Cleaning ditch

[Pitbull]

I have a fairly narrow and shallow ditch that runs approximately 100' on my driveway that has silted over in places. My question is, has anyone used a middle buster to clear/clean out a small ditch. I can get my hands on a brand new one for right at $100. Any thoughts, advice, experience would be helpful.

 

[Pitbull]

No, not at the moment. Plan on getting one in the spring. I can straddle the ditch, which is why I was thinking the middle buster would work. Thanks for the tip on riding the middle to pack it down.

 

[Lil Foot]

Watched a guy in the upper peninsula using a Ford 9N with a middle buster to cut a drainage ditch. The next day he was back with the plow share removed and a piece of 1/2" steel plate attached in it's place. The plate was trapezoidal (see pic) and he dragged it down the previously "busted" ditch, clearing almost all the loose dirt out of the ditch.

 

[Pitbull]

Thanks lilfoot, I don't have any 1/2" steel to fab that. Wonder if 1/4 will do? I'll see if I can fab up something with some 1/4" I have lying around and see what happens. BTW, I purchased the buster for $85, hopefully it'll do what I want, if not, I can still use it in my garden for spring planting.

 

[Redlands]

Multiple layers of 1/4 add up

 

[D2Cat]

I made a ditch cleaner tool because I didn't want the county to come and use one of their machines to clean it. I wanted it to drain and that's it. Not remove a dump truck of dirt.

I had a water heater (often referred to as a hot water heater). I cut it in two pieces leaving about 2' on the end I wanted to use. I then cut that piece in two horizontally, then welded a piece of stainless steel on the end for a cutting edge, and make some handles to guide it.

Had my wife run the tractor is low, slow and just scooped it out. Looks kinda like to old "pond scoops".

I'll take a picture tomorrow and post.

 

[Pitbull]

Thanks for all the replies, they are all helpful. D2cat, please post those pics, I'm very interested in your creation.