General Operation - Land Pride HD25 Operator's Manual

Section 3: Operating Instructions
IMPORTANT: Do not reverse auger rotation when
raising it up. This will dump soil back into the hole.
IMPORTANT: Some tractors have a hydraulic relief
valve to protect the equipment. This valve will open
in a stalled situation and allow oil to bypass. Check
your tractor Operator's Manual to see if it is
equipped with a relief valve.
8. After penetrating the ground approximately
24" (60 cm), stop auger rotation and raise it up to
remove soil and debris from the hole. Lower auger
back down to continue digging. Dig another
24" (60 cm) and again raise auger up except this time
keep auger turning to lessen the strain on the
equipment. Stop raising auger within 1 to 2 feet
(30 to 60 cm) of being out of the hole and lower it
back down to continue digging. Repeat this
procedure until hole is at its final depth.
9. Allow auger to turn several revolutions at final depth.
With auger still turning, raise auger up to within
1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) of being out of the hole. Stop
auger rotation and continue to raise auger out of the
hole.
10. If connected to a front loader, roll tilt arms into a low
carry position; and if connected to a 3-point hitch,
raise auger to an acceptable height before
transporting. Be careful to watch out for people,
obstructions, and uneven terrain.

General Operation

By now you should have thoroughly read your Operator's
Manual, properly installed your Post Hole Digger onto
your machine and performed your pre-start and
operational running checklist. If you plan to dig holes
immediately, you should have also contacted your local
utility companies to make sure it is safe to dig where you
plan to work. If you haven't done all of the things just
described above, please stop and do them now. This is a
must for your safety and the safety of others.
Now that you are properly briefed, your Post Hole Digger
is properly installed, and you have the proper digging
authorization from the utility companies, it's time to
transport to the work site. Make sure that the Post Hole
Digger is in the raised position and not in contact with the
ground. If you have an extensive distance to travel, you
may want to secure the auger with ropes, slings, or
chains to prevent swinging and damage during transport.
Select a safe speed and transport to your digging site in
such a manor that faster moving vehicles can pass you
safely. A slow moving vehicle sign should be employed if
you are using a public road or right-of-way.
Once you have safely arrived at your digging site,
position your tractor so that the auger is directly over the
spot where you want to dig a hole. Make sure your
operator protective shield or safety door is securely in
place. Lower auger to a point where the auger clears the
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ground by approximately 12" (30 cm). Do not operate the
digger when the auger is more than 12" (30cm) above
ground level or the auger could bind or swing erratically
causing injury to the operator and damage to the
equipment.
With the engine at idle, engage hydraulic circuit and raise
engine rpm to operate at the recommended hydraulic
flow to a point where the auger is turning at a speed of
approximately 85 to 100 rpm. (Refer to "Gallons per
minute rating" on page 44 for recommended hydraulic
flow) Do not operate the auger at speeds over 110 rpm or
damage to the Post Hole Digger and skid steer/tractor
could result. Using the controls, lower the auger into the
ground until the desired depth is achieved and then raise
the spinning auger back up to remove extraneous soil.
Once the hole is completed, disengage hydraulic drive
circuit, raise auger to a point where the auger tip is
approximately 12" (30 cm) off of the ground, release the
park brake, and move away from the hole.
If an obstacle is encountered that stalls the auger,
reverse auger rotation and lift up to clear the obstacle.
Periodically adjust the machine's position to keep the
auger and hole vertical. Be careful not to damage
gearbox or auger.
Before dismounting your tractor; you must always set the
park brake, lower Auger to the ground, turn off the
machine, and remove the ignition key. If you must park on
a hillside, you should always chock the tractor wheels for
an extra measure of safety.
With a little practice and experience you should become
very good at operating your Land Pride HD25 or HD35
Series Post Hole Digger.
See "Specifications & Capacities" on page 44 and
"Features & Benefits" on page 47 for additional
information on performance enhancing options.
HD25 and HD35 Hydraulic Post Hole Diggers 317-076M
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