Farm Star 300 - Manual (Page 11)

13 10
Be sure your tractor is in good condition. Read all the
safety precautions and make sure all tractor opera-
tors are familiar with the safety rules of operation.
C A U T I O N !
I N S T R U C T I O N S
T R A C T O R R E Q U I R E M E N T S
A N D P R E PA R AT I O N
Unpack and lay out the various parts. Refer to the
exploded view parts drawing for part identification and
the relationship of one part to the others.
Start with the “A” frame assembly. Place the pull pins
(Ref. #10) through the lower holes of the side bars (Ref.
#2) and the lower cross bar (Ref. #3). Secure with nuts
and lock washers.
Place the lift arm ends of your tractor over the pull pin
ends in the “A” frame assembly and secure with linchpins
(not supplied).
Place the tractor end of the digger boom (Ref. #1)
between the top link ears on the tractor and pin in place.
Use a top link bushing (
5 / 8 ” to 3 / 4 ” O.D.) for Cat. 0 tractors.
Swing the “A” frame up and attach it to the adjustment
channel on the boom with the
3 / 4 ” x 5 1 / 2 ” bolt and nylock
nut.
Pin end of digger boom (Ref. #1) to tractor toplink
bracket. Raise boom by hand – check that it doesn’t hit
any part of toplink bracket (some tractors only). If prob-
lem exists, change hole location and re-check. Failure to
check can result in damage to the tractor or boom.
NOTE: When attaching the “A” frame to the boom, use
the hole in the adjustment channel best suited for your
tractor. If you don’t know the best hole location, start with
the middle hole.
It is recommended that the gearbox output guard, the
gearbox input guard, and the PTO driveline be assem-
bled on the gearbox before the gearbox is fastened to the
boom. Place the gearbox upside down on the floor.
Install the formed metal gearbox output shield (Ref. #9)
on the gearbox. A socket with a long extension makes
this an easy installation.
Clean and check the input shaft of the gearbox. If any
nicks or dents have occurred in shipping, lightly file to
remove and make the shaft smooth.
Slide the plastic cone-shaped input guard on to the
input shaft of the gearbox.
Grease the input shaft of the gearbox before installing
the PTO shaft. This reduces the chance of the PTO shaft
yoke from galling to the input shaft if the shear pin should
break.
Slip the two telescoping ends of the PTO shaft together.
Spray WD-40 into the yoke and wipe. This should
remove some of the paint and make it easier to slide the
yoke onto the input shaft of the gearbox. Install the
unsplined end on the gearbox input shaft and bolt it in
place with the
5 / 16 ” shear bolt (Ref. #19) and secure with
the lock washer and nut.
A S S E M B LY A N D M O U N T I N G
The model 300 3-pt. mounted post hole digger will fit
most 14 to 24 hp small tractors with a Category 0 hitch
and a 540 rpm rated PTO.
NOTE: Some smaller size Category 0 lawn tractors
(usually less than 14 hp) have very short lift arms with
5 / 8 ”
diameter lift arm ball ends. These smaller lawn tractors
are not usually suitable for post hole digger operation.
The model 300 post hole digger “A” frame comes with
Category I lift pins ( 7 / 8 ” diameter). Most small tractors are
made for these size pins. If your tractor has 5 / 8 ” diameter
lift arm ball ends, then you must order Cat. I/Cat. 0 lift
pins (part #590330, two required).
The model 300 post hole digger can handle 6”, 9”, or
12” diameter augers. However, the size of auger that can
be effectively used depends on the size of your tractor
and existing soil conditions. Example: In easy soil condi-
tions, a 14-16 hp tractor can handle a 12” auger. If con-
ditions are difficult, a 9” diameter auger is probably all
that a tractor that size will be able to handle.
Because of the generally low height profile of these
smaller tractors, the use of 30” long augers is recom-
mended. (Some small tractors either cannot lift the boom
high enough for use of a standard 42” length auger or tend
to put the digger driveline joints at such a sharp angle, the
driveline will not perform or has a high failure rate.)
Check the tractor’s 3-pt. hydraulic lift system. It should
operate up and down smoothly and have enough power
to lift the dirt-loaded auger out of the hole. Refer to your
tractor operator’s manual or dealer for any adjustments
necessary to put the 3-pt. hydraulic lift system in good
working order. (I&T shop manuals will list most specifi-
cations and adjustment instructions – available from
most farm equipment dealers.)
