Are auger-to-auger bit fitments universal?

[beppington]

I've been using a 9" diameter auger bit on my dad's Howse PHDM26 3PH auger.

That bit makes a much bigger hole than is necessary for the 4x4 fenceposts I'm using, requiring more back-filling, more tamping, & unnecessarily disturbing more soil than needed, so I'd like to change the bit to a smaller 6" diameter.

Does anyone know if augers & bits universally fit each other?

I measured all the dimensions of the 9" the best I could, & it "seems" like Northern Tool's 6" auger bit will "probably" fit, just not positive.

(I do know there's that "Earthquake" one-man auger out there, & I don't think the bits for those would fit the Howse auger, since they appear much more light weight, smaller shaft, etc)

[bullbreaker]

I'd say most augers would(3 pt).
Most have Chinese gear boxes Comer,etc.
However for instance Danuser,Befco's from what I've heard,read and forgot are differrent.
Of course different augers might bolt up on top,but you might have to use a certain auger with a certain tip.Not all tips fit all augers.
Then theres different length augers.

Boone

[jenkinsph]

I would measure and check carefully as I have found various differences.

[leonz]

I've been using a 9" diameter auger bit on my dad's Howse PHDM26 3PH auger.

That bit makes a much bigger hole than is necessary for the 4x4 fenceposts I'm using, requiring more back-filling, more tamping, & unnecessarily disturbing more soil than needed, so I'd like to change the bit to a smaller 6" diameter.

Does anyone know if augers & bits universally fit each other?

I measured all the dimensions of the 9" the best I could, & it "seems" like Northern Tool's 6" auger bit will "probably" fit, just not positive.

(I do know there's that "Earthquake" one-man auger out there, & I don't think the bits for those would fit the Howse auger, since they appear much more light weight, smaller shaft, etc)

A lot depends on the company they buy the carbide bits from as there are only a few makers of carbide bits for these things which are also used on mining machinery.

The bit weldments will be either SAE or metric and you wont know until you attempt to install the bits

I think your already better off you need to measure the diagonal of the post before you try to change things as you will want to keep the 9 inch auger as you only have a little extra room; perhaps adding a one by 4 to one side of the four by four will be the better solution for you?

[beppington]

Semi-update: I bought the 6" auger from Northern Tool ($100 item #25916) & it came in yesterday. That link says the brand is NorTrac, but there's a decal on it saying Behlen Country; doesn't matter to me I guess. Un-bolted the 9" one & this new 6" bit bolted right on The shaft/ coupler/ collar at the top has 2 separate bolt holes, 90 degrees to one another, for 2 bolts to secure it, & they lined right up. All is good so far.

I called this a semi-update since I haven't actually used it, yet.

[bullbreaker]

Semi-update: All is good so far.
I called this a semi-update since I haven't actually used it, yet.

Glad it worked out for you !Post us a pic or two when you start drilling for that oil.

Boone

[2458n]

Have seen both round and hex shafts to attach augers. Round almost always on older units.

[gtrippleb]

Looking at the 6" post hole auger at TSC, it looks very similar to the one at Northern Tool except for the point. I'm in the market for a 6" auger for my woods phd.

CountyLine Auger, 6 in. - 2100238 | Tractor Supply Company

[beppington]

Looking at the 6" post hole auger at TSC, it looks very similar to the one at Northern Tool except for the point. I'm in the market for a 6" auger for my woods phd.

CountyLine Auger, 6 in. - 2100238 | Tractor Supply Company

Looks identical to me ... but $20 more.

[beppington]

Semi-update #2: CR@P! I augered 2 holes with the new 6" bit just fine. On the 3rd the darn thing got all jammed in between some very stout oak roots & a big rock. Couldn't get the bit out. Ended up driving the tractor forward a little, back a little, repeating many times, while lifting the 3PH. Got it out finally. But the new auger bit is now bent at about a 30 degree angle, right in the middle.

Anybody need a barely-used, "slightly" bent 6" auger bit?