Found and old post hole digger

Found and old post hole digger and auger. 12" auger, and it has the 3pt lower arm connections off to the side of the gearbox. Only identifying information is "MODEL-H B" and nothing else. It turns freely and has plenty of oil in the gearbox. Looks like it only needs a PTO shaft and a top link (which I have). They are asking 100 for it. Any ideas what It could be? It certainly looks like it would sit directly behind the tractor. Previous owner showed me 50+ holes he dug with it to install a fence. He used it on a model 8n.

Trying to find out a model number or something o see about replacement seals and such if I need them in the future.
 
look on ebay, there is a brochure for a digger possibly like you mentioned.
the picture shows it clamping to the lower lift arms

ad is listed as below:
1951 SOUTHWEST CHAMPION TRACTOR POST HOLE DIGGER AD LOS ANGELES CA CALIFORNIA

many years ago many company's made post hole diggers, problem if you hit something an bust a gear in the gearbox, you have nothing but scrap metal,
as many of those company's quit making them

I bought one for $300, green line 5000, per my research the company still makes them or some other company bought them, but some dealers stilled listed them. who knows.

I believe I would look further, maybe something a little more user friendly,
just my two cents.
a227733.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 16:49:44 05/25/16) It hooks directly to the 3pt arms at the gearbox sides on short arms

Miles,

New to me that the gearbox is at lower link level.
If that is the case when the lower links were fully raised one could still only fit a short auger to it.

If that's true then maybe it was designed for planting shrubs where only a shallow hole is required and if you wanted a digger for post holes it wouldn't do.

T
 
I don't recommend those invisible unit too hard to find when you take them off the tractor
GB in MN :D
 

Miles,

Try this for picture posting:

Below where I am typing this to you right now,
You'll see: ADVANCED POSTING TOOLS in a red banner heading.

In the blue colored options there, click:
[b:a414aab94f]Upload Photo[/b:a414aab94f]

NOT that "Choose File" button lower down that you probably tried. That method hasn't worked since the site went down a while back.

THEN in new pane that opens --> [b:a414aab94f]Choose File[/b:a414aab94f]

THEN ---> [b:a414aab94f]Upload [/b:a414aab94f]

THEN if you are satisfied with the visual preview
click the [b:a414aab94f]CONTINUE[/b:a414aab94f] button just above the little preview of your photo.

Finally, click the usual big [b:a414aab94f]SUBMIT[/b:a414aab94f] button that you normally use to post messages.
 
Don't worry about filling in all the other fields in that pane -- Make, Model, Year etc.-- it isn't necessary to fill anything in.
 
(quoted from post at 16:40:28 05/26/16) Pics added above your post

Miles,

I saw them as soon as you posted but I can't offer any help with identifying it.

Pretty rusty . . .have you wire brushed it looking for a brand name?
Doesn't the previous owner know the make?
Just curious . . . did he have rear tractor wheels way taller than 28" rims when he used it to do those holes?

T
 
So i think its missing the frame assembly. Any ideas where to get one? It has a good auger.
Should i just sell this one and chalk it up to a lesson learned?
 
In your photo it looks like the gearbox is fastened to the 3 point frame. Are those two pieces connected or just laying there that way?

Is there anything on the sides or top of gearbox that looks like it used to accept the long pipe that runs from the top link to the gearbox?

If the gearbox isn't fastened to that 3 point frame then you are missing the long top link connection to the gearbox like in Maxwell's photo.
 
Found the patent number for it. Patent number d135724. Looks like its quite old and i am missing the lifting frame for it. The lower 3pt link pin points are almost waist high on me and i am 6 feet tall.

36385.jpg


Here are the two tags. First is the model tag, second just says how to place the bit before starting.

36386.jpg

36387.jpg


Here is a shot of the front hookups and pto shaft piece.
36388.jpg


So can i weld up my own frame with some 2" square tube? Or just junk this thing and buy a new one?
 
I would think you could fabricate the missing parts, I know I would give it a try what would be your loss.
GB in MN
 
Its a flat tray, looks like it was used to hold some weight. I think i have a game plan to fabricate a frame and a top piece to hold the gearbox and auger vertical.
 
