Trencher

[johnk]

I guess we'll all be shocked when he digs a trench 3 feet deep and 2 feet wide and 40 feet long in two minutes. The Wright brothers had to start somewhere.

 

[JRP]

Is Havoctec out of the hospital yet? How is he doing?

 

[Roto]

 

[river rat]

Whoa - what happened?

 

[river rat]

Is that really a pic of Havoctec's tractor?

 

[Roto]

Does it look like a John Deere? No its not havoctec. Just a picture of what it could be................

 

[bobodu]

Does it look like a John Deere?

Looks much better than a Deere.

 

[Havoctec]

Ok you doubting Thomas'. Had a chance to hook it up and try it for a few minutes tonight, just before dark. Mostly because I know you guys want to know how badly it will self distruct!!

Well I only dug a trench about 15' long and 19" deep. It worked well except for the telescoping front guard. There is not enough slope at the bottom of it to keep from digging into the ground so I will have to weld on a bigger skid plate. Other than that it worked as I expected. Even piled up the dirt beside the trench. I'm surprised that worked.

Only ran the tractor at 1500 rpms which did not seem to put undo stress on the trencher. It did make the tractor work a little.

I don't have a video camera so no video. It would have been very anti climactic anyway. I'll try to get action shots when I finish up the trench and it is light out.

 

[Farwell]

Doubting Thomas's,
Does Crow really taste like Chicken?
Great looking trench!

 

[john_bud]

Doubting Thomas's,
Does Crow really taste like Chicken?
Great looking trench!

Chomp chomp chomp... well, yeah... kinda like chicken..... chomp chomp....

 

[3RRL]

Way to go Havotec! I was hoping it would be successful. That is a pretty darn good looking trench and a neat pile of dirt beside it. What did you notice you need to tune up or make better other than the longer/bigger skid plate (if anything)?
Congratulations.

 

[oldhippy]

I'm a Thomas. I am amazed that the dirt all piled to one side like a regular trencher would do. I looked at picture posted at first and see no device to pile the dirt like that. Maybe I missed something. big (Thomas) dan

 

[Farmerford]

Way to go, havoctec! Maybe all those posters who had so much fun at your expense will show us pictures of implements they built. And certainly none of them will be trying to copy your machine.

I have wanted to build one for some time with the old post hole digger gearbox I have. But I never could figure how to keep the dirt from falling back into the trench. And now I think I know what the sheet metal at the front of the wheel is for. Is it some sort of deflector that sends the dirt to the right of the machine? What an elegant replacement for the auger on other machines. No moving parts, just a stationary piece of steel. I would love to see exactly how you placed it to move the dirt so well. I would guess that it is situated to the left of the blades at ground level and then slants to the right as it goes upward. How close is it to the ends of blades? Does it work because the high speed of the blades throws the dirt against it pretty hard? Now I don't think my phd gearbox will work because it is a 1:4 reduction. Seems like you proved that the wheel needs to turn 1,000 rpm or so.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[scott_vt]

I'm a Thomas. I am amazed that the dirt all piled to one side like a regular trencher would do. I looked at picture posted at first and see no device to pile the dirt like that. Maybe I missed something. big (Thomas) dan

Mornin Dan,
OK, its May 2nd not April 1st ! Maybe I missed something too, were there mods made to the device as originally posted ? I really dont see how that dirt would pile up like that to one side of the trench !

Sure looks like a nice job made by a real trencher though !

 

[oldhippy]

Mornin Dan,
OK, its May 2nd not April 1st ! Maybe I missed something too, were there mods made to the device as originally posted ? I really dont see how that dirt would pile up like that to one side of the trench !

Sure looks like a nice job made by a real trencher though !

Scott when I run our trencher it will also cut a curve like that if one tire is more worn than the other. If I were trying out a new toy I would try to hold tractor straight to reduce side load. "If it looks like it and smells like it, It more than likely is" big dan

 

[kwolfe]

Great Job! Glad to see it worked out that well.

 

[MrJimi]

Havoctec, congrats on a fine working project

 

[Havoctec]

There were no modifications from the time I posted the first pics.

I have not used it enough to say what needs to be changed. Hopefully nothing.

The attached picture shows how the dirt deflector was added. It was just a guess where to put it and how fabricate it. So I am very surprised that it works as well as it does.

I never expected this thread to get so long but it's good to see that it provided you guys with some entertainment.

 

[ding2520]

I went back and looked at your first post, and after looking closely, the deflector was in there originally. Nice trench, I must say! Now we need to see some action shots!

 

[scott_vt]

There were no modifications from the time I posted the first pics.

I have not used it enough to say what needs to be changed. Hopefully nothing.

The attached picture shows how the dirt deflector was added.

Mornin Havoctec,
OK I will back peddle a bit You did have a deflector on the original posting ! As others have asked, some action shots would be nice !

BTW, dont you guys have any rocks in Mn ??? Looks like youve got nothing but screened loom over your way ?