storage for post hole digger

[Dick Calland]

I'm hoping to buy a post hole digger. I have a bad back and have to be very careful about even modest lifting. The people I know who have PHD's either prop them against a tree or the PHD is down on the ground. I want to store one upright in my shed so that there is no need to wrestle it or lift anything. Does anyone have ideas about some kind of storage rack that would hole the PHD in the position needed to mount on a tractor's 3 point hitch ?

 

[JJZ 109]

Scroll down through this page. There are several different approaches that guys have taken.

 

[whistlepig]

I bought a Bush Hog 2102 PHD with the optional parking stand for this very reason. I back up to the PHD, insert three pins, raise the PHD and go. The only effort required is inserting the three pins. It's just as easy taking it off. I used to put off digging post holes because I didn't want to wrestle the digger. Now that only takes a few minutes and no effort to hook it up it's not near the chore.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

The factory stand may be your best bet, especially if you are going to store it inside. But if you are going to store it outside, my way is about $20.

 

[kennyd]

I just bought a used one myself and intend to hang it from the arch on a piece of chain from a rafter.

 

[paccorti]

I just built this using wood leftover from the barn construction. I got tired of wrestling around with the PH. My stand is on dollies and I can roll it right up to the tractor. I actually built the stand when the PH was on the tractor so everything is the right height. I can slip the pins in without lifting it even 1 mm. One thing I wanted is the ability to change the point/flights when it's on the stand (that's why the point does not touch). If you look at the top of pic #1 & #3 at the top of the "A" frame (near the gearbox) are some small pieces of wood to keep the PH in the frame. You can't remove the PH from the frame without lifting it about 1"; that's my way of making it safer.

Peter

 

[Ken45101]

I have a loop of chain holding mine. The chain goes over a barn rafter. The chain is adjusted so that I can lift it free and unhook the chain with the 3 pt.

Ken

 

[mantis]

I just use an engine hoist that I had in the garage... adjustable, maneuverable, and I already had it. Perfect!

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I just use an engine hoist that I had in the garage... adjustable, maneuverable, and I already had it. Perfect!

Good until you need to use the engine hoist for something else.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

The factory stand may be your best bet, especially if you are going to store it inside. But if you are going to store it outside, my way is about $20.

Mtnview: I assume the horizontal board isn't attached and is removed when the PHD is secured to the 3 point hitch. Correct? I know this must seem like a simple question, but I am a simple person.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Mtnview: I assume the horizontal board isn't attached and is removed when the PHD is secured to the 3 point hitch. Correct? I know this must seem like a simple question, but I am a simple person.

Jerry, yes the top 4x4 will just lift off. Hook up the PHD, lift the 3pt which lifts the boom off of the 4x4 and then slide the 4x4 out. This has worked very well for me for the last 5+ years. Usually takes 5-6 minutes, if I am having a bad day, then it's about 10 minutes. :ashamed: I had bought three 4x4sx8 feet long and 2 Simpson brackets to hold the top cross beam. At that time the total cost was less than $20.

 

[kenacp]

Here is mine. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/156512-post-hole-digger-cart.html#post1794603

 

[laurencen]

Hi, for me I have a post hole drill on the skid steer, simly drill the auger into the ground and drive away, I have 3 drills, 6 10 and 14 diameter all n the ground, the 110 has the drive unit attached, off the ground and readily available

 

[Car Doc]

I have to do everything by myself so I wanted the easiest way to do it too this is my rendition.

I welded a muffler clamp "U" on the top of the boom and hung a chain in the shed where I could back up to it and hook the digger and lower the 3 pt and drive off it works great. hth

Steve

 

[kidr]

I just built this using wood leftover from the barn construction. I got tired of wrestling around with the PH. My stand is on dollies and I can roll it right up to the tractor. I actually built the stand when the PH was on the tractor so everything is the right height. I can slip the pins in without lifting it even 1 mm. One thing I wanted is the ability to change the point/flights when it's on the stand (that's why the point does not touch). If you look at the top of pic #1 & #3 at the top of the "A" frame (near the gearbox) are some small pieces of wood to keep the PH in the frame. You can't remove the PH from the frame without lifting it about 1"; that's my way of making it safer.

Peter

This is a great stand and I'll make one for myself. I can't do much lifting either and this looks like a good solution for me. I now hang it like some of the other guys, but I still have to lift too much weight to hook it up. Thank you.

 

[paccorti]

This is a great stand and I'll make one for myself. I can't do much lifting either and this looks like a good solution for me. I now hang it like some of the other guys, but I still have to lift too much weight to hook it up. Thank you.

You're welcome and good luck. Just be sure to cross brace it well. You don't want the big "A" flopping around at all. If you are confident that it's going together right some glue wouldn't hurt.

Peter

 

[oldebuttonwood]

I purchased my PHD used and the previous owner had it hanging from a tree branch for years. It worked well for holding it and getting it on and off, but leaves fell down around the PTO shaft and really seized things up. I hang if from the rafters of a shed where it is out of the weather. I just back under rafter that had a chain hanging from it. Raise the PHD all the way up, wrap the chain around the bend in arm, and lower the PHD until the chain is taking the weight. Pull the pins and go.

 

[Window Geek]

After my son left for college, there was no one to help wrestle the PHD to line up with the 3PH. I came up with this setup. I hung a 3/8" proof coil chain from a reinforced rafter with a big carabiner on it. I back the tractor up to it and lift with the 3PH to get the lifting eye in place. Hook the 'biner to the lifting eye and slowly let the 3PH off to the PHD hang from the chain. It will now balance. Hook a small block and tackle onto the back of the frame and lift it until there is no pressure on the connecting pins. Remove the PTO shaft and hang the chain around the A frame to keep the shaft off the floor. Take the pin out, slide the lift arms off the lower pins and drive away.
I can adjust the back block and tackle to let the PHD hang more horizontally and then I pull it to one side of the shed with a motorcycle tie down strap. Now I still have enough room to park the tractor in the shed and the PHD doesn't get messed up by the dirt.:thumbsup:

One cardinal rule: If I start to hook it on or unhook it, I finish the task completely. I'm just the one to pull my shed down on top of me with my PHD while being in a hurry to drive out.

 

[Rede166]

I tell my wife to drive the tractor , then I wrestle mine into place:laughing:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I was going to hang mine in my tractor garage. A man told me he would build me the hanging hook so I could hook it and then disconnect, drive away and then slide it over to the side of the building on door rollers. He didn't do it so I just augered it into the ground and unhooked it. That's where it is now, in the ground standing there to be hooked back up.