903 Ford Post Hole Digger

[baydog1]

Hello. I have a ford 801. I bought a Ford 903 post hole digger. Does anyone know if my 801 will lift this digger high enough to clear the auger off the ground and does anyone have a routine or any tips on how to hook this animal to the tractor? Anyway has got to be easier than how I'm doing it.
Thanks,
Scotty

 

[Hayfarmer]

I don't know about the lift height. I have a Ford digger on my JD 430 U and no problem clearing the ground. I tie the auger end of the post hole digger to a RR tie at the top. You still have to lift up arms to get hooked up to 3 point. After arms are hooked to tractor I untie gearbox so I can move digger to get top part hooked to tractor upper 3 point attachment. Have seen guys suspend them from a tree or beam with a hoist. Others may have a better way than mine.

 

[DeltaRed]

Easiest way is to hang it from a stout tree branch.Then you just back up and hook it up.Once hooked up,just lift and see.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Before I would wrestle 3pt equipment on and off I would just have a tractor for each one of the 3 pt toys or not have them. I hate 3pt equipment. Drop a pin in and go suits me better.

 

[RobCons]

Your tractor should pick it up fine. I have the same digger I use on a 4 cylinder 4000 and it works fine. Easiest way to hook it up is to hang the digger from a frame or tree. Lots of people auger it partially in the ground for storage which helps with hooking it up. Storing it in the ground is not good for the auger in my opinion.

 

[SVcummins]

I burry a railroad tie in the ground then use a ratchet strap to hold the post hole digger to the tie I have a stick that holds post hole digger frame at the right height so I can just back up and put the top pin in . I love my old 903 .

 

[SVcummins]

Theres nothing to it . Learn how to drive straight and how to center your tractor to the implement hook up the arms and go

 

[baydog1]

Thanks SVcummins. That's a great Ideal to build some type of stand to hold it in place and just back up to it. That's the biggest thing for me finding a routine hooking it up or I should say wrestling it on. When I did got it on I could not believe how slick it ran. It was laying in a barn in a light powder type dirt. The guy couldn't tell me how many years it's been since it had been used but he did say more than 10 years. Did nothing to it and it runs slick. Good digger!...after ya get it on...lol

Scotty

 

[baydog1]

Thanks Robcons. That's exactly what I'm gonna do for temporary stand. Sock it in the ground so it at least stands up right. Great
ideal for a quick fix. My 801 has the power to pick it up but not enough lift height. Close but the auger just won't clear the
ground. And If I do get it to lift much higher the PTO shaft will stretch out so far it comes apart. Might have to get a longer
piece of square stock to replace what's on there now so the shaft won't come apart when lifted high enough to clear the ground??

Scotty

 

[baydog1]

That's funny because I had the exact conversation with my wife and her reply was Really You need a tractor for each implement? Then said you have to many implements But yes I agree, for implements that are used more than others and are a pain to hook up be nice to have a tractor for each.

Scotty

 

[baydog1]

Sounds like a plan to me since I do live in the woods. I have plenty of tree branches I could hang it from.

Scotty

 

[baydog1]

Thanks Hayfarmer. That just what I going to do. Either build a stand for it of hanging it from a tree sound like a good deal too.

Scotty

 

[SVcummins]

Yes they are extremely hard to get on without something to hold it up Ive even hung it off another tractor loader I have also just wrestled it off the ground once you get the top link hooked up the rest Is easy

 

[DoubleR]

I did the same thing with the rail tie on my digger. I always get the loader tractor and lift the hitch to the desired height from the side then hook the tractor up. The only problem with that method I haven't figured out how to do that and hook to the loader tractor to the digger LOL. Guess I'm lucky to have more than one tractor.

 

[SVcummins]

Thats where a stick comes in handy .