Posthole Digger Restoring a Post Hole Digger

   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger #1  

nitroxn

Bronze Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2004
Messages
77
Location
Maryville, Tennessee
Tractor
Kubota B7510DT
If anyone recognizes the brand please speak up, I have no Idea.

Found this on craigslist for $150. It is weathered and has had some low quality welding repairs through the years. Here are a few pics after pressure washing the rust and flaky paint off. Note the leaky input seal and the bent tabs on the A frame where it attaches to the boom.
 

Attachments

  • 20130426_161428.jpg
    20130426_161428.jpg
    476.3 KB · Views: 515
  • 20130426_161440.jpg
    20130426_161440.jpg
    771.1 KB · Views: 531
  • 20130426_161450.jpg
    20130426_161450.jpg
    1,012.8 KB · Views: 442
  • 20130426_161456.jpg
    20130426_161456.jpg
    1 MB · Views: 373
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger
  • Thread Starter
#2  
Here is a close up shot of the A frame. Look at the gorilla welds. In this came "more isnt better" LOL
 

Attachments

  • 20130426_182716.jpg
    20130426_182716.jpg
    578.5 KB · Views: 493
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Here is the A frame after the repair. I used D.O.M. tubing 1/2" I.D x 1" O.D. for the middle of the mount. The side plates are 3/8" x 2" Flat Bar. Should be plenty stiff now.
 

Attachments

  • 20130426_192539.jpg
    20130426_192539.jpg
    465 KB · Views: 487
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger
  • Thread Starter
#4  
The tractor end of the boom pole it tweaked a bit. The hole was also wallowed out by about an 1/8". I will attach several pictures that will show the arm in my mill after I leveled and squared it by the boom and gearbox mount. I figured it would be much easier to bore the hole larger with the correct alignment than to heat and re-bend the mount itself. Hope that makes since. Pics worth a 1000 words.Here ya go.
 

Attachments

  • 20130426_171259.jpg
    20130426_171259.jpg
    586 KB · Views: 370
  • 20130426_163901.jpg
    20130426_163901.jpg
    518.5 KB · Views: 329
  • 20130426_171557.jpg
    20130426_171557.jpg
    633 KB · Views: 402
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger
  • Thread Starter
#5  
This is part way through making the bushing to weld into the tractor end of the boom pole. It is also D.O.M. tubing and ended up being 1" O.D. x 3/4" I.D.
 

Attachments

  • 20130426_172922.jpg
    20130426_172922.jpg
    623.9 KB · Views: 397
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger #6  
If anyone recognizes the brand please speak up, I have no Idea.

Found this on craigslist for $150. It is weathered and has had some low quality welding repairs through the years. Here are a few pics after pressure washing the rust and flaky paint off. Note the leaky input seal and the bent tabs on the A frame where it attaches to the boom.

I am 99% sure it was made by Independent Manufacturing Company (IMCO) in Neodesha Ks. Ken Sweet
 
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger
  • Thread Starter
#7  
IMCO, Thanks Ken!! I know the gear box is OMNI. Seems they are still made.
 
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger #8  
IMCO, Thanks Ken!! I know the gear box is OMNI. Seems they are still made.

I owned 1 just like it back in the late seventies. We were a dealer for them until they went out. Real good machines for the $ spent. Ken Sweet
 
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger #9  
I refurbished an old Speeco PHD just recently and the gearbox was real similar. It had a leaky seal on the input also but was very easy to replace the seal. I did have a thread problem on a couple of the bolt holes that mount the shaft cap. The hexbolts were not the best so replaced them with slightly longer bolts and worked fine. Always a good feeling to "resurrect" and old piece of equipment especially when it will perform as well or better than a new one today.
 
   / Restoring a Post Hole Digger
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Here are the boom and A frame after some paint. On the boom, tractor end, notice the bushing pressed and tack welded into place. Ill be picking up new pins for the A frame too.
 

Attachments

  • 20130427_095307.jpg
    20130427_095307.jpg
    657.2 KB · Views: 441
  • 20130427_095245.jpg
    20130427_095245.jpg
    553.1 KB · Views: 506
 
 
Top