The message
from "Andrew Mawson" contains
these words:

Roger,

for ditch work I hate to say it but you probably need a "360" tracked
machine - a conventional 3CX type not only is too long (as it needs to
be at 90 degrees to the ditch to be effective) so will give you access
problems, it also needs constant moving to do the next section.

My 3CX is very versatile - today I've been backfilling trenches but it
was also used for moving jumbo bags of ballast, and shifting a
concrete mixer and a JCB Beaver hydralic breaker over a pile of
hardcore - but I will probably get a contractor in to clear my about
1/2 mile of ditches !!!!

Just as I was swinging back in favour of a JCB you put the dampers on.

Is it just not possible to clear ditches with the machine parallel to
the ditch?

And what about straddling ditches? My garden is long and thin. Unless I
can straddle the excavation I can't excavate for the heat pump.

--
Roger Chapman