THE
MODEL 1324D – 1624D
HYDRAULIC TRENCHER OPERATOR’S MANUAL
TRENCHER INTENDED USE
This machine is designed for digging trenches in “normal” ground of reasonably soft dirt and stones up to 6”
(15cm) in diameter. Ground with larger stones, high clay content, very hard packed, very dry, or in a frozen
condition may be unsuitable for normal trenching. Consider using a backhoe or other heavier equipment for
such conditions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LUBRICATION REQUIREMENTS
SAFETY MESSAGES
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS OVERVIEW
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
TRENCHING TIPS
OPERATOR PREPARATION
SHUT DOWN PROCEDURE
GROUND TRANSPORT OF THE TRENCHER
LOCATING UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
WORKSITE ASSESSMENT
CONTACT WITH UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 8/30/18
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Page 1 of 10
LUBRICATION REQUIREMENTS
Grease per the following schedule:
a. Boom Pivot – Daily
b. Outboard Bearings – Daily
c. Wheel Hubs, 1 zerk for each hub – Monthly
d. Cylinder Pins (2) – Daily
e. Cylinder Rod End (thru hole in motor cover) – Daily
f. Sprocket Hub Bearing – Daily
g. Front Wheel Axle – Weekly
h. Chain Roller – Daily
SAFETY MESSAGES
General safety messages are listed in this Safety Messages section. Specific safety messages appear as appropriate
in this manual where a potential hazard may occur if procedures or instructions are not followed correctly and
completely.
SAFETY SYMBOL
This is the international safety alert symbol. This symbol is used in combination with a signal word and
written message to warn you of a potential for bodily injury or death.
A signal word "DANGER", "WARNING", or "CAUTION" is used with the safety alert symbol.
DANGER: Imminent hazards, that if not avoided, will result in serious personal injury or death.
WARNING: Potential hazards or unsafe practices, that if not avoided, could result in serious personal
injury or death.
CAUTION: Potential hazards or unsafe practices, that if not avoided, could result in minor personal
injury, product damage, or property damage.
Safety decals with a signal word "DANGER", "WARNING", or "CAUTION" are affixed to the trencher near
specific hazards.
Read this manual and study ALL decals on the trencher before operating the trencher.
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 8/30/18
Page 2 of 10
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS OVERVIEW
READ SAFETY AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE OPERATING!
USE COMMON SENSE AND PLENTY OF IT!
The CLUTCH LEVER on the left handlebar is for the operator’s protection. All motion stops when the lever is
released.
DO NOT TAPE THE CLUTCH LEVER UP or otherwise by-pass this safety feature!
Call before you dig. If you do not call, you may cause an accident; suffer injuries or death; cause interruption of
services; damage the environment; and/or incur project delays. Expect to be held liable for any damages caused, if
you fail to call.
DANGER: Buried electric cables or gas lines can cause serious injury or death if struck with dig chain.
Always determine location of utilities before trenching.
WARNING: Fiber optic cables convey laser light that can injure your
eyesight.
STAY CLEAR of moving parts on the trencher.
DANGER: Digging chain, auger and other moving parts can cut off arms,
legs, or fingers. Contact with the digging chain or auger while in operation
will cause serious injury or even death.
Wear safety goggles and a hard hat while operating or observing!
WARNING: The dig chain may throw stones and debris.
Wear adequate hearing protection while operating or observing.
WARNING: Exposure to loud noise is cumulative and may
permanently damage your hearing.
Wear safety boots and gloves. Wear close-fitting clothing. Contain long hair.
Do not wear jewelry. Wear reflective clothing if working near traffic.
Only operate outdoors and avoid breathing engine exhaust and fumes.
WARNING: Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas that is toxic. Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and death.
Adequate lighting is required, daylight or artificial, for safe operation of the trencher.
Allow adequate side and overhead clearances between trencher and buildings, fences, and trees.
WARNING: If the dig chain contacts an object the digging chain can climb upward quickly and tip the
trencher toward the operator. Serious injury or death will result by operator contact with the moving chain.
The digging chain can suddenly drag the machine forward if the trencher is forced too quickly into the ground or
catches on a buried object.
Insure that the CHAIN FORWARD/NEUTRAL/REVERSE LEVER is in NEUTRAL when not actually
trenching.
WARNING: Contact with the dig chain or auger while in operation will cause serious injury or even
death. The teeth of the dig chain are sharp. Avoid contact even when the chain is not moving.
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 8/30/18
Page 3 of 10
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS OVERVIEW (continued)
Avoid inclines if at all possible.
WARNING: Navigating on any incline increases the danger of the trencher losing traction or rolling over,
especially if the surface is wet. If you lose control get out of the way immediately to avoid personal injury.
