Posthole Digger Post Hole Digger Oscillations

[WVBill]

When I raise my new Linebach PHD out of the ground while it's turning, or start it turning before I drop it, the Auger tip wants to oscillate around in a circle. It doesn't just hang straight down and rotate. This happens whether there is mud/dirt on the auger or not. Anyone else have this happen on their PHD? How did you solve it?

 

[Mosey]

Mine does that too. They designed it so it will self level by just hanging straight down rather than putting a lever on it. It works, except when it's spinning I guess. So, I don't start it in the air. I drop it, then start it.

 

[Rch]

I have a Worksaver PHD that wants to oscilate. I greatly reduced this by snugging up the toplink connection with several big washers, both at the tractor and where the toplink connects to the boom. Also make sure the two lift arms on the three point hitch have the correct sized pins as well as the pin the gearbox hangs from. Then tighten the sway out of the lower control arms of the three point hitch on the tractor.

 

[rmcess]

Not to tell you how to use your PHD, but I drop the point to the ground before engaging the PTO. When I get to the desired depth I disengage the PTO raise the auger till it is almost out of the ground then bump the pto to clean off the auger. This leaves a very clean hole with no chance of the auger getting out of control.
P.S. Mine also oscillates if I do start it hanging up in the air, on my tractor this is due in part to the action of the universal joints on the drive shaft being at too freat of an angle when fully raised.

 

[WVBill]

Thanks to all - good to know that there's not something wrong with my PHD - just my technique, and maybe the 3ph on my tractor.
I would use Rich's technique were it not for the problem I posted in another thread: My 3ph does not seem to have the "strength" to lift the PHD auger fully loaded with dirt out of the hole. When I select "up" it either comes up very slowly or not at all. If it doesn't come up at all, I can reach around and pull up on the PHD boom with my hand and it will raise slowly. My 3ph also leaks down quite quickly (say 15 - 30 min) when I have an implement on the back and shut down the tractor with it in the up position. I think the seal(s) on my 3ph piston may be bad.

 

[Rover]

You could also check the U-joints on the PTO shaft.
One of them could have a slight bind.
Or they could be mis-aligned if your PTO shaft doesn't go together only one way.
Rover