Ditch Witch RT Line User Manual

RT12/RT16/RT20/RT24

Operator’s

Manual

CMW®	Issue 1.0	053-2439
	Original Translation

RT12/RT16/RT20/RT24 Operator’s Manual

Overview - 1

Overview

Chapter Contents

Serial Number Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Intended Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Equipment Modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Unit Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Operator Orientation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

About This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

•	Bulleted Lists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4
•	Numbered Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4

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Serial Number Location

Serial Number Location

Record serial numbers and date of purchase in spaces provided. Trencher serial number is located as shown.

Item

date of manufacture

date of purchase

trencher serial number

trailer serial number

engine serial number

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Intended Use

Intended Use

Overview - 3

The RT12, RT16, RT20, and RT24 pedestrian trenchers are designed to install buried cable and pipe to depths of 48” (1220 mm) and widths of 8” (200 mm). These units are intended for operation in ambient temperatures from 20° to 115°F (-7° to 46°C). Use in any other way is considered contrary to the intended use.

RT12, RT16, RT20, and RT24 units should be used with genuine Ditch Witch chain, teeth, and sprockets. They should be operated, serviced, and repaired only by persons familiar with their particular characteristics and acquainted with the relevant safety procedures.

Equipment Modification

This equipment was designed and built in accordance with applicable standards and regulations. Modification of equipment could mean that it will no longer meet regulations and may not function properly or in accordance with the operating instructions. Modification of equipment should only be made by competent personnel possessing knowledge of applicable standards, regulations, equipment design functionality/requirements and any required specialized testing.

Unit Components

1.	Control console	3.	Digging boom and chain
2.	Engine	4.	Trail wheel

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Operator Orientation

Operator Orientation

1. Front of unit

2. Right side of unit

3. Rear of unit

4. Left side of unit

About This Manual

This manual contains information for the proper use of this machine. See the beige Operation Overview pages for basic operating procedures. Cross references such as “See page 50” will direct you to detailed procedures.

Bulleted Lists

Bulleted lists provide helpful or important information or contain procedures that do not have to be performed in a specific order.

Numbered Lists

Numbered lists contain illustration callouts or list steps that must be performed in order.

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Foreword - 5

Foreword

This manual is an important part of your equipment. It provides safety information and operation instructions to help you use and maintain your Ditch Witch equipment.

Read this manual before using your equipment. Keep it with the equipment at all times for future reference. If you sell your equipment, be sure to give this manual to the new owner.

If you need a replacement copy, contact your Ditch Witch dealer. If you need assistance in locating a dealer, visit our website at www.ditchwitch.com or write to the following address:

The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

Attn: Marketing Department

PO Box 66

Perry, OK 73077-0066

USA

The descriptions and specifications in this manual are subject to change without notice. The Charles Machine Works, Inc. reserves the right to improve equipment. Some product improvements may have taken place after this manual was published. For the latest information on Ditch Witch equipment, see your Ditch Witch dealer.

Thank you for buying and using Ditch Witch equipment.

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Operator’s Manual

Issue number 1.0/OM-12/11

Part number 053-2439

Copyright 2011

by The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

, Ditch Witch, CMW, and Roto Witch are registered trademarks of The Charles Machine Works, Inc.

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Contents - 7

Contents

Overview

1

machine serial number, information about the type of work this machine is designed to perform, basic machine components, and how to use this manual

Foreword

5

part number, revision level, and publication date of this manual, and factory contact information

Safety	9
machine safety alerts and emergency procedures
Controls	21
machine controls, gauges, and indicators and how to use them
Prepare	31
procedures for inspecting and classifying the jobsite, planning the installation path,
and preparing the jobsite for work
Drive	37
procedures for startup, cold start, driving, and shutdown
Transport	41
procedures for lifting, hauling, and towing
Trench	49
procedures for trenching
Drill	53
procedures for drilling
Systems and Equipment	61
chain, teeth, sprockets, and optional equipment
Complete the Job	69
procedures for backfilling and restoring the jobsite and rinsing and storing
equipment
Service	71
service intervals and instructions for this machine including lubrication, replacement
of wear items, and basic maintenance

