[AT] Post Hole Digger

[Stephen Offiler]

Roy - several comments, see below...

On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 8:40 PM, Roy Morgan<k1lky at earthlink.net> wrote:

> - How much of this thing can I expect to get apart?  It's reported to
> be a two-man job to move it.  (We'll have me, my wife and a 7-year
> old.)  It looks like the auger fastens to the gearbox shaft by a big
> flange with bolts through them.  With luck and some PB Blaster, I may
> get them loose.

I sometimes borrow my neighbor's old Ford PHD.  The thing is about 50
years old, and looks quite a bit (not identical) to yours.  2.5 people
is about right to mount it, and at least 2 to remove it again.
WARNING:  my neighbor, who's a lifelong rural type guy, lives and
breathes tractors and horses, recently lost a hunk of his finger to
this PHD.  Now, he's about 6'4" and strong as an ox, and he says this
is the first implement he ever had, has mounted it literally hundreds
of times.  But despite his familiarity and experience, it bit him.
The problem is that they'll fold up in unexpected ways, and he
happened to be grabbing it at a place where two separate parts of the
machine come together when it folds.

> -Does the PTO shaft come off in a normal way?  Through bolt/shear pin?
>
> - It looks like the rear ends of the frame fasten to the gearbox
> horizontal tubes with bolts.  Is it fixed at that point or is there a
> pivot action there?

Pivot action, for sure.

> -Can anyone identify this thing so I can get some information online
> perhaps?
>
> I'll be bringing:
> - tools
> - come-along
> - rope with multiple pulley for hoisting/pulling
> - furniture dolly - hand truck
> - portable ramps
> - Ford F-250

You mentioned PB'laster above, so I assume that's on the list.  A
couple big pipe wrenches might come in handy if/when you try to
convince the auger off the gearbox.  (In fact, if you have rocky soil,
you also want to keep a pipe wrench nearby to unscrew the auger from
the hole if it hangs up on a rock... BTDT).  A torch might be a handy
addition, MAPP "Bernzomatic" if you don't have a portable
oxy-acetylene rig.

Good luck, and be careful.

Steve O.