Check the shield over the PTO stub shaft. Make sure it
is in good condition and bolted securely to the tractor.
Purchase a new shield if old shield is damaged or missing.
Tractor must be equipped with stabilizer bars, -
adjustable sway chains, or sway blocks to keep the post
hole digger from swinging side to side.
Smaller size tractors may need front counter weights to
counter-balance the weight of the post hole digger and
the weight of the dirt on the auger or use a smaller size
auger.
It is recommended that the tractor be equipped with a
Roll-Over Protection System (ROPS) and a seat belt that
is used.
Never locate auger by putting hands on auger,
gearbox, or boom when there is any sign of rotation
on the driveline or auger or if the tractor is running.
W A R N I N G !
Do not shovel dirt away from a turning auger, as the
shovel can be caught by the auger and thrown. Do
not allow anyone to stand behind or to the side of an
operating auger. ALL persons should be at least 25
feet away.
C A U T I O N !
• In some types of soil, it may be necessary to hold back
against the auger screw suction by moving the
hydraulic control lever to “HOLD” or “RAISE” position
to keep the auger from screwing into the ground.
• NEVER use body weight to help the auger
penetrate the ground. When the ground is too
tough to penetrate with your cutting edges and point,
sharpen or replace them and try again. These are
replaceable parts and must be in good condition to
penetrate. (Optional Hydraulic Downpressure Kit is
available – order #706080.) Tractor must have
auxiliary hydraulic remote outlet.
• If you have difficulty penetrating hard ground, refer to
Owner’s Manual Troubleshooting section for
suggestions.
• When the auger has been lowered about a foot or so
into the ground, raise the auger almost out of the hole
to clear the dirt, then drill deeper and raise the auger
again. Repeat this procedure until the desired hole
depth is reached.
• Do not shovel dirt away from a rotating auger as the
shovel can be caught and thrown by the auger.
• Disengage the power-take-off when traveling
between holes.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN
THE ASSEMBLY, OPERATION, TRANSPORT, MAIN-
TENANCE, AND STORAGE OF THIS EQUIPMENT BE
AWARE, CONCERNED, PRUDENT, AND PROPERLY
TRAINED IN SAFETY.
DIGGING A HOLE: Position the tractor so that the
auger point is placed where the hole is to be. Lower the
auger so that the point touches the ground. The point of
the auger should be approximately 3” back of center of
the gearbox. As the auger works into the ground, this
slight angle will straighten, due to the pivoting action of
the boom downward. If the auger has a side tilt, correct
with the lift arm adjustment on the tractor hitch.
If the auger tilts too far forward or to the rear, it may be
necessary to move the tractor slightly. Be careful not to
bend the auger.
The post hole digger auger is free-swinging, and care
should be taken while transporting the machine. DO
NOT transport the post hole digger while the PTO is
engaged as this could cause the universal joints of the
PTO driveline into a sharp operating angle and cause
failure of the driveline.
Engage the tractor PTO with the engine at idle (or below
1000 engine RPM). As the auger penetrates the ground,
lower the unit slowly with the 3-pt. hydraulic system. DO
NOT LET THE AUGER SCREW ITSELF INTO THE
GROUND! Auger must dig with the dirt breaking up and
being carried to the top by the auger flighting.
Once the hole is dug to the desired depth raise the
auger while rotating to bring the dirt out of the hole. To
get a clean hole, it is sometimes best to lower the auger
into the hole with the auger turning and then, when at the
bottom, stop the rotation and raise the auger while not
turning. This brings the dirt up with little left in the hole.
For best results, allow the digger to dig about half the
required depth, then lift it partially out of the hole to
remove dirt and then re-enter hole and finish to the
desired depth.
A Grade 2 ( 5 / 16 ” x 2 1 / 2 ”) shear bolt is included with your
post hole digger. If the shear bolt shears, replace only
with a soft, Grade 2 shear bolt. DO NOT USE A HARD
SHEAR BOLT! Use of a hard shear bolt could result in
damage to the gearbox or other post hole digger parts
and voids any warranty.
Do not run the digger while transporting, as damage to
the PTO shaft could occur.
DO NOT LET THE DIGGER DIG SO DEEP THAT THE
PTO SHAFT IS RUNNING IN THE DIRT.
I N S T R U C T I O N S (continued)