Post hole digger stand

[MtnViewRanch]

eepete, thanks for your phd stand pics and review. I'm sure that this will help many others. :thumbsup:

 

[gazoo1]

I find that suspending the PHD from above using a sky hook, tree limb, barn truss, or whatever to be the best solution. By hanging it like a pendulum it is easy to move it a bit this way or that to accommodate putting it on the 3PH. It is easy to move it a few inches in any direction, much easier than jogging the tractor forward or back and my tractor doesn't easily move a little left or right.

Pat

i think its genius thx for that

 

[patrick_g]

i think its genius thx for that

Thanks for the ego boosting comment. Just think of it as a tax rebate. Much of my undergraduate physics was financed by taxpayers through the Viet Nam GI bill and simple physics is all the pendulum idea is.

I'm not knocking anyone's pet solution and lots of neat dollies and "gallows" got engineered but I have no need to roll the PHD around after it is removed and find the simple pendulum to be very easy to use attaching or detaching.

I have something in one of my barns that probably not everyone has that would enable me to store/retrieve a PHD. I have a jib crane with sliding electric hoist that has a lateral reach of 17 feet and vertical reach ofr 18 feet. This would allow me to store the implement or attach it to the tractor anywhere in a 34 ft diameter semi-circle, swinging it over any thing in the way that is less than 18 feet tall minus PHD height. I'm thinking of adding an overhead gantry to that barn as well and who knows, maybe one day I'll use one or both to store/retrieve/attach/detach the PHD.

Meanwhile, I just back up to whichever "skyhook" I want to use, raise the PHD to an intermediate height with the 3PH and affix it as a pendulum to the overhead support, disconnect and drive away. If I did need to be able to roll it around I'd go with a good dolly design similar to those posted here. As I used to teach marlinespike seamanship (ropes and knots) I just employ a simple easily removed hitch to support the PHD. Those less facile with knots might want a snap swivel or whatever or weld a eye on the PHD.

Not that it matters much but I suspect I can ease my PHD in any direction a few inches with less effort than a dolly on castors. Hanging as a pendulum it is free to rotate on a vertical axis, move forward or back, left or right, or any combination without struggling to get loaded castors to align with your pushing. I can use the pendulum without a nice concrete floor as required with castors.

I would suggest trying the pendulum approach before investing time, materials, and effort into anything more complicated. It costs nothing and if you are not satisfied or have unmet requirements you are throwing nothing away to abandon it and build a SUPER DUPER PHD DOLLY with lots of pizazz.

Pat

 

[jayhawk714]

Just came across your post Really like your PHD stand. Will be making one as soon as the snow melts! :thumbsup:

 

[moored4]

Just want to follow along, Thanks

here is a nother thread on PHD
'anyone here ever build a stand to park a 3 point post hole digger when not in use?'

 

[955Lincoln]

I might as well post a pic of mine too:

Nice looking stand! What did you use to drill the holes in the ground?

 

[moored4]

DAAAAUU!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

 

[crash325]

DAAAAUU!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

:drink:

Just have to second that idea. Great reply.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::drink:

 

[955Lincoln]

DAAAAUU!!!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Hmmm, looks like my dry humor attempt failed. The key word here is "drill", which I chose carefully. Moron or comedian....what is up with this guy?

It really is a cool stand :thumbsup:

 

[moored4]

Hmmm, looks like my dry humor attempt failed. The key word here is "drill", which I chose carefully. Moron or comedian....what is up with this guy?

It really is a cool stand :thumbsup:

I got your DRY humor! :laughing: I'm sorry that you didn't get mine! A Moron I'm not and comedian, well you didn't think so, sorry I offended you!


EquineNetworkCO made a nice place to keep his PHD :thumbsup:

 

[bullbreaker]

Heres my current phd stand(the floor).I respect everyones opinion on here but I don't struggle to attach my phd on like it seems like some have mentioned here in past.I just don't find it heavy or burdening.Nor do I claim to be a Samson type or Hercules.I do attach mine on a couple pieces at a time.Something in like the E-A.com instructional videos.Then again I probably don't use my phd as much as some folks on here where some might need to have it almost completely assembled for quick work situations.
Boone

 

[patrick_g]

I've seen all sorts of fancy stands made of wood, made of steel, set into the ground, mobile, or otherwise but what works great for me is to hang it from an overhead support by a length of chain or rope. You have much more freedom to move it a little in any direction or rotate it or in general make it line up with the 3ph.

