Vermeer trencher questions

Greg K · Jun 9, 2013

I am thinking about buying a trencher for my business and just saw a Vermeer V450 for sale along the highway. Anyone have any esperience with them? Looked like it had the John Deere 3 cylinder diesel, 7' trenching stinger, backhoe (on the front, I guess it would be a front hoe), 6 way blade. Like a true rookie I didn't get the hours, but the parking brake is unhooked below it (consider it having a problem). The bottom pin on the backhoe has some play in it, there was an oil leak under the backhoe controls that seeped some, probably to be expected. The auger to carry away the dirt from the trencher stinger had a piece of rebar welded on the edge of it the whole way, Don't know why since this would be a non-wear item I think. The sprocket that drives the trenching chain is just a little concave on the face that drives the chain. Any idea how long that can be expected to last? Front tires were new, rears were 1/2 tread. I didn't get a price on it, but got the #. I know these can be a huge PITA and expensive to fix if they break down, so I want to know what to look out for.

Thanks ahead of time, Greg

Michael Price · Jun 9, 2013

I picked up a case trencher a few years ago and what a mess, they case trencher line changed hands so many times its almost impossible to find parts. Id like to find a ditch witch myself.

I did scoop up a vermeer backhoe that came off a trencher and that thing is built like a tank, I made it into a 3pt. It works great. Vermeer seems to have well built machines. Like almost all construction machines they will have lots of wear and poor maintenance. As far as the wear goes you should be good, they work fine even with severe wear.

twostepn2001 · Jun 10, 2013

I have lots of experience with a Vermeer 475. It had a Deutz air cooled diesel engine.
Reason for the re-bar welded to the auger flighting is probably because that paticular machine was used to dig deeper trenches. Deeper the trench, the closer those augers run to the ground and move more dirt.
Biggest wear item will be the digging teeth and digging chain itself. Check the roller bushings and see how much wear they have.
The key to good smooth trench walls and digging speed is not only good teeth but how they are installed on the dig chain.
Pull the cover behind the seat and check the drive chains and sprockets for wear.
Not sure about where you are, but around here there are Vermeer dealers and parts for older machines are still fairly easy to get.

Vermeer trencher questions

Greg K

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Michael Price

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twostepn2001

Well-known Member

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