HELP! Old Ditch Witch Trencher info needed

[redneckhillbilly]

Anyone ever seen one of these? any idea of a model number? I can see a ditch witch sticker thats been painted over, I am looking to find parts for it but I cannot find a model # or a serial # tag on it anywhere, it has a Wisconsin THD engine and I am having trouble finding a replacement distributor cap and rotor.

one thing I can say is that this thing is way cool, it runs and digs a nice trench 36 inches deep no problem, and I would like to be able to keep this machine working when needed, so any info or ideas is greatly apprecited

 

[Junk Meister]

Distributor parts can be found at NAPA. D/W parts might need to have a donor/parts machine sitting in the back 40.
I can't help with model numbers -- GOOD LUCK.

 

[redneckhillbilly]

thanks for recommending napa, I will give them a try, it's a good working old machine and I would like to keep it running as long as possible

 

[Lnk]

Anyone ever seen one of these? any idea of a model number? I can see a ditch witch sticker thats been painted over, I am looking to find parts for it but I cannot find a model # or a serial # tag on it anywhere, it has a Wisconsin THD engine and I am having trouble finding a replacement distributor cap and rotor.

one thing I can say is that this thing is way cool, it runs and digs a nice trench 36 inches deep no problem, and I would like to be able to keep this machine working when needed, so any info or ideas is greatly apprecited

Those THD engines fire on every stroke, it is a lost spark engine, basically a series circuit through both spark plugs if my memory serves me correctly. Pretty simple. They last forever also if oil is kept in them.

 

[Junk Meister]

You may know this but most of the older distributors have a tag for ID The Continental engine on my welder had burnt points (BAD) so I went to the Bay, did some digging and found a module (electronic ignition conversion) for $40. Points & condensers now are 10X s what they used to be so it is a good investment as the points were going to be 25 or 30$. You might check the Module availability for your Wisconsin.

 

[Junk Meister]

Those THD engines fire on every stroke, it is a lost spark engine, basically a series circuit through both spark plugs if my memory serves me correctly. Pretty simple. They last forever also if oil is kept in them.

Briggs twins did and years ago I got caught off guard trouble shooting one on my trencher. The valve seat was getting loose in the block and I thought spark was the issue because it would work good for a while then loose power. I replaced it with an ONAN.

 

[redneckhillbilly]

after alot of online searching the closest model to it I can find is a 2200 series, it looks very similiar but it has a steering wheel, mine pivots the whole front diff left or right with a lever.

I am charging my inlaws to dig a trench with it and would like to put the money i am charging right back into the machine.

as far as maintenance I really have no idea of how to properly maintain it, I grease all the zerks and keep engine oil topped off and look for hydraulic leaks, I am always looking for worn parts, I have no idea of what the common wear items are, but I am sure I will find out what the weak points are the old fashioned way.

 

[Lnk]

Briggs twins did and years ago I got caught off guard trouble shooting one on my trencher. The valve seat was getting loose in the block and I thought spark was the issue because it would work good for a while then loose power. I replaced it with an ONAN.

I have an onan p220g in my mower. When I work it hard, it starts to smoke and use a little oil. Time to remove the tins and give it a good fin cleaning. I like the sound of the onan.

 

[Al Smith]

If you Google it you can find the caps,around $20 .If worse comes to worse you could fire a double coil which I once did for a Caterpillar D4 pony motor using a dry cell 6 volt lantern battery .Afterwards I did repair the bad magneto coil .Onan pancake two cylinder engines used a double coil .