Posthole Digger Need Input On Relic Post Hole Digger........

[gltrap54]

Wife found it at a sale for $75 :laughing:....... Auger is obviously bent....... My B3200 should handle it but I'm wondering if I bought scrap iron or not...... I haven't even picked it up yet so I don't know what I'm in for. I've never owned one, but I've seen what Craigslist people are asking for junk. Is the gear box the main concern?


Google Photos

 

[mcfarmall]

It's hard to tell from the pictures.

 

[CADplans]

If you throw away the gear box,,, the remaining boom pole is worth $75,,,

 

[Deleted member 216442]

That unit looks good to me save for the bent auger. I'd bet the gearbox is fine. Looks like an old repaint with JD green but everything is there. Likely made before driveshafts had safety covers. You may need to shorten the driveshaft for your tractor depending what size tractor you have. It looks like a Danhauser (not sure of spelling) or other older, heavy duty unit. Someone probably moved the tractor forward and forgot to lift it out of the hole, which can bend the auger. Or ran it over in the barn. Take the auger off and turn the drive shaft, check the auger rotation - if it goes ok, you've got a bargain. Take the auger to a machine shop and pay them around $50 to straighten it - you'll be back in business. The top link looks like its lower end was bushed smaller for a bolt instead of a pin - remove the bush and use a pin. I'd check the lubricant in the gearbox - usually a fill plug on top - typically 90W gear oil. Check and lube the U joints and the sliding driveshaft before using, and often the PTO connector release button and splines need to be cleaned and lubed. When I was looking for a post hole digger that is exactly what I'd have been delighted to find.

Keep the wife clear of the auger and driveshaft when using it. jIt appears to have a handle for an assistant to help guide it and apply downforce. Let the tractor drift forward as it descends; the arc tends to make it go down and get crooked. Have her watch and advise you when to move forwards a little bit to keep the auger vertical as you are using it. Keep it spinning and don't drop the 3pt all the way when drilling or else it can act like a screw in wood and pull itself down suddenly followed by the bolt shearing. You then have to reconnect it with a new shear bolt, turn it backwards by hand to get it out.

 

[Deleted member 216442]

The long lift arm appears it may be twisted too - maybe it needs to be straightened or a new one made. Maybe one of the drag link pins came undone while it was being used and the whole thing twisted sideways while in use. Still, well worth fixing up.

 

[zzvyb6]

Mine looks just like it (except that it's red). Got mine at TSC 15 years ago. I can buy a replacement auger at Rural King or TSC, etc. But you can't kill them even when the gearbox doesn't hold oil anymore. Just fill it with grease. Bent auger syndrome comes from pulling away with the auger not yet out of the hole (an Oops situation).

You MIGHT try straightening it by digging a partial hole and SLOWLY backing up while spinning the auger. The RMS hole diameter will cause a convergence of the mean flighting diameter to a favorable local relativistic level in the main auger protuberance thing.

If you can't find a replacement auger, save the gearhead coupling that you could weld onto a new one if necessary. But you are way ahead of the market on this one. Give you wife a gold star for her choice and thoughtfulness. Use the old auger for a mailbox post to keep the recycle/reuse folks on Pinterest happy.

Grab some of that pallet wood when you retrieve it. That's also worth some bucks to the Pinterest pallet furniture industry social media society . Have her make some cute hand painted signs (Guest Room, Saloon, Rise and Shine, Antiques, Can't Fix Stupid, and of course Live Love Laugh which can be turned into Die Hate Cry for the biker crowd. That's some pretty nice lookin' 12" spacing T1-11 there, too, boss. Fix the chicken tractor...

 

[gltrap54]

Thanks fellas! You've made my day! Can't wait to get my hands on it & see just what it's going to take to get "er" online....... It's one of those attachments that I don't use every day, but it's sure nice to have when you need it. I'm a crippled ol' fart who's manual post hole digging days are long gone.... Wife is recently retired & her passion is buying/reselling "treasures". Pretty shrewd gal, if I do say so myself!

 

[fishheadbob]

I think that was mine. Bought it, or one that looked exactly the same, in 1979. The Greene manufacturing company...never heard of them before or after, the dealer didn't even know how he ran across it. Probably Greene was some guy with a welder who cranked out a few of these. Mine even had the sleeve welded inside the auger like yours.

 

[gltrap54]

Mine looks just like it (except that it's red). Got mine at TSC 15 years ago. I can buy a replacement auger at Rural King or TSC, etc. But you can't kill them even when the gearbox doesn't hold oil anymore. Just fill it with grease. Bent auger syndrome comes from pulling away with the auger not yet out of the hole (an Oops situation).
You MIGHT try straightening it by digging a partial hole and SLOWLY backing up while spinning the auger. The RMS hole diameter will cause a convergence of the mean flighting diameter to a favorable local relativistic level in the main auger protuberance thing.

If you can't find a replacement auger, save the gearhead coupling that you could weld onto a new one if necessary. But you are way ahead of the market on this one. Give you wife a gold star for her choice and thoughtfulness. Use the old auger for a mailbox post to keep the recycle/reuse folks on Pinterest happy.

Grab some of that pallet wood when you retrieve it. That's also worth some bucks to the Pinterest pallet furniture industry social media society . Have her make some cute hand painted signs (Guest Room, Saloon, Rise and Shine, Antiques, Can't Fix Stupid, and of course Live Love Laugh which can be turned into Die Hate Cry for the biker crowd. That's some pretty nice lookin' 12" spacing T1-11 there, too, boss. Fix the chicken tractor...

Lots of opportunities right there........ I am surprised my wife didn't ask if she could have the T1-11 as well.....

I think that was mine. Bought it, or one that looked exactly the same, in 1979. The Greene manufacturing company...never heard of them before or after, the dealer didn't even know how he ran across it. Probably Greene was some guy with a welder who cranked out a few of these. Mine even had the sleeve welded inside the auger like yours.

Hmmm...... that's interesting..... Given we live in NE Kansas, ol Green must have some history.....

 

[powerscol]

When you pick it up, ask if they will throw the old harrow in the background in for free. That one is adjustable and would make an excellent pasture maintenance tool. You did good on the auger.