Muddy Trenching

The two major problems when trenching in muddy materials are loss of traction and a buildup of material in the buckets. The traction can be increased by putting planking under the tracks or by adding wider crawler pads. To cope with material sticking to the teeth and buckets, you can run the digging chain faster, so the material will not be forced into the cut. In this way, you do not force and pack wet, sticky material into the bucket and between the teeth; otherwise, the material in the bucket gets stuck and cannot empty completely.

Transporting

A ditcher is slow and must be hauled between jobsites. It must be loaded and unloaded safely and properly. The design of the ditcher requires that it be used on a smooth, gradual incline. When loading on a tilt-bed trailer, you must be careful; the sharp incline of the trailer could make the ditcher hang up. Additionally, the smooth tracks of the ditcher tend to slip.

NOTE: Do not load a ditcher on a tilt-bed trailer in damp, wet weather.

The combination of the ditcher design, brakes, and smooth tracks makes it almost impossible to stop on an incline while loading or unloading; therefore, it is important to use a proper ramp or loading platform to load the ditcher. For safety, load and unload the ditcher in low gear, and if you do not have a proper ramp, see that a crane is used to load and unload the ditcher.

SAFETY

The following are standard safety precautions for ditchers: . Do not leave the operator's seat unless you have stopped the ditcher and disconnected all power from the engine to the ditcher.

. Do not engage the engine clutch too fast. Let it engage gradually to prevent damage to the gear cases and other moving parts. l Do not fill the fuel tank with the engine running. l Do not let bolts and keys come loose. Be alert for unusual sounds or odors. These are danger signs and should be investigated to prevent downtime.

. When the ditcher is secured, the bucket line must always be raised clear of the trench.

. Ditches left open must be flagged by day and properly lighted at night.

. Do not let anyone work or stand close to the digging boom. In a cave-in, the person might be pulled into the boom or other moving parts. Also, if an electrical line is hit, people standing nearby could be hurt. l Before digging, be sure you have a digging permit. You should know and have marked all underground obstructions.

CAUTION

Never try to remove an object from the conveyor belt while the conveyor is running. l Never raise the boom of the ditcher more than you have to while on an incline, because the ditcher is easily upset.

. Wear the required personal protective equipment, such as steel toe shoes, hard hat, and gloves.