Thinking out loud

[handirifle]

Having built a new house, that we just moved into this spring, and needing to do all kinds of laying out irrigation lines, I got to wondering.

I do not want to rent a trencher, at $165 a day, because I have no idea where i want to lay them, and when I do have an idea, it will most likely change.....so you get that point.

Anyway, besides the above issue, i do not see the need to dig a 4" trench when all I need to lay in it is a 3/4" or 1" pipe.

Soooo, on to my thoughts. What I am wondering, is could a rototiller be converted to a trencher? One with the ability to trench about 12" deep? I was thinking that since they are already geards for digging anyway, and what if I removed all the tines and adapted some sort of bar and chain (or blade) setup to accomplish this?

It would not have to be hydraulically lowered (that would be nice however) since it's only 12", or so, I'd think you might be able to just lower the balde as you go.

Any ideas on this? Out of my mind?

 

[VitaBene]

Lay your system out and rent a true irrigation machine. It is not difficult, Google it if needed. The ditchwitch (or whatever brand) will pull the pipe and any cable needed at the same time with no mess.

 

[handirifle]

The real problem, is these are done in stages, and each stage might be a week or two apart, and that makes it cost prohibitive, for me. This idea might or might not be a good, or viable one, but something else will have to be done besides $165 a day.

 

[mjncad]

I think you'll spend far more than you expect trying to make such a conversion. If you do it, please post pictures.

Can you re-plan your stages to do all the trenching at one time, or two at the most?

 

[handirifle]

I think you'll spend far more than you expect trying to make such a conversion. If you do it, please post pictures.

This is always possible, thus wondering if such a thing had been done before. I did read a thread where someone simply removed all but one row of tines and dug a single 6" trench with a tiller.

Can you re-plan your stages to do all the trenching at one time, or two at the most?
Possibly, but it seems that as soon as I have turned it back in something else comes to light and it needs a trencher. My back can only take just so much shoveling these days.

I need a tiller for many reasons, and acted too slowly on a $200, 48", PTO, one that looked new. Now I cannot even find them locally. Most likely will end up with a walk behind model. I might also try to weld up one of the single tine, 3 point trenchers I have seen some make here. The only problem I'd forsee with those, is getting the tractor in where I need to do the trench. thirty years ago I'd have done it with a shovel, but my back will not take that kind of abuse any more.

 

[Don87]

Cheapest way is a middlebuster.

 

[Renze]

laying 3/4" flex pipe is done most easy with a subsoiler, with a pulley behind the chisel.
We layd 100's of meters of electrics with it. It works for tylene water lines too.

When converting the tiller you'll break it because the bigger diameter results in too much tip speed and not enough digging torque. Also a big enough trenching wheel wont fit under the frame, so you wont have a tiller to use next year, it will be wasted.

 

[Don87]

laying 3/4" flex pipe is done most easy with a subsoiler, with a pulley behind the chisel.
We layd 100's of meters of electrics with it. It works for tylene water lines too.

When converting the tiller you'll break it because the bigger diameter results in too much tip speed and not enough digging torque. Also a big enough trenching wheel wont fit under the frame, so you wont have a tiller to use next year, it will be wasted.

I was just going to mention the subsoiler option also:thumbsup:


Fred Cain Tractor 3 Point Hitch Subsoiler S-2

 

[smiley]

If you search this forum for re-cable laying you'll find a 3 pt subsoiler that may be adaptable to your use. I see no reason it shouldn't work if you have fairly sandy soil.
I tried to post the link below but couldn't. but I'm sure you can figure it out from here.
Smiley

kennyd
Super Member

kennyd's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westminster, MD
Posts: 8,456

Default Re: cable laying
Here are a couple pics of one that I made...
The "tooth" is just a box blade ripper that you can get at TSC for $20.00.
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[smiley]

As I thought about this a little more, it almost seems like one might be able to remove the tines of a tiller and fit a disc on each side, with a couple teeth welded on it at an angle, to at least rip open the dirt so it would be easy enough to remove with it a trench shovel. If the discs were rugged enough, it might even be possible to weld a flare on each side under the teeth to the shaft that would throw most of the dirt off to the sides. I doubt that unless you've got a real tall tiller, you'd get 12" of depth though.
I'm just thinking out loud too.
Smiley