Published: 24.10.2026 · Motohill team
A chain trencher digs a narrow, even trench: the Jansen GF-600pro makes a trench 10 cm wide and up to 60 cm deep, at up to 60 m of trench per hour. It is a good tool for cables, garden irrigation and drainage. For wider trenches and pits you need a mini excavator. Before you buy, answer three questions: what trench you need, what soil you have and how many metres there are to dig.
How does a chain trencher work and what is it for?
The machine has a digging chain with carbide teeth that cuts the ground to the set depth. An auger conveyor moves the spoil to the side of the trench, so the cut is clean and straight. Compared with digging by hand there is no heavy shovel work, and compared with heavy equipment there is less risk of wrecking the lawn and garden. We do not sell a hand-held trencher: the GF-600pro is a self-propelled machine weighing 184 kg.
How to choose a trencher: criteria
1. Trench width
The GF-600pro digs a trench 10 cm wide. That suffices for cables, drip-irrigation tubing and small-diameter drainage. If you are laying a thicker pipe (for example a sewer pipe) or need room to work inside the trench, 10 cm is not enough. Check the pipe diameter before buying.
2. Depth
Digging depth is set to 20, 40 or 60 cm. Decide the laying depth for cables or pipes from the design or the utility's requirements, because the machine does not dig deeper than 60 cm. For deeper excavations, choose a mini excavator such as the Jansen MB-500 (up to 120 cm).
3. Output and route length
The manufacturer states up to 60 m of trench per hour. That is a maximum; in hard clay or stony ground it will be slower. For a route measured in hundreds of metres, the difference against a shovel is enormous; for a few metres it is more economical to hire equipment or a service.
4. Soil and chain wear
This is the most important practical point. The digging chain is a wear part and is not covered by the warranty, because it can be damaged by large stones, rubble or tree roots. The teeth (27 pieces of carbide alloy) are bolted to the chain and replaced individually. Before work, clear larger stones from the route and check that there are no cables or pipes in the ground.
5. Engine, size and transport
It is powered by a Briggs & Stratton petrol engine, 4-stroke, 420 cm³, 13.5 HP. The chain is 2057 mm long and runs at up to 550 m/min. The machine measures 2172 × 950 × 1168 mm, so it fits through narrow passages and reaches most gardens. On 15 × 6.00-6 wheels it travels over lawns and yards. Packed, it weighs 220 kg (1100 × 800 × 900 mm).
Chain trencher or mini excavator?
| Parameter | Jansen GF-600pro | Jansen MB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Machine type | chain trencher, self-propelled | tracked mini excavator with bucket |
| Engine | Briggs & Stratton, 420 cm³, 13.5 HP | Trident TR306(E), 306 cm³, 8.5 HP |
| Excavation width | 10 cm | depends on the bucket (30 cm in the set) |
| Digging depth | 20, 40 or 60 cm | up to 120 cm |
| Trench output | up to 60 m/h | not applicable (bucket digging) |
| Machine weight | 184 kg | 562 kg |
| Machine width | 95 cm | 70 cm (77 cm with mirrors) |
If besides trenches you also plan pits, excavations and moving soil, a mini excavator is more versatile. If you mostly dig long, narrow trenches for services, a chain trencher is simpler and faster. You will find other machines of this type in the tillers and trenchers section, and excavators and loaders in the excavators and loaders section.
Common mistakes when buying
- Expecting a wide trench. The trench is 10 cm. For thicker pipes and pits, choose a mini excavator.
- Digging in stony ground. The chain is a wear part, and damage from stones and roots is not covered by the warranty.
- No survey of the route. If you do not know where cables and pipes run, you risk damaging services.
- Skipping oil before the first start. An engine run without oil is permanently damaged.
- Buying "just in case" for a short route. For a few metres of trench the machine's payback is doubtful.
How to prepare the route and work
Mark the route with string or spray paint and keep the stretches as straight as possible. Damp but not waterlogged ground digs most easily, and in loose sand the trench walls may collapse. As soon as the trench is cut, lay the cable or pipe, then backfill and compact the soil. Work steadily, without forcing the chain into the ground. When you finish, clean clay off the chain and the conveyor. Check the teeth from time to time: worn ones are replaced individually, without changing the whole chain.
Delivery and first start-up
Jansen trenchers arrive in a wooden crate in a disassembled state, and you do the final assembly yourself. For the GF-600pro it takes about 1 hour, and the manufacturer recommends two people. Before the first start, put about 1.5 l of engine oil into the engine (10W40 or 15W40 recommended). The manual supplied is in German. On receipt, check that the shipment is complete and free of transport damage.
Frequently asked questions
How wide a trench does the Jansen GF-600pro chain trencher dig?
10 cm wide. The depth is set to 20, 40 or 60 cm.
How many metres of trench per hour?
The manufacturer states up to 60 m per hour. The real result depends on the soil: in stony or compacted clay it is slower.
Can it cope with stones and roots?
The chain will cut through small obstacles, but it can be damaged on large stones, rubble and tree roots. Clear larger objects from the route before work.
Is the digging chain covered by the warranty?
No. It is a wear part. The 24-month warranty applies to the machine but not to the digging chain.
What about delivery and returns?
We ship by courier across Poland, free from 999 zł (39 zł below that). Returns are possible within 14 days, with return shipping paid by the buyer. Delivery to other EU countries is possible, with cost and time confirmed when you order. Call us for advice: +48 780 140 444.