Posthole Digger Mounting Post Hole Digger

Anonymous Poster · May 18, 2002

Just got my worksaver post hole digger to mount on my JD4100. I am looking for advice on how to mount with the least frustration and also how to store it when not in use? It is very heavy and bulky for a person to mount by themselves?

Any ideas would be of great help!

thanks,

carl

lblair · May 18, 2002

I put mine on last night also. Not for the 1st time but 2nd. It took me 10 minutes to through my loader on and remove my mid mount mower and about 45 min. to put the post hole digger on. But i learned something in the process. remove 3pnt lift arms linkage. so the arms will drop to the floor...almost anyways. hook top link up then put pins thru on the lower arms on the post hole digger jack up the gear box to the post hole digger to put the arm linkage back on. Raise 3pnt up and put auger on. takes about 15 minutes and no lifting for one guy. Hope i got that all right. Larry

Spencer · May 18, 2002

When I got mine I lifted it off the trailer with the FEL. I strapped the auger up to a tree. Then I can back right up to it, lift the boom section a little and hook up the lower lift pins. Instead of using a tree you may want to make your first post hole project a post to store your PHD on. If this will be stored inside then I don't have any suggestions. Later this summer when I get my pole barn built I will come up with something.

gotrocks · May 18, 2002

Since you asked, here is a picture of mine hanging from beam under my shed. I use short piece of chain with hook, raise up to max, hook the chain and leave it hanging till next time.
It is much easier to lift the boom and hook up with the whole thing hanging, than taking it in pieces.

gotrocks · May 18, 2002

Let's see if the picture will go with this post.

sniezur · May 18, 2002

I just dig mine into the ground about 18" before I remove it from the 3 point hitch. It is then easy to hook it up the next time.

gerard · May 18, 2002

While I think the hanging or strapping to a tree is a better suggestion - I've done it fairly easily by laying the auger flat on the ground pointing to the front of the tractor, then I back slowly over it until the three point arms can be attached. Now I slowly drive forward, raising the 3 point a little as I move. This will slowly bring the top link point into alignment at which point I stop, get back off and hook up the top link. Taking it off is the exact reverse operation.

john_bud · May 19, 2002

I made a mounting / storage frame for mine....

john_bud

lhfarm · May 19, 2002

Would you be willing to share some close-ups? The frame looks like a good welding project.

Thanks,
Barry
Lawson Hill Farm

Buck · May 19, 2002

John,

Do you think a wood frame would work almost as well? I am not a welder.

Thanks,

Buck

WVBill · May 20, 2002

I'm with sniezur - I dug mine into the ground about 18" (pretty stiff clay). When I hook up, I back the tractor up, lower the 3ph all the way and then using the play in the 3ph lift arms and the play in the phd pins, I pin up the lower links. Then I insert the pin in the top link bracket/phd raising and lowering the 3ph adjustment until it's lined up. Finally, I connect the PTO shaft.

Whatever way you end up doing it, it will get easier - it will never get easy, but it will get easier.

Mosey · May 20, 2002

I hang mine from a tree (the manual suggests hanging it), similar to how gotrocks did, except I use the loop welded to the top of it for better balance. It's easy to take on and off and safer, since it can't tip over. I use a bungy cord to keep the driveshaft up off the ground.

mikim · May 22, 2002

"They" sell stands that look just like the one john made too -- I bought one from my dealer when I bought the phd. I have no idea who makes 'em or who sells 'em - you could ask your dealer - Mine tossed it in as I bought tractor and all implements at the same time -
mike

BGM72 · May 22, 2002

The information in this post could not have come at a better time. I was talking to a guy I work with and he told me about having trouble attaching a post hole digger that he borrowed. The story ended with him somehow getting pinned underneath it while trying to attach it. He said it did not hurt but it would be 2 hours before his daughter would get home to help him out. He eventually got out from under it and got it hooked up. The day this post come on. I printed out the replies for him and he said everyones advice sure did help.

Thanks!

Henry · May 23, 2002

I hang my PHD from a rafter in the barn using a section of chain. I just back the tractor up close, then pivot the PHD into place. It takes about 5 minutes with one person!

Buck · May 24, 2002

Mike,

Got enough to do this summer anyway. If cheap enough, why not? Good info.

Thanks,
Buck

centex · May 24, 2002

I would like to relate my first experience taking my PHD off the tractor so hopefully no one else will have the same experience. I just lay the PHD down on it's side with the auger still attached. I unhooked the lift arms and removed the pin that attaches the boom to the tractor in preparation for laying the unit down. My wife happenend to be telling me something that she insisted that I listen to so I was not giving my full attention to what I was doing with the PHD and I let the boom drop suddenly pinching the fingers of my right hand between it and the gear box. It was all I could do to ignore the pain and the urge to drop the PHD which would likely have broken at least three fingers or worse. I only ended up with bruised fingers. I have a larger PHD now with very heavy augers. When I remove it from the tractor I first remove the auger and then lower the gear box (power head) to the ground using the 3PT hitch. It is a simple matter to undo the lift pins and boom and lower them to the ground with no danger of dropping or lifting anything heavy. This is the way the dealer stores PHD's on his lot.

lblair · May 24, 2002

I tried your method. Perfect for now till i can build or get a stand before the winter. Ill do a bolt together stand if i build one as i have no welder yet. Im asking santa for one this year/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif This way works real well though. Perfect setup depth and it supported well in the hole.

centex · May 26, 2002

I just dig mine into the ground about 18" before I remove it from the 3 point hitch.

I decided to try this approach yesterday. Now I have a nightmare that I will hook it up next week and just pull $300 worth of rust out of the ground. Seriously, isn't rust a problem with the auger in constant ground contact?

Anonymous Poster · May 26, 2002

Keeping your PHD in the ground is a very easy to get it hooked up again. Dig a wide enough hole and your auger won't be in the dirt just on the side. You are going to have to do a little touch up once in a while on your ground contact machinery anyway. A little dirt won't hurt it. It ain't a bmw.