Posthole Digger TSC Posthole digger "control handle" (or whatever you call it)

[dragula]

I bought a new Countyline PHD and 6" auger from my local Tractor Supply yesterday. Got it home and put it on. First I should say that I was pretty impressed with the general appearance of it. It looks pretty heavy duty for my small tractor and was easy to assemble. It even came with a handy little waterproof parts tube holder that bolts right on the boom. Perfect for keeping the extra pins and such in it.

Anyway to the point of my post; I used a PHD years ago for a company that I worked for and it had a long bar or "arm" that extended up to the cab that the operator used to control the angle of the auger.

I noticed that the PHD that I picked up yesterday has the mounting hole on the side of the gearbox for this same arm but it didn't come with the arm. However, it did come with a spare allen-head setscrew for it.

The parts list in the instructions does not list this arm nor does it show it in the options ordering page.

Has anyone ever ordered one of these seperately or made one yourself? I can use the auger without it but it would be handy to have on ocassion.

Below is a pic of the "arm/handle/bar" that I'm referring to. Sorry for the poor quality.

Thanks!

 

[dragula]

Update: I just noticed in small print in the back of the manual the name of the manufacturer of this PHD; SpeeCo

I looked on their website and noticed that the picture of this particular PHD shows this missing arm but they don't have it listed in their accessories anywhere on their site that I could find.

I also double-checked the parts list in my manual and it's not listed. I thought that maybe it was supposed to come with it but apparently not.

Maybe they quit selling it for safety reasons. Maybe too many broken hands?

Here's the pic directly from their website. (speeco.com) I circled the arm. It looks just like a piece of straight tube so I could probably make one easy enough out of a piece of conduit.

 

[ayelvington]

My Woods PHD came with the arm, and it's pretty useful for sure. Depending on the diameter, you might just substitute a Woods arm into the hole...

The Woods part number is 1009350, and it lists for 9.57 from Messicks.

 

[kebo]

My Leinback PHD came with the control arm. It's nothing more than a 5ft long piece of black iron pipe like you would use for a gas line. Without going to look and measure it, I'd guess it is 1" OD diameter?? Measure the ID of where it attaches to your PHD, and go find you a piece of pipe that fits inside of it. Cut the length to suit your need and you're good to go!

 

[Jimbrown]

My Land Pride did not come with one I just took a piece of conduit and bent it till it fit. Cost about $1.98

 

[zzvyb6]

My TSC post digger came with the guide handle. Its just a thinwall piece of pipe that fits into a port on the gearbox. I'd first go back to TSC and tell them it was missing and to have them provide it. Check their website to see if its included in the kit. Mine was. Just a suggestion, but buy some extra cutting teeth for it while they are still in stock. Drilling in rocks and gravel wears these parts and the point out very quickly. When you realize you need them, they will be out of stock until next year....

 

[TheRealBuzz]

I have a SpeeCo PHD purchased from my massey dealer 3 weeks ago. It ccame with the handle. I agree that you should check with TSC about it.

BTW the set screw is not sufficient with all the vibration. It comes loose all the time allowing the handle to fall out. I drilled a hole in the pipe and put a longer bolt in to solve the issue.

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I bought a new Countyline PHD and 6" auger from my local Tractor Supply yesterday. Got it home and put it on. First I should say that I was pretty impressed with the general appearance of it. It looks pretty heavy duty for my small tractor and was easy to assemble. It even came with a handy little waterproof parts tube holder that bolts right on the boom. Perfect for keeping the extra pins and such in it.

Anyway to the point of my post; I used a PHD years ago for a company that I worked for and it had a long bar or "arm" that extended up to the cab that the operator used to control the angle of the auger.

I noticed that the PHD that I picked up yesterday has the mounting hole on the side of the gearbox for this same arm but it didn't come with the arm. However, it did come with a spare allen-head setscrew for it.

The parts list in the instructions does not list this arm nor does it show it in the options ordering page.

Has anyone ever ordered one of these seperately or made one yourself? I can use the auger without it but it would be handy to have on ocassion.

Below is a pic of the "arm/handle/bar" that I'm referring to. Sorry for the poor quality.

Thanks!

My Leinbach 7200 has a piece of 1/2" I.D. (if i recall correctly) black iron pipe. Probably about 5' long.

 

[dragula]

Thanks for the replies. I ended up picking up a piece of electrical conduit form Lowes yesterday for $3 so that I could use the auger yesterday. I have to go back to TSC today so I'll check with them concerning the handle.

 

[jimgerken]

If I were you, I'd start using it without the handle. Mine came with one, but I don't use it. Once you get used to doing without it, you will not need it. Then you can loose it and not miss it.