Posthole Digger Restoring a Post Hole Digger

[nitroxn]

If anyone recognizes the brand please speak up, I have no Idea.

Found this on craigslist for $150. It is weathered and has had some low quality welding repairs through the years. Here are a few pics after pressure washing the rust and flaky paint off. Note the leaky input seal and the bent tabs on the A frame where it attaches to the boom.

 

[nitroxn]

Here is a close up shot of the A frame. Look at the gorilla welds. In this came "more isnt better" LOL

 

[nitroxn]

Here is the A frame after the repair. I used D.O.M. tubing 1/2" I.D x 1" O.D. for the middle of the mount. The side plates are 3/8" x 2" Flat Bar. Should be plenty stiff now.

 

[nitroxn]

The tractor end of the boom pole it tweaked a bit. The hole was also wallowed out by about an 1/8". I will attach several pictures that will show the arm in my mill after I leveled and squared it by the boom and gearbox mount. I figured it would be much easier to bore the hole larger with the correct alignment than to heat and re-bend the mount itself. Hope that makes since. Pics worth a 1000 words.Here ya go.

 

[nitroxn]

This is part way through making the bushing to weld into the tractor end of the boom pole. It is also D.O.M. tubing and ended up being 1" O.D. x 3/4" I.D.

 

[sweettractors]

If anyone recognizes the brand please speak up, I have no Idea.

Found this on craigslist for $150. It is weathered and has had some low quality welding repairs through the years. Here are a few pics after pressure washing the rust and flaky paint off. Note the leaky input seal and the bent tabs on the A frame where it attaches to the boom.

I am 99% sure it was made by Independent Manufacturing Company (IMCO) in Neodesha Ks. Ken Sweet

 

[nitroxn]

IMCO, Thanks Ken!! I know the gear box is OMNI. Seems they are still made.

 

[sweettractors]

IMCO, Thanks Ken!! I know the gear box is OMNI. Seems they are still made.

I owned 1 just like it back in the late seventies. We were a dealer for them until they went out. Real good machines for the $ spent. Ken Sweet

 

[npalen]

I refurbished an old Speeco PHD just recently and the gearbox was real similar. It had a leaky seal on the input also but was very easy to replace the seal. I did have a thread problem on a couple of the bolt holes that mount the shaft cap. The hexbolts were not the best so replaced them with slightly longer bolts and worked fine. Always a good feeling to "resurrect" and old piece of equipment especially when it will perform as well or better than a new one today.

 

[nitroxn]

Here are the boom and A frame after some paint. On the boom, tractor end, notice the bushing pressed and tack welded into place. Ill be picking up new pins for the A frame too.

 

[nitroxn]

Here is the gear box with the leveling arm. The allen set screw has been stripped out. Guess its time to drill and re-tap the hole for a 5/6"-18 set screw. Even the arm was rusted in tight, a little heat did the trick.

 

[nitroxn]

The output shaft had a pretty good bend in it. Ya know a little bend in the back would wobble like crazy at the end of the auger. With all the new tighter bushing areas I didnt want it to shake my little tractor when digging.

 

[nitroxn]

Finally got the input shaft seal gonna get it put back together and painted soon. Also the new pto shaft from northern came in. It was $69 on sale. I expected the most light duty pto that was made, it has u-joints as but as my mower and tiller. I am very impressed. Pics to come soon.

 

[nitroxn]

Finally received my new pto shaft. $69 on sale at Northern Tools. Rated for 21 hp and works great.

 

[namyessam]

If anyone recognizes the brand please speak up, I have no Idea.


I was thinking Bridgeport mill and possibly a South Bend Lathe with a taper attachment. Oh you wanted the post hole auger identified!:laughing:

 

[stuckmotor]

If anyone recognizes the brand please speak up, I have no Idea.


I was thinking Bridgeport mill and possibly a South Bend Lathe with a taper attachment. Oh you wanted the post hole auger identified!:laughing:

I'm envious of that shop equipment myself. Nice job with the hole digger!

 

[sweettractors]

The output shaft had a pretty good bend in it. Ya know a little bend in the back would wobble like crazy at the end of the auger. With all the new tighter bushing areas I didnt want it to shake my little tractor when digging.

When I look at your push punch, I want to reach for a pair of safety goggles....Fast. I have seen pieces like that fly out under pressure and go through a metal shop wall. Be careful. Ken Sweet

 

[nitroxn]

When I look at your push punch, I want to reach for a pair of safety goggles....Fast. I have seen pieces like that fly out under pressure and go through a metal shop wall. Be careful. Ken Sweet

Forget the safety glasses I was behind a 1/2 piece of plywood when I was actually doing the bending. The Pin you see in the picture is a spider gear pin out of a suzuki samurai diff.

 

[sweettractors]

Forget the safety glasses I was behind a 1/2 piece of plywood when I was actually doing the bending. The Pin you see in the picture is a spider gear pin out of a suzuki samurai diff.

I thought that pin looked hardened. Thanks for being safe. Ken Sweet

 

[nitroxn]

I thought that pin looked hardened. Thanks for being safe. Ken Sweet

Good eye Ken. Thats what I love about this board, real mechanical people.