Directional drill provides muscle for outside-plant cable installs

The JT25 horizontal directional drill from Ditch Witch provides the muscle sometimes needed in difficult outside-plantcabling-installation projects. Its thrust and pullback of 27,000 pounds, as well as the rotational drive that produces 4,000 foot-pounds of torque make the drill “ideal for installing utility pipe and cables of up to four inches in diameter at lengths up to 500 feet,” the company says.

Ditch Witch adds the rotational drive system features a single low-speed, high-torque motor “that is smooth, quiet and efficient.” The drill is powered by a 130-horsepower, Tier 4i Cummins diesel engine. Operators use either a single- or dual-joystick to control thrust and rotation. The company also says the drill’s automated, intuitive carve mode reduces operator fatigue and error. “The field-proven pipeloading system is simple but exceptionally efficient, with minimal moving parts, and open-top vise wrenches give the operator an excellent view of the tool joint,” Ditch Witch adds.