Best value medium-duty PHD setup?

[timb]

There have been a couple of discussions over time here on post hole diggers and it sounded like a few new owners ended up with PHDs as a result.

Now that the dust has maybe settled a little bit what's the opinion out there now - if you were going to buy a (new) PHD with say two augers (one med-small, around 9"-12" for post work, one larger 24" or so for tree planting) and wanted to keep the entire deal within a certain budget - who makes the best value heads and augers?

Say a couple of budget levels at $750 all up - maybe $1000 total, and for sake of argument $1300-$1400 total. For me - more than that would be very difficult to justify unless I would be using one commercially (not at present) - less than that probably isn't going to buy anything.

Assume it needs to deal with a 50hp PTO (allowing any CUT and some low-end Utility tractors).

What's the most important features to start piling on first above and beyond a very basic unit? Slip clutch? Ability to have (or at least add later) down pressure? Put the money into a basic head but better quality augers?

Any ideas folks?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

timb:

The Danuser F series digger is extremely well made. Will last you, your children and grandkids lifetimes. I have one bought at auction for $450, added new seals (which was all that was needed). Taking the thing apart the spindle gear was a foot or so in diameter. The gears were beautifully machined and the castings excellent. No wear after 50 years! (just seals). These are made in the US by a company in Fulton, Missouri (grandson of founder runs it) and sold through dealers. They have been making PHD since 1943 and the company was started 1910. Nice people.

A new one with one auger will run around $1500-$1700. A lot compared to some, but you are buying a lifetime implement. If you can amortize it over a larger number of holes, or, take pride in owning a first rate american made product I think you would be well satisfied. They also make a smaller 20/40 model which can be had for around $900.

JEH

 

[Rick Jay]

timb,

I think if you're planning on drilling 24" holes, you're going to be looking more towards the "heavy duty" end of most common PHD manufacturer lines. I have a Woods 1160, and one reason I went with that over the lower models was it's rating to handle up to 30" augers. (I don't plan on doing that, but figured with my rocky clay soil, extra "beef" wouldn't hurt.)

Woods website

Follow the links to "Turf & Grounds Care", then "Post Hole Diggers". You can download their brochure in pdf format.

I've heard great things about Danuser, but as long as you get a heavier duty model from any mfg., I don't think you'll be disappointed.

My guess is if you're purchasing new, you'll be close to your upper limit on prices with a 12" bit and 24" bit. I know woods has bits designed specifically for planting trees. It has 2 different diameters of flights on one bit. The first is like 12"(?) for about a foot and then 24"(?) for a foot. Maybe something like that is what you'd want to look into for planting.

Ahhhh...so many choices. Good Luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

~Rick

 

[Chief]

I have a Land Pride PD25 PHD and it is definitely heavy duty. I have had VERY good experience with all of their impliments. Their equipment is every bit as good and in many cases better built than the John Deere.

I agree, a 24" hole is a monster hole that will require alot of PTO hp. I think I have the 8 or 10" auger. You can always widen out the hole pretty easily after it is dug. I paid $900 for mine.

 

[HayDR]

We sell the Rhino HPHD for $650 or the Lienbach for $300 both with 12" augers.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color="blue">...We sell the Rhino HPHD for $650 or the Lienbach for $300 both with 12" augers... </font>

Those are outstanding prices... Mark...! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Mark (or anyone), dumb questions time. I have a TC18, Cat I, but based on my experience with a landscape rake, it doesn't lift as high as biger tractors. So, DQ #1 - is 14 PTO HP enough to run a PHD? DQ #2 - how does the thing go down 42" and then lift out again if the 3PH doesn't lift high enough?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Don,
My 670 only has 16 pto horsepower and it is a hole digging monster. I've been borrowing my friends greenline regular size and it works fine on my tractor, but I talked to Leinbach rep at an auction in south Georgia and he said they have a model that is made for our "shorter" tractors. Shorter boom, steeper arc on the boom, and relocated pivot point. I really want a Danuser though.

Jim

 

[Anonymous Poster]

OkeeDon:

HP probably enough-I used a real heavy duty Danuser with a 23hp Farmall (1952 SC) but that was "real" hp. You would more likely have probs with weight than HP. Turning auger boring into ground can shake the whole tractor.

Re digging depth, depends on where the upper link attachment is relative to lower links. I had prob on the Farmall because upper link was relatively high. My 3pt though had a pin to control down pressure on the hitch. Every hole I dug started with pin in, then pulled it (from the seat) and inserted above the cylinder attachment platform and it would bore on down. If the lower link arms are too short (someone mentioned above) you could also have a problem. The issue is the geometry which usually can be adjusted on the fly depending on your set-up. The main thing is it has to lift high enough to clear the auger tip (unless you drag it around!).

JEH

 

[timb]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, I'm getting a "feel" for the class of PHD I'd likely be happy with and some model numbers to investigate.

Don't think I need to go super heavy duty but I think I'd also be too light with the entry-level units. On the 24" hole - that's what I was thinking of, one of the "planting" augers with a stepped design. I wasn't originally figuring on trying to dig 42" or 48" of 24" hole. For poles/fence/gate posts the most I ever see using would be an 8-by but more likely a 6x6 or 8" round. I could see the usefulness of a 24" full depth hole for a concrete footer/pylon though. Hmm. Have to think about that.

In any case as long as the thing doesn't break it's got to beat the current method (manual digging bar, post hole "tweezers", followed by a cleanout with an old shop vac!).

Tim