and bolts. There may be another way.

Bob Rip

J_J · Feb 5, 2006

Another thought would be, after trenching with the chain trencher, to run down the trench line with something like that yellow scoop at the depth you want.

I also have one of those old U-Haul rental trenchers . It digs with a spinning wheel with carbide teeth in the forward direction. It has a rubber flap that the dirt is thrown over and is deposited about 6 in from the trench. It can dig just about as fast as you can push it. Pushing is the tough part. I was thinking of modifying it so the PT could pick it up and provide the push power.