Navigation on inclines should be especially slow and turns very gradual. Refer to the incline diagram in the
section, “GROUND TRANSPORT”.
WARNING: The weight of the trencher or walking near the edge of the trench could cause collapse of the
trench wall.
Avoid operating adjacent to drop-offs or embankments.
Keep away from tires to avoid getting crushed.
WARNING: Getting run over by the trencher will cause injury.
Always leave trencher parked on a level surface.
WARNING: Do not park on incline. Move the trencher to a level surface.
Do not leave trencher unattended with the engine running.
Do not operate trencher near any source of flammable dust or vapors.
WARNING: Sparks from the engine exhaust can cause an explosion or fire in a flammable or explosive
atmosphere. Fuel fumes can catch fire or explode.
Do not operate trencher near flames or sparks.
WARNING: Fuel fumes can catch fire or explode.
Shut off engine and allow it to cool before refueling.
WARNING: Fuel fumes can catch fire or explode. Do not smoke when refueling. Do not refuel near a
source of flames or sparks.
Do not touch the engine, muffler, or any of the hydraulic components until cool.
WARNING: Muffler and engine get hot enough to cause serious burns. For the safety of yourself and
others, allow enough time for the engine, muffler, and the hydraulic fluid to cool completely before
performing any cleaning or maintenance.
Avoid contact with hydraulic fluid.
WARNING: When machine is operating, hydraulic fluid is under extreme pressure and can get under skin
and burn or poison.
Keep others away. If the job site is near a road or pedestrian path, warn and divert both motorized traffic and
pedestrians. As appropriate, use traffic flag personnel, signs, cones, and lighting devices to insure safety.
WARNING: Someone could step into the trench by accident. Walking near the edge of the trench could
cause collapse of the trench wall and possibly cause someone to fall onto the moving chain. Contact with
the digging chain or auger while in operation will cause serious injury or even death.
Never allow anybody to ride on the trencher.
Never lift trencher over any person at any time.
WARNING: If trencher should fall it would crush anybody under it.
We recommend having a fire extinguisher suitable for petrol fires in the operating area.
Attachments can change the center of mass and machine operations. Use only Barreto attachments.
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 12/4/14
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TRENCHER OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
READ SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE OPERATING!
Be sure that the engine oil, fuel and hydraulic oil are at proper levels before starting the engine.
STUDY AND UNDERSTAND CONTROLS BEFORE BEGINNING OPERATION.
1. ENGINE IGNITION: Must be in ON position to start the engine. Move to OFF position to
stop the engine.
2. ENGINE THROTTLE: The throttle controls engine speed. Trench in REVERSE at
full throttle (all the way forward).
3. CLUTCH LEVER: (At left handle grip). Activates GROUND DRIVE and DIGGING CHAIN
controls when raised. Stops all motion when released. DIGGING CHAIN control must be HELD in
“ON” position as clutch lever is raised, in order to start chain in motion.
4. AXLE: “ U N L O C K ” pos i t i on ( dow n) i s f or m a ne u v e r i n g. “ L O C K ” pos i t i on ( up) i s f or
d i g g i n g . U N L O C K a ll o w s le f t w h e e l t o f r e e w h e e l w h i le r ig h t w h e e l d r i v e s .
5. DIGGING CHAIN ON/OFF CONTROL: Starts chain in forward rotation. Hold in “ON” position when
clutch lever is engaged.
6.
CHAIN FORWARD/REVERSE LEVER; Allows manual operation of chain in forward or reverse
rotation to dislodge objects or dig difficult terrain. This control can be used with the Clutch Lever
released. To reverse chain, DIGGING CHAIN control must be in “OFF” position.
7. DIGGING BOOM: Raises and lowers the digging boom.
8. GROUND SPEED: Controls wheel speed forward or reverse after clutch lever is engaged.
GETTING STARTED: Start and warm up engine. Drive trencher to starting trench location with AXLE in
“UNLOCK” position. Lock axle. Hold DIGGING CHAIN control in “ON” position. With GROUND SPEED
control in neutral, pull up CLUTCH LEVER and slowly lower DIGGING BOOM to desired depth. Slowly move
GROUND SPEED control in REVERSE direction until desired speed is reached. (Varying soil conditions may
require adjustments to ground speed to avoid wheel spin or engine overload.)
FOR HARD TO DIG AREAS or if object (rock or root) gets lodged in chain, release CLUTCH LEVER. This
will lock wheels in position. Manually reverse chain with the CHAIN control to dislodge object. Manually run
chain forward with CHAIN control to dig through roots or rocky areas. Intermittently activate CLUTCH LEVER
to move trencher back a few inches and repeat until hard area is passed. Resume normal operation.
