
Section 2: Operating Procedures
Table of Contents
SA20 Hydraulic Post Hole Diggers 317-215M March 8, 2018
16
Operator’s Responsibilities
Hazard control and accident prevention are dependent
upon the awareness, concern, prudence, and proper
training involved in the operation, transport, storage, and
maintenance of the Post Hole Digger. Therefore, it is
absolutely essential that no one operates the Post Hole
Digger unless they are age 16 or older and have read,
fully understood, and are totally familiar with the
Operator’s Manual. Make sure the operator has paid
particular attention to:
Perform the following inspections before using your Post
Hole Digger.
To prevent serious injury or death:
•Hydraulic fluid under high pressure will penetrate the skin
and/or eyes causing a serious injury. Wear protective gloves
and safety glasses or goggles when working with hydraulic
systems. Use a piece of cardboard or wood rather than
hands when searching for leaks. A doctor familiar with this
type of injury must treat the injury within a few hours or
gangrene may result. DO NOT DELAY.
•Inspect interlock control system regularly and perform
required maintenance to keep it operating properly.
•Never bypass or modify a safety device.
•All guards and shields must be installed and in good
working condition while operating the implement.
•Never operate equipment from outside the cab.
•Always operate skid steer while seated in the cab with seat
bar lowered when equipped and seat belt fasten around the
operator. The operator can be pinched, crushed, or thrown
if not properly seated in the cab or if operating loader arms
from outside the cab.
Operating Checklist
Check Ref.
Read and follow all safety rules carefully.
Refer to “Important Safety Information”.Page 1
Make sure all guards and shields are in place.
Refer to “Important Safety Information”.Page 1
Make sure there are no hydraulic leaks.
Refer to “Avoid High Pressure Fluids Hazard”.Page 3
Read and follow hook-up & preparation.
Refer to “Section 1: Assembly & Set-up”. Page 7
Read and follow all operating procedures.
Refer to “Section 2: Operating Procedures”. Page 16
Read and follow all Maintenance Instructions.
See “Section 4: Maintenance & Lubrication”. Page 24
Read and follow all Lubrication Instructions.
Refer to “Lubrication Points”. Page 26
Make sure gearbox is properly lubricated.
Refer to gearbox lubrication. Page 26
Check equipment initially and periodically for
loose hardware. See “Torque Values Chart”.Page 32
•Keep your head, arms, and legs inside the cab while
operating the power machine. Any extremity extended
outside the cab can be crushed by the loader arms and
attachment.
•Never carry riders on the implement or power machine.
Riders can obstruct the operator’s view, interfere with
control of the equipment, be pinched by moving
components, become entangled in rotating components, be
struck by objects, be thrown or fall from the equipment, etc..
•Do not travel across inclines where equipment could slip or
roll-over. Consult your power machine Operator’s Manual
for acceptable inclines they are capable of crossing.
•Make sure the site is free from hazards beforedrilling. Look
for obstacles on the ground, beneath mulching, and below
the ground that may need to be removed such as landscape
fabric, wire, etc. Hand digging may be necessary to verify
the presence of underground materials.
•Never work near utilities such as gas lines, electrical lines,
or other hazards that can cause serious injury or death from
electrocution, explosion, or fire.
•Keep attachment, loader arms, and/or load away from
overhead electrical power lines. Place an orange warning
sign under overhead lines indicating type of danger above.
•Never make contact with underground utilities such as
electrical power lines, gas lines, phone lines, etc. They can
cause serious injury or death from electrocution, explosion,
or fire. If in doubt, call 811 (USA) before digging so that
they can mark the location of underground services in the
area. For contact information, see Dig Safe in the
“Important Safety Information” starting on page 1.
•Keep all persons away from the post hole digger while
lowering and raising the unit. A person can be hit, pinched,
or crushed by the unit.
•Do not drill through landscape fabric. Prior to drilling, cut
a hole in the fabric sufficiently larger than the diameter of
the auger to prevent auger entanglement with the fabric.
Fabric caught in the auger can pull a bystander into the
auger.
•Do not allow anyone to manually guide the auger bit to
position its point on the ground while it is rotating. Aperson
will become entangled in the auger or hit by the auger.
•Do not allow anyone to manually push down on the post
hole digger, or put anything or anyone on the unit for the
purpose of adding weight to the unit. Objects and people
can be thrown, pinched, or entangled in the unit.
•Keep others away from the post hole digger while the auger
is rotating. A person can become entangled in the auger or
hit by the auger if it swings erratically. Anyone helping
should be kept a safe distance (a minimum of 10 feet) from
the unit while it is rotating.
•Do not remove spoil-pile with hand tools while auger is
operating. Doing so can result in serious injury or death.
•Do not go near or under raised loader arms without first
securing loader arms in the raised position with an
approved lift-arm support. Not securing loader arms in the
raised position can result in a serious injury or death.
Section 2: Operating Procedures