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Troubleshooting
17
602378 REV AA
12/18/2018
TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM
POSSIBLE CAUSES & SOLUTION
Auger will not dig
Shear bolt sheared – install new shear bolt.
Teeth dull – sharpen or replace.
Ground too dry and hard – order optional down force kit, or wait until it
rains.
Auger turning too fast and bouncing – reduce speed.
Tall grass has wrapped around auger teeth – remove grass.
Auger encountering rocks, roots, or other obstruction – lift auger from hole
and inspect.
Auger teeth improperly positioned – see Parts section in this manual for
proper tooth pattern.
Post hole digger sways side to side
No sway bars or sway blocks on tractor – add some.
Lift arms not adjusted evenly – adjust lift arms.
Post hole digger is mounted with excessive looseness in the hitch
connecting points – use proper size pins or bushings.
Bent auger flighting or bent auger
Tractor moved while auger was turning in hole – always set brakes on
tractor and make sure it is out of gear.
Operator moved tractor with auger in hole to try and straighten a hole
being dug at an angle.
Auger is encountering rocks or roots or other foreign objects – remove
object from hole or change location.
Outer edge of auger flighting is bending due to contact with rocks or roots
– use heavy-duty auger with thicker flighting.
Shear bolt has been replaced with harder bolt – replace with
Grade 2
bolt
per instructions.
Auger screws itself into the ground
Operator did NOT ease 3-point hitch to ground slowly.
Tractor 3-point does not have position control. Lift auger after advancing
every 3" - 4".
Faulty 3-point hitch hydraulic system on tractor.
Draft control is not in OFF position.
Tractor is too small to handle digger.
Excessive vibration
PTO driveline bearing cross is worn – replace.
PTO driveline assembly comes off
input shaft of gearbox when shear
bolt is sheared
Set screw missing in yoke at gearbox input shaft. Install set screw as per
driveline installation instructions.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY
HAZARD, CORRECT IMMEDIATELY!
Auger digs so far, but will not dig
deeper
See solutions for above.
PTO assembly “bottoms out,” not allowing digger to lower – remove auger
from digger and lower digger. Gearbox should lower to the ground; if not,
PTO driveline assembly may need to be shortened.
PTO driveline interferes with swinging drawbar – swing drawbar out of the
way or remove.
Tractor hydraulic system may be faulty – consult tractor dealer.
Soil could have hardpan layer 6"-10" below surface – use optional down
force kit (see list of optional equipment).