PHD help

[donn12]

Used my County Line PHD today and it was not too much fun. It was very hard to put on inside my barn so I need to build a stand like the ones in Eddie Walker's thread fast. That thread couldn't have come at a better time!

The ground was pretty wet today and the mud stuck to the PHD. It was very hard to get out and did not want to lift out like it did when the earth was dry. I hope this makes a big difference and I will have an easier time when its not so wet. any tips fro wet clay earth? I was thinking maybe I should spray something on it so the mud would not stick.

Also I broke a shear bolt. It looks like there are two sizes and I broke the small one where the PTO shaft attaches to the PHD. Can I get by with one for a snow blower with clips on the end as opposed to a bolt? Home depot only had small ones for snow blowers but a rental company had the right size with clips on the end. I used this to finish up and get the unit out of the ground.

Thanks for the help!

 

[donn12]

lots of views but no advice!
I used it again and I think the key is dry ground and low RPMs. I had the PHD spinning way too fast. Either way this is not my favorite implement because of how awkward it is to put on. I am going to try using a hoist over a beam in my barn or a stand below my lean to.

 

[KYDan]

I have heavy clay soil and I carry several extra shear bolts with me in my tool box. I bought the heavier stress, hardened bolts from TSC (They sell them by the pound.) and they last a little longer. I was a little concerned they might cause some collateral damage, but years and many post holes later they have not. One thing I learned is when the auger starts jumping stop the rotation, pull it out and clean it off and look at the hole. If there is a big rock problem take your spud bar and break it up. I still break shear bolts and that goes with the territory, but it sure beats hand digging.

 

[Grandad4]

Some people just back up to a tree and strap the PHD to it so it stays upright. I didn't want to leave the thing outside so I drilled a hole in the dirt floor of a shed and planted a 6x6 post so I can keep the PHD out of the weather. A rope hung from the rafter lifts the PHD brackets when it needs to go back on the tractor. Easy on and easy off, out of the way the rest of the time. Probably not the most refined solution, but it works for me.

 

[foggy1111]

I attached a section of 4x4 diagonally in a corner of my pole shed....and it is about 6 feet high and supported by some girts. I hang my PHD from this 4x4 with a chain. Easy to hook up....Works good.

Breaking shear bolts with a PHD can be a common event. I keep a supply of the right size bolts handy. Sometimes I go to a harder bolt if things break too easily. (from grade 2 to grade 5 for example)

I think that using that pin you have is not a great idea. PHD's can be one of the nastiest implements for safety.....and it' may be easier to wrap stuff(clothing) with the extra hardware spinning with your quick pin idea.

Keep clear of that auger! (safety police foggy )

 

[blueriver]

I hang mine from a chain ... that seems to work for me. Also with wet heavy clay ease into the hole using the 3 point lift to keep it from augering to far into the ground ... in these conditions I go a little lift up, go a little more lift up and so on until the hole is deep enough ... lifting while the auger is rotating also allows the wet clay some escape.

As said keep everyone away from these augers ... Danger ... Danger

 

[grsthegreat]

I found that the trick to PHD is to continually raise and lower it while digging at a low RPM. If you get going too fast, and your reactions are too slow, youll be out there with a pipe wrench unscrewing the thing (dont ask me how i know this). We have real hard ground here, not clay. I had to add a hydraulic assist to mine to dig easily. Workd great too. As long as i keep the hole cleared, i never get stuck anymore.

I needed to be able to move mine with my pallet forks to store it, so i made a 10 minute storage platform with an old pallet, 4 2x4's and an old ground rod. It works great, can attach it in a few minutes. I have to remove the auger though, but that only takes a few minutes also, and then i am sure that the bolts are tight before operation.

 

[jake98]

I just take mine apart and lean the parts up in a corner of the shop. Doesn't take that long.

 

[donn12]

I bought a 2000 lb chain hoist from amazon and used it to remove the PHD. It made a huge difference and it will make putting it back on very easy. I used a tow strap wrapped around a beam so I need to find a better way to install the hoist. I might be able to use the PHD after all!