post hole digger

[Josef]

I'll bet that I am the 1st person ever to get a 9 inch post hole digger stuck. It just got away from me and it's in a bind and so low to the ground that I can't even disconnect from my tractor. I've ran a bunch of water and I can rock it from side to side by hand but it's still in a full down position and in a real bind. Do I just continue with the water and wait???

 

[Lil Foot]

Put the PTO in neutral, get the biggest pipe wrench you can find (3ft plus) and back it out by hand until it's free. BTDT.

 

[Josef]

I just went out there as someone told me to use the fel to raise the front of the tractor. The fel won't move. How do you put the pto in neutral. I don't believe mine has one, it's either on or off I believe. The auger is slightly below ground level as I was drilling a hole inside a hole. I can't get a wrench on it.

 

[NEPA Guy]

Elbow grease. I would just get a pick and loosen up the dirt around it if you could.

 

[Lil Foot]

I don't believe mine has one, it's either on or off

Wow, never seen that before.

I can't get a wrench on it.

Damn, sounds like NEPA Guy has the only solution, you're going to have to dig it out by hand. Bummer.

 

[Josef]

Worst come to worst, I'm thinking of hiring a guy with a back hoe to plant the trees for me. I guess he will dig it out the auger out for me.

 

[Diydave]

You shoulda taken smaller bites ( punch line to an old joke..) The pipe wrench should back it out, prying it out likely will damage or bend something. Take the pin out of the auger, lift the head, move tractor out of the way, then unscrew with BFpipe wrench. Its been about 15-20 years since I have got one stuck, since I got the hyd, reversible, bucket mounted one. you just flip a switch, reverse the auger, and unscrew it thataway...

 

[bcp]

Before giving up, I would try turning the gearbox input shaft backwards using a bar in the universal yoke, or a big wrench on the outside of the yoke. Be careful. If that looks like damaging the yoke, take the yoke or clutch off the input shaft. Put a bolt through the input shaft hole, then turn the shaft with a big wrench.

Turning the input shaft will give you about a 3:1 advantage over turning the auger.

Bruce


PS: I see gray market import Asian tractors with multi-speed reversible PTO's. Why not here?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

First you going to need to take the PTO shaft off from the tractor (tractor has a PTO brake that will keep it from turning), put a little up pressure on the three point and use the pipe wrench or bar in the universal joint on the yoke to turn the auger backwards and unscrew it from the ground, keep lifting the three point as you go.

 

[Josef]

I seem to have lost hydraulics as my fel will move extremely slowly, my pto not at all. Could you please explain this as it has me very worried.
My other problem is that I can't do most any of this myself. I always have to find someone to help me and I find this very mortifying.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Josef, you are not the only person on the forum that would have to round up an extra set of hands to get out of this pickle, so mortified is not the useful feeling. On the other hand I too HATE having to hunt up help, and will go to great lengths to avoid it, so I sympathize. I also hate having to learn things the hard way, but it can't be helped. It sounds like you may not be able to implement NIW's suggestion even with help? Does your 3 pt hitch still lift and lower even a little?

My worry if I were in your shoes would also be risking damage to the tractor, and so if you can get enough help to get the pto shaft un hooked and the 3 pt hitch detached so you can pull away from the hole and see if the hydraulics are ok that might be a good first step. I wouldn't be above seeing if the dealer you bought it from would send a tech to make sure it is ok and also to help get the post hole digger either off the tractor or out of the hole if it can be done without detaching.

Got fingers crossed, be careful and don't get hurt fighting this problem, not worth it.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If your three point control is not in the same position as the three point arms (Usually three point lever is in up position jet three point is down.) then fluid flow will be restricted because it's trying to move the arms, causing the loader to not move properly.

 

[Josef]

I certainly thank you very much as I was very worried about my hydraulics.

 

[D2Cat]

Josef, can you post a picture of your tractor as it sets with the auger in the ground?

This predicament is frustrating and probably somewhat disconcerting, but getting the auger out should not be damaging to your hyd. system.

A picture will make it easier for someone to show ("tell") you how to get it up and spinning again.

 

[Josef]

I'm at home right now, should be out there Tuesday evening and will take some pictures.

 

[D2Cat]

This is the part that has me somewhat confused. " The auger is slightly below ground level as I was drilling a hole inside a hole. I can't get a wrench on it."

As Diydave suggested, if you can remove the pin holding the gear box to the auger...you can then pull your tractor out of the way.

You may need to come up with a large home made "T" wrench. Something to fit down on the auger (after you get the tractor and gearbox out of the way) and turn it.

Have someone weld up something like this. Doesn't need to be very long, just enough to get out of the ground a ways. Then put a good long pipe wrench on it. Could even use your tractor to pull the wrench!!

 

[Josef]

This is what my stuck post hole digger looks like. After taking this picture, I used a post hole digger to dig along side the auger. Tomorrow I will remove the drive shafts from the tractor and then remove the pin on the auger head. As you stated, it will allow me to get the tractor out of the way. I will then turn the drive shafts backwards as suggested.

 

[D2Cat]

Have someone weld up something like this. Doesn't need to be very long, just enough to get out of the ground a ways. Then put a good long pipe wrench on it. Could even use your tractor to pull the wrench!!

When I typed this I was going to post this link to give you a picture of an extension that may help. You can have something similar welded up. Doesn't need to be long, just has to match the diameter of the auger.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tractor-Pos...859374?hash=item2ef222c06e:g:oCoAAOSw-4BXavcr

 

[luketratts]

You may have lost hydraulic power as you were augering that's why the pto driven auger has sucked it into the ground cause the hydraulics couldn't hold the 3pl up...this is further confirmed by the FEL not working as it should...

Do you have power steer, is this working easily?

Is the pump squealing? Have you checked hydraulic fluids recently?


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[luketratts]

Have you tried turning it with the pto again now that you have worked it a bit and added water and softened the ground?


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