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Specifications	95
machine specifications including weights, measurements, power ratings, and fluid
capacities
Support	109
the warranty policy for this machine, and procedures for obtaining warranty
consideration and training
Service Record	113

a record of major service performed on the machine

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Safety - 9

Safety

Chapter Contents

Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Safety Alert Classifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Safety Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Emergency Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

•	Electric Strike Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	15
• If an Electric Line is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		16
• If a Gas Line is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		16
• If a Fiber Optic Cable is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .		17
•	If Machine Catches on Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	17

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Guidelines

Guidelines

Follow these guidelines before operating any jobsite equipment:

•Complete proper training and read operator’s manual before using equipment.

•Contact your local One-Call (811 in USA) or the One-Call referral number (888-258-0808 in USA and Canada) to have underground utilities located before digging. Also contact any utilities that do not participate in the One-Call service.

•Classify jobsite based on its hazards and use correct tools and machinery, safety equipment, and work methods for jobsite.

•Mark jobsite clearly and keep spectators away.

•Wear personal protective equipment.

•Review jobsite hazards, safety and emergency procedures, and individual responsibilities with all personnel before work begins. Safety videos are available from your Ditch Witch dealer.

•Replace missing or damaged safety shields and safety signs.

•Use equipment carefully. Stop operation and investigate anything that does not look or feel right.

•Do not operate unit where flammable gas may be present.

•Contact your Ditch Witch dealer if you have any question about operation, maintenance, or equipment use.

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Safety - 11

Safety Alert Classifications

Safety Alert Classifications

These classifications and the icons defined on the following pages work together to alert you to situations which could be harmful to you, jobsite bystanders or your equipment. When you see these words and icons in the book or on the machine, carefully read and follow all instructions. YOUR SAFETY IS AT STAKE.

Watch for the three safety alert levels: DANGER, WARNING and CAUTION. Learn what each level means.

indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. This signal word is to be limited to the most extreme situations.

indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

indicates a hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.

Watch for two other words: NOTICE and IMPORTANT.

NOTICE indicates information considered important, but not hazard-related (e.g., messages relating to property damage).

IMPORTANT can help you do a better job or make your job easier in some way.

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Safety Alerts

Safety Alerts

Moving digging teeth will kill you or cut off arm or leg. Stay away.

Turning shaft will kill you or crush arm or leg. Stay away.

Electric shock. Contacting electric lines will cause death or serious injury. Know location of lines and stay away.

Deadly gases. Lack of oxygen or presence of gas will cause sickness or death. Provide ventilation.

Jobsite hazards could cause death or serious injury. Use correct equipment and work methods. Use and maintain proper safety equipment.

Crushing weight could cause death or serious injury. Use proper procedures and equipment or stay away.

Moving parts could cut off hand or foot. Stay away.

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Safety Alerts

Safety - 13

Explosion possible. Serious injury or equipment damage could occur. Follow directions carefully.

Incorrect procedures could result in death, injury, or property damage. Learn to use equipment correctly.

Improper control function could cause death or serious injury. If control does not work as described in instructions, stop machine and have it serviced.

Looking into fiber optic cable could result in permanent vision damage. Do not look into ends of fiber optic or unidentified cable.

Pressurized fluid or air could pierce skin and cause injury or death. Stay away.

Fire or explosion possible. Fumes could ignite and cause burns. No smoking, no flame, no spark.

Moving traffic - hazardous situation. Death or serious injury could result. Avoid moving vehicles, wear high visibility clothing, post appropriate warning signs.

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Safety Alerts

Hot pressurized cooling system fluid could cause serious burns. Allow to cool before servicing.

Flying objects may cause injury. Wear hard hat and safety glasses.

Hot parts may cause burns. Do not touch until cool.

Exposure to high noise levels may cause hearing loss. Wear hearing protection.

Fall possible. Slips or trips may result in injury. Keep area clean.

Battery acid may cause burns. Avoid contact.

Improper handling or use of chemicals may result in illness, injury, or equipment damage. Follow instructions on labels and in material safety data sheets (MSDS).

