Corkscrewed in the PHD today - what a mess

Scrounger · Nov 1, 2005

In the process of installing trail market signs and have been getting some heavy use out of the Worksaver Model 300 PHD. I have learned a very valuable lesson. Run the auger in slow and keep backing it out alot. I buried it down to the gear housing. Had to unattach it from the BX drive back to the trail head and put the Woods BH6000 back on and then go dig it out. I had a huge crater by the time I got her dug out.

Anyone have any good advice on not corkscrewing the PHD into the ground?

N80 · Nov 1, 2005

I know nothing about PHDs but I used to do construction work on a telephone line crew. The boom truck had a hydraulic auger and it had reverse so you simply reversed the augor out. I'm assuming that pto PHDs don't have a reverse gear?

755inNY · Nov 1, 2005

Anyone have any good advice on not corkscrewing the PHD into the ground?


Just what you said: Run the auger in slow and keep backing it out alot 

Sometimes that won't be fool proof but it will be easier to get the auger out. I try not to let the auger drop more than half way before I lift it to clear the hole. It is just too easy to drop the 3PH lower than you realize because the auger remains "high" until it digs in. It can screw itself into the ground real quick.

Another method for getting out an auger that has screwed itself into the ground is to simply /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif unscrew it. Disengage the PTO and/or remove the PTO shaft from the tractor. Bite onto the auger shaft with a large pipe wrench with a suitable length of cheater bar attached and turn counter clockwise. It can be a slow process as you will have limited swing arc but it might save you from digging a bigger hole with the BH. At some point in the unscrewing process the auger will be out enough for the 3PH to force it the rest of the way.

Jeff

have_blue · Nov 1, 2005

Feeding in small increments will stop this. Instead of feeding a lot and waiting, just bump it down 3-4 inches at a time and gve it time to "catch up" with the 3 point hitch. If you see the tractor squat even a little, stop immediately!

beenthere · Nov 1, 2005

beenthere /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You have now learned how to do it, but be on guard at all times. I stood the tractor on end, and bent the top boom going to the PHD.

johnk · Nov 1, 2005

I run the Tractor at really low RPM's and listen for the engine to start slowing and then raise the Auger and keep going deeper. I found a 24" aluminum pipe wrench does the trick with a 1/4 turn on the auger. I also like tp throttle the tractor as the auger is coming out of the ground to clear the soil off the flights...

kevincook · Nov 1, 2005

The first time I used a PHD I was on my third hole in less than 15 minutes. 27 holes to go.....this was going to be a breeze! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Oh No! I screwed the PHD into the ground right to the gearbox. I had hooked the edge or a rock. After two hours I had finally managed to unscrew the auger. Boy this project was going to take days at this rate /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif.

After the first time, I had learned how to unscrew the auger pretty quickly and when it did hook another rock it wasn't such a big deal...the first time was a real project. If I had to do that for a living I would definitely have a hydraulic one with reverse.

Kevin

cmuncy · Nov 2, 2005

( beenthere /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You have now learned how to do it, but be on guard at all times. I stood the tractor on end, and bent the top boom going to the PHD. )

Yuppers I did the same thing. I actually had to cut off the pivot of the boom, remove almost 2" of the boom, and weld the pivot back in place to get it squared up. Not a huge ordeal, but didn't really have the time to do it.

Just another lesson learned. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

willfick · Nov 2, 2005

On the other by hand, some years back my brother and I were using a two-man gas powered phd to put in fence posts along a farm pond dam. Auger hit a root - he went off the backside of the dam, I went in the pond.
Wm