3-Pt. PTO Post Hole Digger Owner’s Manual WARNING: Read carefully and understand all ASSEMBLY AND OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS before operating. Failure to follow the safety rules and other basic safety precautions may result in serious personal injury.
Thank you very much for choosing a Nortrac™ product! For future reference, please complete the owner’s record below: Serial Number/Lot Date Code: ________________________________ Purchase Date: ____________________________________________ Save the receipt, warranty, and this manual. It is important that you read the entire manual to become familiar with this product before you begin using it. This 3-Pt. PTO Post Hole Digger is designed for certain applications only.
Table of Contents Intended Use .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Technical Specifications ...................................................................................................................... 4 Important Safety Information ............................................................................................................... 4 Specific Operation Warnings .......................
Intended Use The 6" Post Hole Digger (#51478), the 9" Post Hole Digger (#51479), and the 12" Post Hole Digger (#51480) are PTO driven. The aggressive cast-steel, split-tip, auger rips through tough, compacted soil. The strong, durable design includes a number of safety features. In addition to an integrated safety shield, the Quik-Tach® threaded auger design is safer than a bolt-on auger, and the butterfly flighting’s rounded edges make it safer than spiral flighting.
Keep children and bystanders away from the work area while operating the tool. Do not allow children to handle the digger. Be aware of all power lines, electrical circuits, water pipes, and other mechanical hazards in your work area. Some of these hazards may be hidden from your view and may cause personal injury and/or property damage if contacted. PERSONAL SAFETY Stay alert, watch what you are doing, and use common sense when operating the digger.
Read and understand the Owner’s Manual before operating, servicing, or repairing equipment. Stop the engine, remove the key, and set the brake before dismounting the tractor. Operate from the tractor seat only. DO NOT operate without guards in place and in good, working condition. Never allow riders on equipment. Stop the auger rotation before maneuvering, relocating, or transporting. DO NOT operate when the auger is higher than 12 inches above ground level.
2. Attach the boom to the top link mounting bracket on the tractor using a top link pin and a linch pin through the hole at the bottom of the boom. 3. Connect the A frame to the tractor’s 3-point lift arms using the 7/8” pull pins with nut and lock washer. 4. Remove the top link pin from the A frame. Attach the A frame to the boom after selecting the desired hole (for angle adjustment), using the 2-3/4” top link and the 7/16” linch pin. 5.
6. Using a 9/16” wrench, remove the shear bolt. Use a hex screwdriver to loosen the jam nut off the screw enough to clear the internal bore of the PTO shaft. 7. Attach the auger to the output shaft on the bottom of the gear box using the 1/2” x 3” hex cap grade 5 screws, 1/2” lock washers, and 1/2” hex nuts. Tighten the nuts using the provided ratchet holes, if needed.
8. Attach the driveline to the gear box input shaft using the 5/16” grade 5 hex cap screw, the 5/16” lock washer, and the 5/16” NC hex nut. Tighten the hex nut. Insert the 1/4” x 3/8” set screw from the hardware kit in the hole on the yoke that aligns with the 3/16” groove on the gear box input shaft. Tighten. Attention The 3/8” hex cap screw provides shear protection. Use a grade 2 3” bolt (not provided) only to avoid damage to the gear box or auger.
Before Using the Digger IMPORTANT The digger was shipped without oil in the gearboxes. Oil must be added to the gearbox before operating. Note: Fill the gearbox using gear oil (type 80W-90 lubricant) and fill to the oil level plug. Check the gear box every fifty hours of use to assure adequate lubrication. Note: Check all nuts and bolts for tightness. Stabilizers should be kept tight to avoid the side sway of the digger. Adding and Changing Gearbox Oil 1.
⚠CAUTION DO NOT overfill the gearbox. This could cause damage to the oil seals and can cause permanent damage to the gearbox (which is not covered under warranty). 4. Replace and tighten the check plug. 5. Replace and tighten the 1/2” vented pipe plug and clean off any excess oil. Attaching to the Tractor Never stand between the tractor and the digger while backing up the tractor to the hitch. Note: For safety, it’s recommended that two people attach the digger to the tractor. 1.
Note: Due to the many variations in the tractor hitch points and distances between the equipment gearbox input shaft and the tractor PTO output shafts, some combinations may require the PTO shafts to be shortened, as described by the following steps. 6. Raise and lower the digger in order to locate the shortest distance between the equipment gearbox, the input shaft, and the tractor PTO output shaft.
1. Read and understand the Owner’s Manual. 2. Be instructed in safe and proper use. Know your controls and how to stop the tractor, the engine, and the digger quickly in an emergency. To understand how to do this, read this manual and your tractor’s manual. Train all new personnel and review instructions frequently with existing workers. Be certain only a properly trained and physically able person will operate the machinery.
Note: The addition of an over-running PTO clutch may change the length of the PTO driveline required. Pay extra attention to the instructions on the PTO Driveline installation. Be sure that the driveline system guarding is adequate. The digger’s operating power is supplied from the tractor PTO. Refer to your tractor manual for PTO engagement and disengagement instructions. In the case of an emergency, know how to quickly stop the tractor and the digger.
Do not operate unless all personnel, livestock, and pets are several hundred feet away to prevent injury by thrown objects. Never operate the tractor and the digger under trees with low hanging limbs. Operators can be knocked off the tractor and hit by equipment. The rotating parts of this machine have been designed and tested for rugged use. However, they could fail upon impact with heavy, solid objects such as steel guardrails and concrete abutment.
Use extreme care and maintain minimum ground clearance when operating close to ditches or fences. Be careful when turning sharp corners. After Each Use Note: For safety, it’s recommended that two people detach the digger. ⚠CAUTION To prevent personal injury caused by unexpected movement: 1. Park the machine on a level surface. 2. Engage the tractor parking brake and/or place the transmission in park. 3. Disengage the PTO. 4. Shut off the tractor’s engine and remove the key. Detaching from the Tractor 1.
2. Using the cut section of the shield as a guide, cut the same amount off the shaft. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the other PTO shaft section. 4. Use a file to deburr the PTO shafts. Clean up all chips, burrs, and filings from both ends of the PTO shaft. Maintenance Good maintenance is your responsibility. Follow good shop practices. Keep your service area clean and dry. Be sure the electrical outlets and tools are properly grounded. Use adequate light for the job at hand.
Periodically tighten all bolts, nuts, and screws and check that all cotter pins are properly installed to ensure the unit is in safe condition. When completing a maintenance or service function, make sure all safety shields and devices are installed before placing the unit in service. After servicing, be sure all tools, parts, and service equipment are removed from the digger. Do not allow debris, grease, or oil, to build up on the digger.
Parts Diagram Page 19 of 22
Parts List Reference Part No. Description Qty.
Limited Warranty Northern Tool and Equipment Company, Inc. ("We'' or '"Us'') warrants to the original purchaser only ("You'' or “Your”) that the Nortrac product purchased will be free from material defects in both materials and workmanship, normal wear and tear excepted, for a period of one year from date of purchase. The foregoing warranty is valid only if the installation and use of the product is strictly in accordance with product instructions.
Distributed by: Northern Tool & Equipment Company, Inc. Burnsville, Minnesota 55306 www.northerntool.
