Ditch Witch horizontal boring machine

[89AKurt]

Had to expand on just "boring machine" otherwise no clicks or favs. 😂  I'm one of five on a local Water Improvement District board, with a Manager who does the 24/7 repairs, plus projects like this.  Subcontracted out with a California company.  Last Administration "IRA" grant money, that is administered through the County, found a huge leak under the highway to bypass.  I watched a You Tube University video so now I'm an expert. 🙄  I got the basic idea so I could ask not so dumb questions, and the guy running the rig was glad to show me.  If you want a huge scratch-built project, this is it.  Think of a drag race team, but super slow and muddy. 😏

Overall panorama of the whole job.   This would make a cool diorama.  Include the outhouse! 🤪

I bet everyone only sees the orange machine.

This detects the beacon, to know where the drill bit is.

This day it was pot-holing for the gas pipeline, 10 feet apart.  Pinto is a local resident. 🤫

This generator is for the mud/lubricant trailer, to run several big pumps.  A few hoses and cable run over the road.

There is a backhoe, water truck and several pickups besides the actual machine.  Two hydraulic vices to un/screw the pipe.

The hoe had lifted the pipe rack onto the machine since I took this picture.

This morning I went to the other side of the highway first.  The drum and auger are for reaming the pilot hole bigger, then the water pipe is shoved through.

With the temporary pipe that bypasses the old main under the highway, we have saved about 100,000 gallons a month.  Yes, this old system was built when Studebakers were new, been losing about an acre foot a month.  They ran into problems, had to restart a deeper hole.

They are using the instrument to see where the tip is, about 12 feet deep now.

Just thought someone would like to see such a project.  Hope to get more pictures, but have a wedding to attend tomorrow (Sat.), they were going to work.

[espo]

Like anything done properly this technology can be faster and far less invasive than opening a ditch or a roadway to run utilities. Unfortunately, in both the KC Metro area and others that I have read about they also have all too often have breached other underground utilities including natural gas lines that have caused some devastating consequences for more than a few homes and businesses. I do not pretend to be any type of an expert on this subject, only an observer of some of the consequences when it all goes wrong.  

Edited Saturday at 05:17 PM by espo

[iamsuperdan]

On 10/24/2025 at 10:53 PM, 89AKurt said:

 

I bet everyone only sees the orange machine.
 

 

Got any more pics of that Volvo 740 wagon? I love me some Volvo wagon.

 

[89AKurt]

11 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

Got any more pics of that Volvo 740 wagon? I love me some Volvo wagon.

I built the BTCC 850 last century, that? 😄

I need to get to the job today, this was Saturday.  Imagine having to maintain where the drilling fluid goes into the pipe going under the road.

The business end.

This trailer sifts out the clay and rock by vibrating.

[iamsuperdan]

There it is again!

[Russell C]

6 hours ago, 89AKurt said:

I built the BTCC 850 ....

Funny - you've seen my 1:1 GTI - the Albq Model Car Club member who sold it to me built that same kit but as a killer street version painted refrigerator white because (if I remember correctly) he said the thing looked like a refrigerator laid on its side.

Edited Tuesday at 03:04 AM by Russell C