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Excerpt from the article: In The Trenches
Written by Steve McGuirk, Madrone Landscape Group, June 2000
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However, a few manufacturers make chains with sharp carbide teeth designed for breaking through tougher soil or soil with buried debris. Consolidated Carbide, Ltd. (Lake Havasu City, Arizona.) manufactures carbide chain teeth designed for increasing production, particularly in hard ground. However, John Walgren, president of Consolidated Carbide, notes that an additional benefit of carbide teeth’s greater durability is extended life span in normal digging conditions. That makes carbide teeth popular with equipment rental companies. Some carbide teeth are welded directly to the chain where as other teeth, carbide or cup, bolt onto the chain. When bolt-on teeth wear down or break it is simple to bolt on new ones. Chains that have teeth welded directly to the chain must be repaired by welding. Using bolt-on teeth, you can devise various combinations of cup and carbide teeth for optimum performance in certain digging conditions. Some operators add hard facing to cup teeth to lengthen their life span, but it is possible that this could decrease digging performance. Trencher manufacturers usually offer you a wide variety of chain and teeth options on new models as well ass for replacement parts. Chain tension is a critical factor. Walgren says that proper tensioning is the “golden rule” of trenchers. Similar to chainsaws, trencher chains must neither be too tight nor too loose. Poorly adjusted chains wear out much more quickly. Walgren notes that experienced operators develop a “feel” for proper chain tension. You should check and adjust chain tension periodically because chains stretch with normal use and require tightening to maintain proper tension.


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Excerpt from the article: Digging The System
Written by The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
Volume 18, Number 1 (2000)
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Ditch Witch^® chain is manufactured to design specifications of The Charles Machine Works, Inc. using the highest quality materials. Published strength specifications are based on pull tests in which Ditch Witch^® chain is literally pulled apart at its weakest link to provide a true strength rating. Ditch Witch^® chain products include bare chain without teeth or holders and chain assemblies with teeth or bits, which are designed for specific applications. One of the most popular and durable chains in recent history is the Ditch Witch^® Shark Chain^®, which comes in both weld-on and bolt-on styles.

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Excerpt from the article: Digging With Less Downtime
Written by Lisa Cleaver, Magazine Editor. April/May 2000.
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Chain, teeth, and sprockets are much more than parts that wear out on a walk-behind trencher and have to be replaced periodically," says Marty Piel, digging systems product manager for The Charles Machine Works, makers of Ditch Witch equipment. "They compromise a digging system, and each component must function efficiently with the others." The productivity of any walk-behind trencher depends largely on the quality and performance of it's digging components--the teeth, chain and sprockets. These components can affect more than just the speed and efficiency of trenching. According to Piel, digging components undergo tremendous stresses during trenching, and trenching with worn chain, teeth or sprockets can cause wear on other machine components.

The welded chain (also known as a Shark Chain^®) includes teeth which are welded to the chain instead of bolted on. This chain uses an H-shaped plate on the chain links to position the tooth's point of impact as close to the chain and drive point as possible. The lower chain profile provides improved leverage and reduces chain kickback. This type of chain works well in hard, rocky ground conditions and is popular with some production contractors because it allows for faster chain speeds and reduced kickback. For rental operators, it's beneficial because it creates less overall wear on the machine. On the other hand, the ability to quickly and easily change the width of the chain is lost with this type of configuration.

However, according to Piel at Ditch Witch^®, shark-tooth chains are gaining popularity with rental operators because the teeth are welded onto the chain, making it a one-piece unit that requires less maintenance. In addition, shark teeth can be used in any type of soil condition, so they're versatile as well as long-lasting.


Rental Product News provides professional rental operators with the latest insights on equipment asset management so they can make their businesses more productive and competitive. RPN also provides insight on how leaders in the equipment rental field are getting the best return from their assets through better equipment selection, application, maintenance and safety techniques.

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