Results 1 to 10 of 31
-
10-22-2008, 06:31 PM #1
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
- Posts
- 122
- Location
- Houston(ish) Texas
- Tractor
- Case IH 1140 (first tractor ever)
Post Hole Digger
Has anybody here used the post hole digger that is PTO driven that Tractor Supply Company sells? Is it worth the money?
Tractor Supply Company - Post Hole Digger Standard YellowCase IH 1140 purchased on 10-22-2008
First tractor ever and I will be asking alot of questions
-
10-22-2008, 06:58 PM #2
- Join Date
- Feb 2007
- Posts
- 559
- Location
- Johns Island, SC
- Tractor
- JD 5225, JD 555B, JD 333E, JD 225DLC
Re: Post Hole Digger
I don't like the way that one is built (tube ends crushed for attachment - gearbox looks light, too). I bought mine from Northern Tool for less money and it is very heavy built. I can't tell you how many 14" holes I have dug not to mention 9s and 6s for fence posts. It digs a 4' hole, too. I don't know what you have for a tractor, but the one from Northern is a Cat 1 toplink hookup. I cut their bushing off and welded a Cat II in it's place for my tractor...
-
10-22-2008, 07:21 PM #3
- Join Date
- Jul 2003
- Posts
- 3,091
- Location
- East Tennessee
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT-425 / Branson 3520
Re: Post Hole Digger
You need to look at them in person, if you haven't already done so. My local TSC had different units in stock than depicted in their catalog under the same SKU. The augers only had a single bolt hole, as opposed to the industry standard two.
It seems to make a difference where the store is located.
-
10-23-2008, 09:37 AM #4
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
- Posts
- 122
- Location
- Houston(ish) Texas
- Tractor
- Case IH 1140 (first tractor ever)
Re: Post Hole Digger
Thank Yall for the responses and your knowledge. I went ahead and purchased a 91 Case IH 1140 last night for $4000. Going to go to TSC this week or weekend to purchase the dirt bucket and look at the post hole diggers. Probably make a trip to Northern Tool as well. I dont have to have the post hole digger right this moment but I do need one. I need to put up a barbed wire fence for some cattle. Never put one up before but I feel like it shouldnt be to bad a deal. I have been looking at several fences and researching the "net" about it
Case IH 1140 purchased on 10-22-2008
First tractor ever and I will be asking alot of questions
-
10-23-2008, 10:13 AM #5
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Posts
- 1,130
- Tractor
- JD 5203, JD 3720, JD 4110, JD 445, IH 1586, IH 886, IH 404......
Re: Post Hole Digger
I have the red Tractor Supply one. mine looks fairly similar. I have punched well over 7,000 12" holes with it and it is in great shape. I use it to plant trees in the nursury. I would buy that unit over and over as it has not needed anything but grease. No leaks either!
-
10-23-2008, 10:48 AM #6
Re: Post Hole Digger
I looked at TSC and Fleet Farm units. I got mine from FF but it looked to about the same. I have put in a lot of fence so far with no problems.
-
10-23-2008, 10:51 AM #7
- Join Date
- Nov 2005
- Posts
- 654
- Location
- TX
- Tractor
- NH TC 40 A, AC 5020
Re: Post Hole Digger
To my knowledge the northern stores in houston have no 3pt implements so call ahead first. just fyi
Where Bob Wills is still the king.
102 acres, and nothing but work! Wouldn't change it for anything.
-
10-23-2008, 11:04 AM #8
- Join Date
- Oct 2005
- Posts
- 6,825
- Location
- Foothills of the Giant Sequoia's, California
- Tractor
- 55HP 4WD KAMA 554 and 4 x 4 Jinma 284
Re: Post Hole Digger
I don't know what brand the TSC is, but it looks very much like my Leinbach 7200 PHD.
I've had good performance out of it for a few jobs around the ranch. You probably know this already, but if that one comes with a position bar, watch it when you raise to clear the dirt out of the hole and off the auger. It swings quite a bit and is hard to hold onto. My wife got her hand caught between the end of the bar and the back of her seat and got a pretty good cut from it. I ended up bending the end into a big round handle shape. Some guys take them off completely.
You probably know this too...when you position the auger, let it down on the spot and then move the tractor forward a bit ( about 4 to 6 inches) so the hole goes down straight instead of angling toward the tractor. I use low speed just above idle to operate mine. Always be super careful using a PHD. "Auger Off" is the only way to be around if you need to get close to it.
-
10-23-2008, 11:20 AM #9
- Join Date
- Sep 2008
- Posts
- 122
- Location
- Houston(ish) Texas
- Tractor
- Case IH 1140 (first tractor ever)
Re: Post Hole Digger
Case IH 1140 purchased on 10-22-2008
First tractor ever and I will be asking alot of questions
-
10-24-2008, 05:11 PM #10
- Join Date
- Feb 2007
- Posts
- 559
- Location
- Johns Island, SC
- Tractor
- JD 5225, JD 555B, JD 333E, JD 225DLC
Re: Post Hole Digger
You get the best hole if you move the tractor while you're digging. What I do is start plumb, and then I watch the top of the gearbox (it's perpendicular to the shaft). When the gearbox starts to not be level, I move the tractor (in the lowest gear and I am at ~1200 RPM like Rob) just a touch until it is. Nice straight holes with no arc to them. When I'm done digging, I run at the bottom of the hole for 15 seconds or so (bottomed out). Then I shut the PTO off with the auger still in the hole, lift it and move the tractor so it comes straight out. It's loaded when it comes out and leaves a nice clean hole. Pull forward a few feet, bump the PTO lever to spin off the dirt, move to the next hole...