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Emergency Procedures

Emergency Procedures

Safety - 15

Jobsite hazards could cause death or serious injury. Use correct equipment and work methods. Use and maintain proper safety equipment.

Before operating any equipment, review emergency procedures and check that all safety precautions have been taken.

EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN - Release all controls and turn ignition switch to STOP.

Electric Strike Description

Electric shock. Contacting electric lines will cause death or serious injury. Know location of lines and stay away.

When working near electric cables, remember the following:

•Electricity follows all paths to ground, not just path of least resistance.

•Pipes, hoses, and cables will conduct electricity back to all equipment.

•Low voltage current can injure or kill. Many work-related electrocutions result from contact with less than 440 volts.

Most electric strikes are not noticeable, but indications of a strike include:

•power outage

•smoke

•explosion

•popping noises

•arcing electricity

If any of these occur, assume an electric strike has occurred.

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Emergency Procedures

If an Electric Line is Damaged

If you suspect an electric line has been damaged and you are near pedestrian unit, DO NOT MOVE and do not touch unit. Take the following actions. The order and degree of action will depend upon the situation.

•Warn people nearby that an electric strike has occurred. Instruct them to leave the area and contact utility.

•Do not allow anyone into area until given permission by utility company.

•Do not allow anyone to touch equipment.

If a Gas Line is Damaged

Fire or explosion possible. Fumes could ignite and cause burns. No smoking, no flame, no spark.

Explosion possible. Serious injury or equipment damage could occur. Follow directions carefully.

If you suspect a gas line has been damaged, take the following actions. The order and degree of action will depend on the situation.

•Immediately shut off engine(s), if this can be done safely and quickly.

•Remove any ignition source(s), if this can be done safely and quickly.

•Warn others that a gas line has been cut and that they should leave the area.

•Leave jobsite as quickly as possible.

•Immediately call your local emergency phone number and utility company.

•If jobsite is along street, stop traffic from driving near jobsite.

•Do not return to jobsite until given permission by emergency personnel and utility company.

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Emergency Procedures

If a Fiber Optic Cable is Damaged

Safety - 17

Do not look into cut ends of fiber optic or unidentified cable. Vision damage can occur.

If Machine Catches on Fire

Perform emergency shutdown procedure and then take the following actions. The order and degree of action will depend on the situation.

•Immediately move battery disconnect switch (if equipped) to disconnect position.

•If fire is small and fire extinguisher is available, attempt to extinguish fire.

•If fire cannot be extinguished, leave area as quickly as possible and contact emergency personnel.

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Emergency Procedures

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Operation Overview - 19

Operation Overview

Chapter Contents

Planning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Trenching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Leaving Jobsite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

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Operation Overview - 20

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Planning

Planning

1.Gather information about jobsite. See page 31.

2.Inspect jobsite. See page 33.

3.Classify jobsite. See page 34.

4.Select best chain type and tooth pattern for your application. See page 62.

5.Consider optional equipment, if necessary. See page 64.

6.Check supplies and prepare equipment. See page 36.

7.Load unit onto trailer. See page 43.

Trenching

1.Unload unit from trailer. See page 46.

2.Leave optional backfill blade, if equipped, in stowed position with digging boom low to ground.

3.Start unit. See page 38.

4.Drive to starting point of trench. See page 39.

5.Dig the trench. See page 51.

6.Shut down unit. See page 39.

Leaving Jobsite

1.Restore the jobsite. See page 70.

2.Rinse unit and stow tools. See page 70.

3.Load unit onto trailer. See page 43.

