Using tractor driventillers (was Re:[AT]AllisChalmersB-1lawntractor

[Ralph Goff]

After reading all these posts about the dangers of pto post hole augers I
realize just how lucky I have been. When I was a kid one of the first jobs I
had was helping a neighbour dig postholes with a pto auger. This was a crude
old Robin unit and the only connection to the tractor was the long
telescoping powershaft. Therefore, it was necessary for somebody to hold the
handles on top of the auger to operate . I figured it was just common sense
to stay out of the way of the moving power shaft and auger. The tractor
operator ran the old DC4 Case at low idle with a hand on the lever to shut
off the pto if necessary.
Broken shear pins were a regular occurence. Usually this resulted from
contacting rocks. The auger man got a good shaking up when this occured too.
The old Robin auger suffered a lot of hard use and eventually sustained a
fatal breakdown of the input shaft.
Nowadays I make my postholes with the relatively safe (but slow) hand
powered auger.

Ralph in Sask.
http://lgoff.sasktelwebsite.net/

----- Original Message -----
From: Gilbert Schwartz <gschwartz1 at mchsi.com>
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 9:18 AM
Subject: Re: Using tractor driventillers (was
Re:[AT]AllisChalmersB-1lawntractor


> Virtually all of the PTO work I've ever done was with a WD or WD-45. These
> machines require that you get on and off by stepping very near the PTO
> shaft. My fathers hard nosed instruction and supervision was "Never, ever
> get off that tractor with the PTO in gear. No excuses." This statement
must
> be etched into my brain. Farm machinery is a killer when your mind goes to
> neutral.
> We used a Continental post hole digger. It requires you to be in the seat
to
> use it. The only other thing is that bystanders are a no-no. Gil
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cecil E Monson" <cmonson at hvc.rr.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 5:36 AM
> Subject: Re: Using tractor driventillers (was
> Re:[AT]AllisChalmersB-1lawntractor
>
>
> > > Cecil; I think you're right. Shear pins do work best on slower turning
> > > applications. One of the biggest problems with them is their ability
to
> grab
> > > gloves, jackets and other clothing if you're not paying attention. Had
a
> > > neighbors wife get her coat caught on one while used a grain elevator
> > > powered with a PTO. The results were very messy. Slip clutches are
some
> > > cleaner.
> >
> >
> >
> > Gil, the shear pins on my post hole digger are completely inside
> > the top housing and cannot be caught on anything. That entire assembly
is
> > dangerous below the housing when it is turning and I won't let anyone
> > near it. It is easy for one man to operate and there is no need for a
> > helper to put his hands near it anyhow.