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KEY FEATURES DETAILS LITERATURE MANUAL
- Venturi wet hopper allows excellent mixing of fluids; the hopper's steeper sides help speed up mixing cycles.
- Narrow tank can be positioned side-by-side with a drill unit on a trailer, making the equipment easy to transport to the jobsite.
DETAILS, FT5
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- 200-gallon (757 L) capacity is large enough to get the job done, and just the right size for transporting on small truck or trailer configurations.
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- Simplicity of design and multiple configuration options accommodate a variety of setups.
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LITERATURE, FT5
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ENGLISH
MANUAL, FT5
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ENGLISH
SPECIFICATIONS, FT5
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DIMENSIONS
Length
Length, with hose and valve
Height
Width
Weight, empty
Weight, full of water
POWER
Engine: Honda GX160
Fuel: Gasoline
Cooling medium: Air
Number of cylinders: 1
Displacement
Bore
Stroke
Gross power at 3600 rpm
FLUID CAPACITIES
Fuel tank
Engine oil
FLUID MIXING SYSTEM
Drilling fluid/mixing tank capacity
Maximum flow rate to drilling unit |
U.S.
73 in
84 in
53.5 in
32 in
402 lb
2071 lb
U.S.
9.9 in3
2.7 in
1.8 in
5.5 hp
U.S.
1 gal
0.6 qt
U.S.
200 gal
18 gpm |
METRIC
1.85 m
2.13 m
1.36 m
813 mm
182 kg
939 kg
METRIC
162 cm3
69 mm
46 mm
4.1 kW
METRIC
3.6 L
0.6 L
METRIC
760 L
68 L/min |
Jobsite safety cannot be overemphasized. You're working on and around heavy equipment that you need to understand and respect. Below is a "Safety Matters" topic relevant to this Ditch Witch product. For other "Safety Matters" topics, plus safety videos and other important facts about jobsite safety, please visit our Ditch Witch Safe page.
Locating safety. Remember that you can verify locates with Ditch Witch electronic pipe and cable locators, and a sure way to verify the location of buried utilities is to expose the lines with a Ditch Witch vacuum excavator.
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 Safety Matters is intended to promote discussions of safety issues among underground construction professionals. TOPIC #10: EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE Potential Hazards• Crushing
• Cutting
• Pinching | • Explosions
• Burns
• Fluid injection |
Precautions• Do not weld on tanks or drums unless you’ve been properly trained. Consider alternative methods to welding on fuel tanks, such as cold repair techniques or replacement. If tank must be welded, remove, drain and clean the tank. Flush the tank with an inert gas such as argon or CO2. Keep a steady flow of inert gas into the tank while welding. Do not use exhaust fumes. • Unless otherwise instructed, perform all work with engine off. Remove key from ignition and tag machine for maintenance to prevent machine from being started. • Use cylinder locks or some type of mechanical support if work must be conducted under raised components. Never work under a raised component unless it is mechanically supported. Never leave a raised component unattended unless it is mechanically supported. • Locate pressurized fluid leaks with a piece of wood or cardboard. Do not use your hands. • Wear personal protective equipment. Avoid loose clothing. • Practice proper lifting and ask for help.
• Disconnect battery before welding on machinery.
• To minimize hazards of unintended movement, start and operate equipment only from the operator's station.
• Be aware that tires may be heavier than they appear due to possibly being filled with tire ballast or sealant.
• Fluids and components will be hot. Allow machine to cool before attempting repairs or adjustments. Do not open the radiator until the machine has cooled. Coolant may spray out of the cap when hot.
• Keep steps and platforms free of oil & grease.
• If working on equipment that may be used in unsanitary environments, have immunizations to prevent contracting a disease from contaminated equipment.
• Use proper procedures for handling batteries.
• Know the weight of the equipment. Only use hoists and lifts rated for the weight of the equipment. Use lift points as identified on equipment and in the equipment operator’s manual.
• Set equipment parking brake and block wheels or tracks before performing service.
Information/Facts
• Hydraulic fluid injection in skin must be treated by a professional familiar with that type of injury. If not treated properly, infection and gangrene can occur and result in loss of limb.
• Even with the engine stopped, machines can store energy which can be hazardous if not handled properly. Operate controls with engine stopped to relieve pressure in lines if possible. Even after operating controls, fluid can still be under pressure. To release pressure in a hydraulic line, the fitting should be loosened just enough to allow a small stream of fluid to escape. After the stream has slowed, the fitting should continue to be loosened slowly until all pressure is relieved in the line. Think before loosening fittings; if the line is pressurized because it is holding a raised component, the component will fall when pressure is released unless a mechanical support is used.
• If not handled properly, batteries can explode and cause burns or blindness.
