PT422 PHD modified to spin both ways

[Bob_Skurka]

The lovely Mrs_Bob wanted to redo our 'dog yard' to make it nicer, I wanted a new workshop/garage, so we decided to set the new workshop about 150 feet from the house and enclose the area between the new shop/garage and the house with fencing.

Chuck at FFC_Fencing, who is a TBN member lives near me and owns a couple Power Trac 422 tractors, got my call for help.

I've had one of his Power Tracs out at the house before, but this is a here for a real workout today and he modified a hydraulic post hole digger to spin either direction, Chuck's modification could be done with any brand, which is why I am posting this in the Attachments forum instead of the Power Trac forum. He simply set in a different valve set up, its industrial ugly, but it works like a charm. I'm neither a hydraulics expert or PT expert, so I'm not the one to ask for any technical questions on this set up!

Attached are the photos.



Side View of the PT422 set up to dig

Front view, the business end!

Chuck's valve to direct the fluid flow

Valve from the driver's seat


We have some really seriously hard clay in my area, Chuck told me about his modifications a while back but I had not been able to take photos before. He was having a hard time getting the auger out of the ground under some conditions so figured if he could easily spin the auger backwards he would be able to spin the bit out. It seems to work and it works pretty darn well.

 

[GuglioLS]

Nice mod - he simply removed the 3 way valve and installed a 4 way valve. That mod will come in handy when you cork screw that puppy into the ground.

BTW Have you ever had the auger hang up then suddenly your tractor starts spinning? Just wondering.

 

[woodlot]

Bob, those look like black pipe street ells on that valve. Are they? If so, I've been told their rated to about 150psi and to never operate a hydraulic system with those type of fittings. If those are fitttings designed for water or gas I'd politly mention to your friend to change them to hyd. fittings. I'm Not trying to be a nit-picker, just trying to be safe.