A higher attachment point for the rope or chain (longer pendulum) gives more ease of alignment.

I have two PHD's and had a devil of a time trying to hook up the PTO shaft of the new one. I only used it once over a year ago and it worked find then. Took the shaft off and took it into the shop to try to figure out why the little spring loaded collar wouldn't make the 3 balls retract and let the coupling slide on till the PTO shaft groove was engaged. No joy, swallowed pride and called the number on the label. Guy patiently explained to me that you pull the ring toward you not push it away from you to retract the balls. Du-uh!!!

Well, at least by hanging it on a chain it isn't too tough to attach and remove.

Pat

 

[foggy1111]

I recently got my Woods PHD at an auction. After grunting to get it all hooked up.....I decided to hang it much like a few others have done. Here is my quick and dirty way of storing my digger for the summer. I sunk one post in the ground near a red-pine and made a removeable cross-beam. Works slick. In winter I am going to put it inside. (also this reminds me to take of the PTO shaft and store indoors)

I guess the auger is "hiding" behind the tree in my pic.

 

[grsthegreat]

Well for years Ive wrestled with my PHD by lowering it to the ground and manhandling it off to a corner. don't want it staying outdoors so drilling it into the ground wont work.

Today i went way basic. I used an old pallet and some scrap 2x4's with a piece of 5/8" round stock to make a stand that i can move with my forklift.

Now i just have to back up and all the parts line up ..... came off and re-installed real easy. Especially since i added the hydraulic assist the weight got to be too much to manhandle. The only bad part is i have to remove the auger .... couldnt figure out any way to do this with that on. tilting it hit my drawbar.

It took nothing to haul it and store it now. Thank you for all the ideas and pics that i have seen here.

 

[tractordog]

Well for years Ive wrestled with my PHD by lowering it to the ground and manhandling it off to a corner. don't want it staying outdoors so drilling it into the ground wont work.

Today i went way basic. I used an old pallet and some scrap 2x4's with a piece of 5/8" round stock to make a stand that i can move with my forklift.

Now i just have to back up and all the parts line up ..... came off and re-installed real easy. Especially since i added the hydraulic assist the weight got to be too much to manhandle. The only bad part is i have to remove the auger .... couldnt figure out any way to do this with that on. tilting it hit my drawbar.

It took nothing to haul it and store it now. Thank you for all the ideas and pics that i have seen here.

Nice,
using the pallet was one of my first thoughts after reading this thread. I may not waste time thinking of the auger issue and just remove it now.

thanks.

 

[grsthegreat]

Nice,
using the pallet was one of my first thoughts after reading this thread. I may not waste time thinking of the auger issue and just remove it now.

thanks.

i just placed the augar on the side of the pallet and lashed it to the side brace. was cheap and easy fix. way easier to install on tractor also.

 

[SolarTom]

Using the idea of an engine hoist, I took three old 3"x4" oak fenceposts and attached them to an equilateral triangle block of wood with three hinges on the bottom side of the triangle. I lashed three lengths of chain between the three legs to keep them from spreading. For a sling I used a child's swing with two lengths of chain running underneath it. The whole thing cost $45. I can knock the stand down and fold it up easy.

 

[duroc]

Using the idea of an engine hoist, I took three old 3"x4" oak fenceposts and attached them to an equilateral triangle block of wood with three hinges on the bottom side of the triangle. I lashed three lengths of chain between the three legs to keep them from spreading. For a sling I used a child's swing with two lengths of chain running underneath it. The whole thing cost $45. I can knock the stand down and fold it up easy.

Sounds good, but without pictures, it's hard to believe it happened. <grin>

:welcome: to the forum.

 

[SolarTom]

Ha! Here you go duroc.
The first pic is the trial layup of the posts. The second is the triangle block with hinges attachedd to the post tops. Then I flipped the whole rig over and stood it over the PHD. In 3&4 you can see the sling holding the PHD. These were before I attached the chains around the tripod to keep it from spreading. I raised the sling up some, too, attached the PTO to the boom and suspend/balance the whole thing. But I know you won't believe me til you see the next set of pictures ;-) You'll have to wait for the weather to clear for those (and at this rate it may be in the fall).

 

[texasjohn]

looks good...think I'll have to make me one, I have all materials for it.

and, welcome to TBN!