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Controls - 21

Controls

Chapter Contents

Control Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

RT12 Engine Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

RT16 Engine Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

RT20 and RT24 Engine Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

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Control Console

Control Console

1.Digging chain/Roto Witch® control

2.Selector valve control (Roto Witch® option)

3.Boom lift control

4.Speed/direction controls

5.Parking brake lever

6.Hourmeter/tachometer (RT16 option) 6B. Hourmeter (RT 12 option)

7.Ignition Switch (RT12)

8.Throttle switch (RT12)

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Control Console

Controls - 23

Item					Description	Notes
1.	Digging chain control				To start digging chain, pull	NOTICE: Trenching movement is
					toward operator, then push	always backward (toward you).
					down to dig position.
					To stop digging chain, release
					control.
					To dislodge a rock or other	NOTICE: To dislodge obstructions,
					obstruction, pull up on control	reverse chain.
					to reverse chain.	NOTICE: Do not attempt to travel with
					IMPORTANT: This control
						digging chain control pulled up (chain
					changes function when	in reverse position).
					equipped with optional Roto
					Witch.
					In drill mode:
					To drill clockwise, push down.
					To stop drill rotation, release
					control.
					To drill counterclockwise, pull
					up.
2.	Selector valve control				Optional selector valve
					control used on units
					equipped with Roto Witch to
					change function of digging
					chain control.
					To select drill mode, pull up.
					To select dig mode, push
					down.
3.	Boom lift control				To lower boom, push.	NOTICE: Keep digging boom low
						when operating on a slope or
					To raise boom, pull.	transporting. Drive slowly and
						cautiously at all times.

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Control Console

Item					Description	Notes
4.	Speed/direction				To drive straight forward,	NOTICE: Trenching movement is
	controls				push BOTH controls slowly	always backward (toward you).
					forward.
					To drive straight in reverse,
					pull BOTH controls slowly
					rearward.
					To turn left, move RIGHT
					speed/direction control for
					forward or reverse.
					To turn right, move LEFT
					speed/direction control for
					forward or reverse.
					To go faster in any direction,
					move controls farther from
					neutral position.
					To stop, release controls.
5.	Parking brake				To engage parking brake,	IMPORTANT:
					move lever to the right.	• Move unit slightly to ensure
					To disengage parking brake,	parking brake pins are engaged.
					move lever left to notch.	• It might be necessary to move
						unit slightly to disengage parking
						brake.

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Control Console

Controls - 25

Item					Description	Notes
6. Hourmeter/tachometer					Displays engine operating	Use engine operating times to
(RT16 option)					time and engine speed.	schedule service.

6B. (RT12 option)

	c00ic259h.eps
7. Ignition switch (RT12)					To start engine, turn key all
					the way clockwise. Release
					key as engine starts.
					To stop engine, turn key
					counterclockwise.

8. Throttle control (RT12)			To increase engine speed,	Start unit with throttle switch in the low
			press bottom.	position.
			To decrease engine speed,
			press top.

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RT12 Engine Controls

RT12 Engine Controls

1

t27om070h.eps

1.	Fuel shut-off valve
Item				Description	Notes
1.	Fuel shut-off valve			To stop fuel flow from fuel	Close valve when transporting unit to
				tank to engine, slide lever	or from jobsite, or whenever machine
				away from engine.	is parked.
				To allow fuel flow, slide lever
				toward engine.

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RT16 Engine Controls

RT16 Engine Controls

Controls - 27

1.	Throttle control		3.	Ignition switch
2.	Choke control		4.	Fuel shut-off valve
Item			Description	Notes
1.	Throttle control		To increase engine speed,
			pull up.
			To decrease engine speed,
			push down.

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RT16 Engine Controls

Item		Description	Notes
2. Choke control		To close choke valve, pull	This valve can be closed to enrich
		choke control.	air/fuel mixture and help start cold
			engine.
			Open choke valve after engine runs
			for a few seconds.

3. Ignition switch		To start engine, turn key all
		the way clockwise. Release
		key as engine starts.
		To stop engine, turn key
		counterclockwise.

4. Fuel shut-off valve		To stop fuel flow from fuel	Close valve when transporting unit to
		tank to engine, turn valve	or from jobsite, or whenever machine
		clockwise.	is parked.
		To allow fuel flow, turn valve
		counterclockwise.

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RT20/RT24 Engine Controls

RT20/RT24 Engine Controls

Controls - 29

1.	Throttle control			4.	Oil pressure indicator
2.	Choke control			5.	Hourmeter
3.	Ignition switch
Item				Description		Notes
1.	Throttle control			To increase engine speed,
				pull up.
				To decrease engine speed,
				push down.

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