Operation
11
602378 REV AA
12/18/2018
To dig properly, your digger must be able to raise or
lower through the highest and lowest points of your lift
arm travel without binding against the tractor frame.
Check carefully BEFORE attaching the auger. If it does
bind, adjust the tractor 3-pt. linkage so that all move
-
ment is free.
Use stabilizer bars, adjustable sway chains, or sway
blocks on your tractor lift arms to keep the post hole
digger from swaying side to side. Adjust as tightly as
practical for best performance. Remove or place tractor
drawbar in storage position.
IMPORTANT
■
Post hole digger gearboxes are shipped with
-
out lubrication. Gearboxes must be serviced with
90W gear lube before operation.
■
If PTO driveline interferes with swinging draw
-
bar, swing drawbar out of the way or remove.
OPERATING TECHNIQUE
Never aim auger point with hands on auger,
gearbox, boom or driveline. To place auger point
use 3-point arms and handle.
Do not shovel dirt away from a running auger.
The shovel could be caught and thrown by auger.
IMPORTANT
■
NEVER use body weight to help the auger
penetrate the ground.
1.
Position the tractor so that the auger point is
placed where the hole is to be dug.
2.
Set tractor brakes. Shift transmission into park or
neutral.
3.
Do not allow anyone to stand within 25 ft of the
auger during operation.
4.
Lower auger point slowly to the ground with the
PTO disengaged.
The point of the auger should be approximately 3" back
of center of the gearbox. As the auger works into the
ground, this slight angle will straighten, due to the piv
-
oting action of the boom downward. If the auger has a
side tilt, correct with the lift arm adjustment on the trac
-
tor hitch.
If the auger tilts too far forward or to the rear, it may be
necessary to move the tractor slightly. Be careful not to
bend the auger.
With the auger point lowered to the ground, set the
engine speed to idle, then engage the PTO. Make sure
the auger point is on the ground before engaging the
PTO.
IMPORTANT
■
Under no circumstances should the PTO be
run in excess of 540 RPM.
As the auger penetrates the ground, lower the unit
slowly with the 3-point lift arms.
Do not let the auger
screw itself into the ground!
Auger must dig with the
dirt breaking up and being carried to the top by the
auger flighting.
Figure 1
. Operation
Dig the hole in small steps. Dig down several inches,
then bring the auger up to let the soil clear. Repeat this
procedure until the desired depth is reached. This
allows better control of the auger and can prevent diffi
-
culties that could lead to an accident.
IMPORTANT
■
Be careful when raising the auger as high as
your tractor’s 3-point lift arms can go. This can put
the PTO shaft universal joints at an extreme angle
and cause damage to the PTO shaft! It is best to
raise the auger just enough to clear the hole when
the PTO is engaged.
■
It is recommended NOT to raise the auger
more than six (6) inches above the ground while it
is running. Once the hole is dug to the desired
depth raise the auger while rotating to bring the dirt
out of the hole.
To get a clean hole, it is sometimes best to lower the
auger into the hole with the auger turning and then,
when at the bottom, stop the rotation and raise the
auger while not turning. This brings the dirt up with little
left in the hole.
Disengage the PTO when traveling between holes.
In some types of soil it may be necessary to use the 3-
point lift arms to prevent the auger from screwing itself
into the ground.
WARNING