(quoted from post at 14:12:52 05/28/16) Its a flat tray, looks like it was used to hold some weight. I think i have a game plan to fabricate a frame and a top piece to hold the gearbox and auger vertical.

Sure!

I'd plan on leaving your draw bar between your lower links
and using any kind of long tubing lengths -- square, round or flat bar, even heavy gauge angle iron -- with tabs on the ends with eyelets. But if you had long pieces of flat bar or the angle iron, you wouldn't have to weld on the end tabs, just need to drill 4 holes at the ends.

As an alternative you could also bolt the long supports to the outermost holes on the draw bar.

Maybe make a square tubing extension for your adjustable top link with a U-shaped yoke where the tubing would connect to your adjustable top link. Where the tubing meets the A-frame at the gearbox . . . drill a couple of pin holes in the square tubing.
 
I am going to take the frame apart with a cutoff wheel and grinder, get some square tubing and make my own frame for it. Should be fun!

If anyone has one of the regular post hole diggers, a set of measurements would be appreciated!
 
Myself, I think that Champion had a pretty skookum and stabilizing head support actually, even though it might not look so graceful. I'd set it up as is, make sure it all works well then de-rust and paint it up . . . saving myself some labor and zip disk cost cutting off that A frame and then having to design and make a new gearbox hanger.

You'll notice that most of the modern diggers have ready made ears or whatever on the gearboxes for connecting the single boom. Your's doesn't so if you depart from that system . . . happy trails creating a new hanger..

That's an interesting physical setup.
The gearbox gets direct side to side support from the lower lift arms.

Bon Voyage!
:)
 
I just read the ad carefully; have you?

"Augers do not dangle or swing loose"

There's your "stability" that I mentioned, which also will make for a truer and probably smoother running input shaft and longer lasting u-joints.

Look at the names Champion put in their ad!
Ford, Ferguson, Deere . . .
Them ain't no small potatoes.

You've got yourself a positive positioning and smooth running system digger.
A [b:18fda8ef44]Champion[/b:18fda8ef44] in it's time, worth preserving.

If you change it, you're going to mess up a good thing
and for what . . . a more conventional or modern look??

Those designers knew what they were doing.
 
It is probably one of the better augers and leading blade edges too (patent mentioned in the ad.)

What I missed when I mentioned the horizontal stability, was the forward and backward swing whenever you move the tractor. This one doesn't swing so you don't have to ground the auger to stop it swinging or let it dangle till it stops.

That's why they make the FASTER HOLES claim.
Doing a whole fence line of holes would be significantly faster
without the swinging auger factor at the start of every hole.

You'd get more and more familiar with where your fixed auger would land to start drilling.
 
interesting....I noticed the last vehicle listed in the ad is the Willys Jeep. An interesting modification for all those surplus jeeps after WW2. You might want to look around from that angle, maybe the jeep mounts were the same as for the tractors. You might have some luck finding more parts you need.
 
(quoted from post at 06:04:39 05/29/16) How would I go about making the lower arms for it? And how long of a top link should i be looking for?

Miles,
Already outlined all of that about 6 posts ago did I not?
 

Chad,

I thought of a possible downside to the fact that the gearbox is at a fixed angle rather than hanging free.

As a fixed implement is raised, it's angle of incidence to the ground changes, so that if the auger was perpendicular to the ground when fully raised, as it digs down, the top link would have to be shortened to keep it straight up and down.

With the gearbox hanging free style, the auger can be kept vertical by letting the tractor roll forward a little to correct.

So unless there's something telescopic about the long lower link long bars, it seems that a hydraulic top link would be perfect for quickly correcting the downward drilling path of this one.

But with the adjustable top link and its long extension the correction could also be done manually.

Maybe they conveniently left that part out of the ad.

If the auger angle of incidence to the ground remains fixed for the length of travel, then if the auger is set perfectly perpendicular to the ground when raised, the drilled hole will be slightly off perpendicular. If the auger is adjusted to be perpendicular at the bottom of its stroke then the hole will be ovular mostly at the top requiring more fill around the post.
 
If you mentioned it, i apparently cant read because i dont see any numbers or measurements. Also, i dont have a drawbar. If you look at the pictures that is an all welded and bolted assembly.

Ill figure this out on my own without the pompous crowd chiming in. Sorry i asked at all.
 

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