Ditch Witch SK650 general discussion

[Merle Nelson]

Sounds like the perfect argument for dialectic grease.

BMG scabbards are for transport of a saw to an area only. Then pull it out before operation in earnest.

 

[Sfoppema]

Huh, so just replacing the relay will fix it? I figured it was going to be more annoying than that and recently it's been working more often on its own. Not going to question my luck, but in the meantime maybe I should grab some new ones

 

[Sfoppema]

It's just like a throw line, you can do anything with a twist and a wiggle. My old boss used to say that and I find myself saying it literally on a daily basis....

 

[marne]

The scabbard is directly in the center of the hood. It's white. I don't understand the scabbard design on the BMG. I would never want to have a saw there. In this photo you can also see the bumper on the front. The saw never interferes with any machine/loader function in this location.

I see you are using the diamond back tracks, what's your opinion on them? Are they as turf friendly as advertised?
Many thanks

 

[Fivepoints]

I'm curious about the diamond back tracks as well. I've got to replace my tracks shortly anyway and was trying to find something more turf friendly.

 

[Sfoppema]

I see you are using the diamond back tracks, what's your opinion on them? Are they as turf friendly as advertised?
Many thanks

They are good but lower durability than the ones you get from ditch witch. The first time I lost a track it warped the track. It still worked but it wasn't right and it quickly ruined my front roller bearings. I swapped that side off for an old track and haven't figured out my next move. I think it'd be hard to notice much difference in turf damage. I figured I would just give them a shot but probably won't buy again...
What are you guys using??

 

[marne]

Many thanks for sharing your experience, so probably not really worth it, too bad.
On one of my tracked units, I got Bridgestone tracks. They have about 1100hrs and are probably good for another 200-300. The machine doesn't see much concrete, mainly turf but anyway I'm impressed with the durability. As it's a regular thread pattern, the turf damage is as expected, but slowly get's better, as the lugs wear down

 

[Pelorus]

Am running TuffBilt tracks (from Contrax) on mine. Last set lasted almost 1000 hours. They are not turf friendly.

 

[colb]

Just got off the phone with ditch witch and it seems to be a poor connection in the leftmost of these four relay boxes in the picture below:
View attachment 63106

Left to right, these relays are:
1. Starter
2. Glow plugs
3. EOP shutdown
4. Light test

 

[Sfoppema]

 

[Sfoppema]

Just got this rigged up the other day. Bought the truck because it had this weird box in between cab and dump body that looked like it would be wide enough to customize my own platform in its place. Pulled the box off and had my buddy rig up this platform. Bought the aluminum ramps which are rated for 1500 pounds each. Had my guy rig up some kick stands that roll down automatically for the hinge point just in case. Has been working mint!

 

[colb]

Anyone able to recommend non-marking/non-black narrow tracks?

Anyone know what the spec is for ordering narrow tracks?

 

[Fivepoints]

Anyone able to recommend non-marking/non-black narrow tracks?

Anyone know what the spec is for ordering narrow tracks?

Iirc 180x72x42 is the narrow track size.

I bought some of the prowler turf pattern in 230x72x42 for our sk650 recently. They are better than most about marking and are easier on the grass. You can still tear up grass with them though.

 

[colb]

McLaren will make 10 sets of white/gray non-marking narrow tracks in a fancy turf-esque traction pattern for $241/track +shipping. Maybe some tax, etc... I only want 2 tracks. Are there nine of you guys out there with sk650s who want these tracks?

 

[colb]

Just got off the phone with my local dw dealer. He was checking into turf tracks for 850 and 1050 machines recently and hit dead ends. He found these companies, who wanted him to pay them about 10k to make a mold:
McLaren
Summit supply
Canso

He also mentioned Ebay as a possible place to search. He has "7 people" who want them, plus their buddies...

He mentioned calling Vermeer and other companies as a possibility for someone in my position. He says he talks with the local Vermeer guys, but feels a bit awkward calling corporate, lol. I told him I understood.

Apparently the sk300 shares the sk650 track size, and the other dws (horizontal drilling units included) are different.

Thanks again, @Fivepoints for the assist on the track size.

 

[colb]

McLaren will make 10 sets of white/gray non-marking narrow tracks in a fancy turf-esque traction pattern for $241/track +shipping. Maybe some tax, etc... I only want 2 tracks. Are there nine of you guys out there with sk650s who want these tracks?

Nevermind about this post, the tracks are not particularly turf friendly.

 

[Fivepoints]

Nevermind about this post, the tracks are not particularly turf friendly.

McLaren used to make some wide turf friendly tracks for an sk650.

 

[colb]

View attachment 63638View attachment 63639View attachment 63640

@Sfoppema Any problems with the unit sticking out too far to the sides when it is side loaded with the bmg still on it?

 

[Jehinten]

View attachment 63638View attachment 63639View attachment 63640

I'm working on a similar setup, do you have a link to the ramps that you bought? My current ramps are a solid 10' ramp that won't work well for hinging.

 

[Sfoppema]

@Sfoppema Any problems with the unit sticking out too far to the sides when it is side loaded with the bmg still on it?

as packed up on this photo, the standing platform sticks out slightly, but not as far as the driver's side mirror. Not sure if it's "legal" or not, but no one has ever said anything, and I'm not going to take the grapple off.......When I got my 1050, which is longer, I pick the loader up, and set it down on top of the ramps (I'll take a picture and post). In that orientation, which looked a little weird at first, everything stays inside the width of the truck. The grapple sticks up about a foot above the top of the bed, which is only 9'6", so it's still plenty short even sticking up.