Posthole Digger Post Hole Digger

[mjdtexan]

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 Yellow

[bjcsc]

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...

[SnowRidge]

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.

[mjdtexan]

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...

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.

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

[nmu98]

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!

[pitt_md]

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.

[kossetx]

To my knowledge the northern stores in houston have no 3pt implements so call ahead first. just fyi

[3RRL]

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.

[mjdtexan]

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.

Thanks for the information. I didnt know any of that, I am new to tractors. I do tend to research stuff to death though, then for some reason I still have to learn the hard way.

[bjcsc]

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...