PHD Pilot Point

[Mark Page]

The pilot point on my 12" Danuser auger is worn to the stage that it wants wander around rather than start the hole. I'd like to replace it but unthreading it is going to be next to impossible. There's no tool I know of that will grasp it's conical shape, and after 1,000s of holes it's good and tight. I've tried Kroil and big pipe wrenches without luck. I was wondering if it might have left hand threads.
I tried to put a new point on it with a die grinder but the metal must be hardened as I got no where fast.
Any thoughts.

 

[jenkinsph]

If you have the new replacement point you should be able to determine whether it has left or right hand threads. Very likely the threads are self tightening otherwise the point would have a tendency to back off in hard ground. I would think you should be able to heat the threads with a torch and unscrew the old point with a large wrench. Might need a hammer to jar it loose when removing too.



edit,
I checked on my spare point and it has right hand threads, the auger bit turns such that it is self tightening as I mentioned above.

 

[boggen]

vise grips and setting for a very tight grip when you go to close the vise grips to hold onto the tip. may work.

heating with a torch can help expand the metal of the tip. and help free things up.

you may want to try say BPblaster. (not wd40) but some sort of rust remover or like that is not flammable. and spray the tip a 2 to 3 times over the next couple days. letting things set between each spray.

i suppose you could always take a regular old hand held angle grinder. and do a little bit of grinding near the threads. to cause the metal around threads to become weaker the more you grind off. though might want a new tip on hand. to roughly gauge how much you can grind off, of the old tip.

being as dry and hard the dirt is here, mid summer can be a bad time to try and put in posts. and the dirt can be much like steel. and initially trying to get the drill bit on steel to stay were you want it. as tip of drill bit rolls around. same like thing can happen with a PHD.

i have seen a few old PHD, were the tip was just welded on. i have seen a few auger bits, themselves just be a solid piece of metal, all the way down to the bottom tip.

looking at
Model G20/40 | G2040 | PTO Auger | Danuser it does not seem like the point is can not be removed "may be wrong".

PTO Augers | Post Hole Diggers | Danuser on the larger size models for bigger tractors. it looks like the point on bottom of the bit are removable. due to them listing actual different points for sale.

 

[mikehaugen]

I always have the best luck getting stuck bolts out using a torch (acetelene if you have it). heat up the area around the bolt, try to direct flame away from bolt- you really don't want the bolt to heat. when it gets red hot spray it with pb blaster (as mentioned before) to cool it. Then heat again and repeat about 3 or 4 times. This rapid heating/ cooling causes expanding/ contracting and will help break the bond, try to remove while hot. Be careful though, the blaster will catch fire on the hot metal.