Posthole Digger Vehicle rear end is post hole auger

[Mousefield]

A few months ago I purchased a used home made post hole auger. Lady had bought a house and part of the deal was the tractor and implements stayed. She never used it in over two years. I knew the previous owner of the house, he was a landscaper. Phoned him and he told me he had put in 4-5,000 posts with it. Well I have never used a PTO before nor a post hole auger. After calling my dealer and looking at a few threads I put it on and got drilling. As you can see from the pics it is made from a vehicle rear end. Worked very well and looking at drilling another 150-200 post holes before I resell it. My one question is the PTO runs at 540 RPM. Is there any reason, for my comfort level, that I can run it slower?

 

[kennyd]

My one question is the PTO runs at 540 RPM. Is there any reason, for my comfort level, that I can run it slower?

Your pics did not show up, but I have seen a few PHD's made from rear axles before-they where not pretty but very functional for sure.

You should run the PTO slower for a PHD, there is no reason to use 540. Just above idle on most tractors is about perfect.

 

[Nitro-Fish]

I was told that a manufacturer used to make post hole diggers out of 10 bolt GM rears quite a few years ago (as a matter of fact, I have one of these units). I can't remember the manufacturers name, but I know when I was told it was a manufacturer I had heard of before. The one I have was purchased with a bent lift arm attaching point so I fabricated another one; it's very stout.

 

[Redbug]

That's a pretty good post hole digger you have there, Mouse. I believe I would hang onto it!

Just wondering...How is it vented? Or is it vented? Differentials on cars always have a breather of some sort. The reason I ask is just wondering about tipping it in various positions, what keeps it from leaking? Curious to know...

 

[J_J]

The speed and HP input to the auger should equate to the ground that you are digging. Sandy soil, less rpm, hard clay, max tractor rpm, max HP.

You could even convert it to hyd , with a hyd motor, and have a variable speed auger, with reverse.

 

[Mousefield]

The speed and HP input to the auger should equate to the ground that you are digging. Sandy soil, less rpm, hard clay, max tractor rpm, max HP.

You could even convert it to hyd , with a hyd motor, and have a variable speed auger, with reverse.

This is food for thought. Most of the 150-200 post holes I will be drilling is in a fairly wooded area, number of larger Douglas Firs. Have heard that you can get the auger stuck in or between roots and then you have to pull the auger by hand reversing it.
What are the exact components and approximately how much would it cost to get the reversing put on?

 

[lakngulf]

That is a good looking auger. Looks sturdy. All the ones i have ever used were much more light weight. Where are those 200 post holes going? What are you using for posts?

 

[Mousefield]

That is a good looking auger. Looks sturdy. All the ones i have ever used were much more light weight. Where are those 200 post holes going? What are you using for posts?

We want to fence in a field behind the barn but also enclose a large part that has a lot of trees and brush for our goats. We are using pressure treated round 8 ft posts. Pic is of a few posts at the Chicken Palace. The other two is part of the area we want to fence.

 

[J_J]

The size of the hyd motor will depend on the hyd flow, and pressure. Use the largest size motor with a displacement that will give you the max speed you expect to operate. Something like this maybe, with a shaft adapter,

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-7845&catname=hydraulic

or this

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=MB100208&catname=hydraulic

 

[KWentling]

I converted my SpeeCo ( actually bought just the head and 8" auger) to hydraulic and used a CharLynn 22.6 cu/in that puts out 3347 in/lbs at 1250 psi. My digging is in hard clay (with down pressure) with an occasional rock and I stall it occasionally. I wouldn't want any less torque than that. It is nice being able to reverse the auger if you do get stuck. I made the adapter from the PTO shield bolt pattern to the hydraulic motor and coupled it with a Love Joy coupling.

Kim