• Even if a fuel tank is drained, fumes and residue may still be present and can explode. A very small of residue can cause an explosion. Also, exhaust fumes can contain unburned fuel, especially from older trucks and some off-road equipment. Exhaust fumes should not be used to purge fuel tanks prior to welding as these exhaust fumes can explode. |
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JOB RELATED, FT5
Stay Cool And Stay Alive
If you work outdoors, summer is one of your busiest times of the year because it’s typically the driest season and offers the most hours of daylight. But the sun providing all that productive daylight can be the biggest jobsite hazard you face all year. Excessive heat can bring down anyone who doesn’t take the necessary precautions.Planning Ahead For WinterWinterizing your equipment is a small investment of your time that is guaranteed to pay big dividends. Your operator’s manual provides details on proper care during winter, but here are five essential steps you should take. Keeping Your Fleet's Hydraulic Systems Running ProperlyIf your machine's hydraulic system isn't working, neither are you. Here are some common causes of hydraulic system breakdown and steps you can take to avoid them.
stopimg title="keepCool_img1" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: 0px solid; WIDTH: 260px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; HEIGHT: 195px; BORDER-TOP: 0px solid; align: left" alt="keepCool_img1" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/1_KeepCool_260x195(1).jpg" border="0" />Catastrophic tornadoes and floods have grabbed recent headlines, but each year one weather phenomenon kills more people than tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, and lightning combined: heat.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average of more than 1,500 people in the U.S. die each year from excessive heat—yet it is the most preventable of weather-related deaths.
If you work in construction, summer is one of your busiest times of the year because it’s typically the driest season and offers the most hours of daylight. But the sun providing all that productive daylight can be the biggest jobsite hazard you face all year. No matter how tough you are or how used to the heat you think you are, excessive heat can bring down anyone who doesn’t take the necessary precautions.
The following information applies to anyone who is employed in an outdoor profession—construction workers in particular—but also applies to those who work in hot factories and anyone who spends time outdoors exercising, gardening, or laboring in any capacity during the summer months. (This is general information. More specific information can be found in the sources cited below.)
Know Your Chemistry
Our bodies dissipate heat by varying the rate and depth of blood circulation, and by expelling water through the skin and sweat glands. When we reach the danger zone, when our blood is heated above 98.6 degrees, we begin to pant—we’re literally “working like a dog.”
Sweating alone does little to cool the body, unless the sweat is removed by evaporation. But high relative humidity inhibits evaporation. When you’re checking the forecast for tomorrow, pay close attention to the heat index: the combination of relative humidity and air temperature. For example, if the air temperature is 96° F and the relative humidity is 65 percent, the heat index is 121° F. This is the heat your body really feels.
Heat disorders involve a reduction or collapse of our bodies’ ability to shed heat by circulatory changes and sweating, or a chemical (salt) imbalance caused by too much sweating. When heat gain exceeds the level the body can remove, or when the body cannot compensate for fluids and salt lost through perspiration, the temperature of the body's inner core begins to rise, bringing on various degrees of heat-related illnesses.
stopimg title="keepCool_img2" style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: 0px solid; WIDTH: 260px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; HEIGHT: 195px; BORDER-TOP: 0px solid; align: right" alt="keepCool_img2" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/2_KeepCool_260x195.jpg" border="0" />Ranking Heat Disorders
The severity of heat disorders is relative to a person’s age, weight, fitness, medical condition, and degree of acclimatization to the heat. For example, heat cramps in a 17-year-old may translate as heat exhaustion in someone who is 40, and heat stroke in a person over 60. Common heat disorders include:
- Sunburn. Along with being painful and irritating, sunburn can significantly retard the skin’s ability to shed excess heat. The best solution for sunburn is prevention, by applying sunscreen throughout the day.
- Heat cramps. Symptoms are painful spasms, usually in the muscles of the legs and abdomen, often preceded by profuse sweating.
- Heat rash. Also known as prickly heat, heat rash can occur in hot, humid environments where sweat is not easily removed from the surface of the skin by evaporation. Serious heat rash can be so uncomfortable that it inhibits sleep and impedes a worker’s performance.
- Heat exhaustion. Symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, headache, fainting, vomiting, and skin that is cold, pale and clammy. It is possible to have a normal temperature with heat exhaustion.
- Heat stroke or sunstroke. This is the most serious health problem for workers in hot environments. Heat stroke occurs when sweating stops and the body can no longer rid itself of excess heat. Symptoms include an excessively high body temperature (106° F or higher); mental confusion or delirium; convulsions; hot, dry skin; strong and rapid pulse; and possible unconsciousness. Make no mistake: heat stroke can be fatal, and victims need immediate medical attention.
Prevention: The Best Solution
The number one method of avoiding heat disorders: avoiding heat. But for construction workers in the summer, this is simply not possible. So, here are some tips for staying cool and staying alive, beginning with the most obvious:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink water even if you don't feel thirsty. Proper hydration actually begins the day before a long, strenuous day in the sun. Before increasing your fluid consumption, consult a physician if you (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; (2) are on a fluid-restrictive diet; or (3) have a problem with fluid retention.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol dehydrates your body. Enough said.
- Limit caffeine intake.
- Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
- Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods that are heavy in protein increase metabolic heat production and also increase water loss.
- Dress as lightly as possible. You need protective clothing, of course, but consider light-colored fabrics, such as cotton, that breathe.
