adjustment of the ripper shank 29 into any of its positions requires an excavator operator to orient the pulverizer ripper unit 10 so that the mass of the ripper shank 29 rests solely on the pivot pin 24 this releases any pressure on the locking pin 40 so that the locking pin 40 can easily be removed once the locking pin 40 is removed the excavator operator will then continue to move the boom structure 12 outwardly or inwardly this allows the ripper shank 29 to freely swing into the desired position where the through hole in the base section 35 for the locking pin 40 is aligned with the desired index hole 41 an index hole 41 exists for each of the fully deployed intermediate and parked positions once the desired index hole 41 is aligned with the through hole for the locking pin 40 the excavator operator or assistant on the ground will re insert the locking pin 40 into the desired index hole 41 that is now aligned with the through hole in the base section 35 for the locking pin 40 thus the locking pin 40 again immobilizes the ripper shank 29 against any arcuate movement in this manner manual adjustment of the heavy steel ripper shank 29 can be quickly and easily accomplished even though the ripper element i e ripper shank 29 nose plate 31 and ripper tooth 30 can present a combined weight of more than 600 pounds it is again noted that it is within the intended scope of the present invention that ripper element adjustment may be accomplished in.