ALWAYS THOROUGHLY CLEAN AND SERVICE TRENCHER AFTER EACH USE.
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 12/4/14
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TRENCHING TIPS
THE PLUNGE CUT:
If the boom bounces when lowering it, use a more gradual “boom down” action. A little ground travel toward the
operator during the plunge cut may help reduce bounce. Adjust the boom lowering speed for soil conditions as
necessary.
Do not overload engine. If the engine lugs down or the digging chain slows down, raise the boom until speed
increases, then continue lowering the boom slowly.
Do not attempt to force the boom down faster than the digging chain can remove the material!
COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS: Before operating in cold weather, refer to the Engine Owner’s Manual for
recommended engine oil. Do not spray starting fluid into the air cleaner as engine damage could result. If the
machine is operated at temperatures below +32°F (0°C) then changing the hydraulic fluid to ISO 46 is
recommended. If you do not want to change the hydraulic fluid but want to operate the machine at temperatures
below +32°F (0°C), then do the following:
• Warm up engine at a low speed.
• Gradually increase engine speed, allowing 30 minutes for the hydraulic fluid to warm up.
Reduce the engine speed if the hydraulic pump whines. Pump noise may indicate a lack of hydraulic fluid flow
that could damage the pump.
For frequent starts below 18°F consult your Barreto Manufacturing dealer.
OPERATOR PREPARATION
Each operator must:
• Become familiar with the controls and operation of the trencher, preferably under the supervision of an
experienced operator.
• Be mentally and physically capable of operating the trencher safely.
• Have studied the SAFETY AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS in this manual.
PERSONAL PROTECTION: For safety, trencher operator should wear personal protection equipment. Keep
observers at a safe distance.
Wear safety eye goggles and a hard hat while operating or
observing!
WARNING: The dig chain may throw stones and
debris.
Wear safety boots and gloves. Wear close-fitting clothing.
Contain long hair. Do not wear jewelry. Wear reflective
clothing if working near traffic.
Wear adequate hearing (ear) protection while operating or
observing.
WARNING: Exposure to loud noise is cumulative and
may permanently damage your hearing.
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 12/4/14
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SHUT DOWN PROCEDURE
1. Always leave trencher parked on a level surface.
WARNING: Do not park on incline.
Move the trencher to a level surface.
2. Unless loaded on a trailer, lower the boom to the ground.
3. Reduce the ENGINE THROTTLE to idle.
4. Move the IGNITION SWITCH to the OFF position to stop the engine.
5. CLOSE THE FUEL SHUTOFF VALVE. Failure to close this valve
could cause fuel to leak down into the cylinder & crankcase. Damage
resulting from this WOULD NOT be covered by your engine warranty!
Shut off engine and allow it to cool before refueling.
WARNING: Fuel fumes can catch fire or explode. Do not smoke or allow
flames or sparks in the area.
Do not touch the engine, muffler, or any of the hydraulic components until cool.
WARNING: Muffler and engine get hot enough to cause serious burns. For the safety of yourself and
others, allow enough time for the engine, muffler, and the hydraulic fluid to cool completely before
performing any cleaning or maintenance.
GROUND TRANSPORT OF THE TRENCHER
Raise the digging chain boom.
Insure that the CHAIN FORWARD/NEUTRAL/REVERSE LEVER is in NEUTRAL when not actually
trenching.
WARNING: Contact with the dig chain or auger while in operation will cause serious injury or even
death. The teeth of the dig chain are sharp. Avoid contact even when the chain is not moving.
Keep away from wheels to avoid getting crushed.
WARNING: Getting run over by the trencher will cause injury.
Never allow anybody to ride on the trencher.
Never make sudden changes in speed or direction.
Use extra caution on soft or uneven ground.
Avoid operating adjacent to drop-offs or embankments.
Avoid inclines if at all possible. Never use on any incline exceeding the angles shown below.
WARNING: Navigating on any incline increases the danger of the trencher losing traction or rolling over,
especially if the surface is wet. If you lose control get out of the way immediately to avoid personal injury.
Navigation on inclines should be especially slow and turns very gradual.
A 20° maximum incline is allowed. Honda engines have an Oil Alert system that will automatically stop the
engine if tipped more than 20°.
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 12/4/14
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DETERMINE LOCATION OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
OSHA CFR 29 1926.651 requires that the estimated location of underground utilities be determined before
beginning excavation or an underground drilling operation. When the actual excavation or bore approaches an
estimated utility location, the exact location of the underground installation must be determined by a safe,
acceptable and dependable method. If any utility cannot be precisely located, the appropriate utility company
must shut it off.
Call before you dig. If you do not call, you may cause an accident; suffer injuries or death; cause interruption of
services; damage the environment; and/or incur project delays. Expect to be held liable for any damages caused, if
you fail to call.