- When possible, take longer breaks than normal in a cool, shaded area. A rested worker is a more productive worker.
- Know the symptoms of heat illnesses. Use a buddy system to keep tabs on your fellow workers.
- Acclimate yourself to the heat. You can “get used to” the heat, to some degree. Workers, especially those who follow the advice above, can eventually develop some degree of tolerance. However, new employees and workers returning from an absence of two weeks or more should have a five-day period of acclimatization: 50 percent of the normal workload and time exposure the first day, gradually building up to 100 percent on the fifth day.
stopimg title="keepCool_img3" style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: 0px solid; WIDTH: 260px; PADDING-LEFT: 10px; HEIGHT: 195px; BORDER-TOP: 0px solid; align: left" alt="keepCool_img3" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/3_KeepCool_260x195.jpg" border="0" />Supervisor Obligations
There are precautions every employer should take when temperatures are high and the job involves physical work.
- Understand the signs of heat stress and permit workers to interrupt their work if they are extremely uncomfortable.
- Provide training about the hazards leading to heat stress and how to prevent them.
- If possible, schedule the heaviest workload for the coolest part of the day: early morning or late evening, when the sun is less intense.
- Make sure your workers have easy access to cool water—a minimum of one quart of water per hour, per worker.
- Schedule frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded or air- conditioned areas.
- Routinely check on workers who are at risk of heat stress due to protective clothing and high temperature. Pay close attention to those who are at risk because of age and physical condition (including obesity and diabetes).
When A Fellow Worker Is Ill From The Heat
- Call a supervisor for help. If the supervisor is not available, call 911.
- Have someone stay with the worker until help arrives.
- Move the worker to a cooler/shaded area.
- Remove outer clothing.
- Fan and mist the worker with water; apply ice (ice bags or ice towels).
- Provide cool drinking water, if the worker is able to drink.
For more information about preventing and treating heat-related illness, consult these articles:
Sources for this article:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (noaawatch.gov)
- Occupational and Safety Health Administration (osha.gov)
stopimg title="19a" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" alt="19a" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/19astopimg4Take the time to winterize your equipment this year. A few minutes spent could save you time and money in the months to come. The amount of winter care your equipment needs depends both on the climate and how it is used. Check your service manual guidelines, and keep the following tips in mind:
1. Check coolant. Provide protection by using the recommended antifreeze/water mixture for the lowest temperature expected during operations.
2. Change the oil and filter before cold weather arrives. In addition, use lubricants recommended for low temperature applications.
3. Maintain the battery. Remove cables, clean cable ends and posts, and clean and tighten terminals on the cranking motor. And remember never to charge a frozen battery.
4. Check tire inflation. Tires inflated in a warm shop will be under-inflated when used in cold temperatures.
5. Give hydraulic components time to warm up before beginning work. If you’re running diesel equipment, be sure to idle the engine a few minutes before shutting down to properly lubricate internal components. Your local Ditch Witch® service technicians can help you make the most of your cold-weather equipment productivity, and can suggest winterizing techniques that are perfectly suited to your operation.
If your machine's hydraulic system isn't working, neither are you. Here are some common causes of hydraulic system breakdown and steps you can take to avoid them.
stopimg title="SK650_1" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" alt="SK650_1" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/SK650_1stopimg4Contamination
An estimated 75 percent of all hydraulic system failure is due to contamination, so change filters regularly. If filters become dirty too frequently, examine them. Metal shavings can indicate that a pump, motor, or other upstream component may be failing. Resin or sludge—type material usually means oxidation of the fluid, often caused by low fluid levels or damaged seals.
Use clean tools and equipment, and always thoroughly clean hydraulic components before you remove, repair, or reinstall them. When you disconnect a hydraulic line, cap the end to keep contamination out while you're servicing the system. When you put the system back together, always install a new filter.
stopimg title="SK650_2" style="padding-left: 20px;" align="right" alt="SK650_2" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/SK650_2stopimg4Low or Dirty Fluid
Low fluid levels can cause everything from sluggish cylinder operation to catastrophic pump cavitation, so check the fluid regularly (with the engine off and the fluid cool) and maintain the proper level. Always use the right fuel for your system.
Murky or cloudy fluid usually indicates water or air in the system. Water can come from condensation, and excess air can be a result of low fluid levels, a damaged seal, or a crack in a suction hose.
Other System Components
Sometimes the obvious causes of hydraulic system trouble get overlooked. Try these preliminary checks:stopimg title="SK650_3" style="padding-right: 20px;" align="left" alt="SK650_3" src="/uploadedImages/Left_Nav/Press_Room/Job_Related_List/SK650_3stopimg4
- Check the hydraulic fluid level with the engine off and the fluid cool.
- With the engine stopped, check for leaks around seals, castings, and hydraulic connections.
- Check for kinks in hydraulic lines.
- Check for a plugged or damaged fluid cooler or fluid filter.
- Check the electrical connections to solenoid valves. The problem may not be hydraulic after all.
When in doubt, you can always find factory—trained technicians at your Ditch Witch dealership, professionals whose only business is keeping Ditch Witch equipment healthy.
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