DANGER: Buried electric cables or gas lines can cause serious injury or death if struck with dig chain.
Always determine location of utilities before trenching.
WARNING: Fiber optic cables convey laser light that can injure your eyesight.
CALL 811 or 1-888-258-0808 TO LOCATE UTILITIES BEFORE TRENCHING (US. OR CANADA).
This free service will provide a “One-Call” number for the geographic area that you select. Before you start any
digging project, be sure to call the local One-Call system in your area and any utility company that does not
subscribe to the One-Call system. The One-Call representative will notify participating utility companies of your
proposed digging activities. Utilities will then mark their underground facilities by using the following
international marking codes:
Red
Yellow
Orange
Blue
Green/brown
White
Pink
Electric
Gas, oil, or petroleum
Communication, telephone, television
Potable water
Sewer
Proposed excavation
Surveying
For areas not represented by One-Call Systems International, contact the appropriate utility companies to locate
and mark the underground installations. Do not rely on visual evidence of underground utilities such as manhole
covers or electrical drop boxes…CALL!
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
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WORK SITE ASSESSMENT
Examine the work area for any conditions or obstructions that may inhibit trenching or create a safety hazard
for the operator or others. Use the information in this manual combined with good judgment to identify any
hazards to avoid.
In addition to calling to DETERMINE LOCATION OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES (see previous
section for details), the operator and/or job foreman should visually inspect the work site. Look for electrical
drop boxes, notices of underground placements, manhole covers, recent trenching activity, any evidence of
possible underground placements, banks, overhangs, drop-offs, rocks, tree limbs, wire, uneven terrain, any
existing trenches or holes and toxic ground conditions.
Only operate trencher outdoors and avoid breathing engine exhaust and fumes.
WARNING: Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas that is toxic. Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and death.
Do not operate trencher near any source of flammable dust or vapors.
WARNING: Sparks from the engine exhaust can cause an explosion or fire in a flammable or
explosive atmosphere. Fuel fumes can catch fire or explode.
Allow adequate side and overhead clearances between trencher and any objects such as buildings,
fences, and trees.
WARNING: If the digging chain contacts an object, the digging chain can climb upward quickly and
tip the trencher toward the operator. Serious injury or death will result by operator contact with the
moving chain or auger. The digging chain can suddenly drag the machine forward if the trencher is
forced too quickly into the ground or catches on a buried object.
Adequate lighting is required, daylight or artificial, for safe operation of the trencher.
Keep others away. If the job site is near a road or pedestrian path, warn and divert both motorized
traffic and pedestrians. As appropriate, erect barriers, use traffic flag personnel, signs, cones, and
lighting devices to insure safety.
WARNING: Someone could step into the trench by accident. Walking near the edge of the trench
could cause collapse of the trench wall and possibly cause someone to fall onto the moving chain.
Contact with the digging chain or auger while in operation will cause serious injury or even death.
MACHINE FUNCTION CHECK: If the operator releases the WHEEL DRIVE or DIG CHAIN LEVERS,
these functions should stop. This is intended for your safety and must be maintained in good functional
condition. Contact your dealer or the factory if anything on the trencher does not function properly.
1324D – 1624D Operator’s Manual
Revised 12/4/14
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CONTACT WITH UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
After LOCATING UNDERGROUND UTILITIES and performing the WORK SITE ASSESSMENT,
accidental dig chain contact with a buried utility might still occur. If it does, stop digging and call 911 for
help.
If you cut a wire or cable, assume that you do not know what kind it is. It may be electrical or any one of
several communication lines: telephone, television, or fiber optic. In any case, do not touch it or even look at
the ends of it. Stop digging and call 911 for help. Do not dig any more until the appropriate utility company
has assessed the situation, taken appropriate action, and informed you that is safe to proceed.
If you strike a pipe, it could be gas, oil, petroleum, water or sewer. In any case, stop digging, shut off the
engine, and evacuate the area immediately. Call 911 for help.
Electrical wires or cables: If you think that you may have severed electrical wires, stop digging and call 911
for help. Keep yourself and other people away from the area.
DANGER: An electric shock could kill you. Assume that any severed wire or cable is HOT with
voltage and do not touch it!
Gas lines: If you think that you may have struck a gas line, shut off the engine and evacuate the area
immediately. Call 911 for help.
DANGER: A gas explosion could kill you. Sparks will likely occur from the dig chain scraping the
metal pipe. If gas leaks out an explosion could easily occur.
Fiber optic cables: If you think that you may have severed a fiber optic cable, do not touch or even look at
the ends of it.
WARNING: Fiber optic cables convey laser light that can injure your eyesight. Call 911 for help.
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