Posthole Digger Hydraulic or pto post hole auger?

[Terryfied]

I need a post hole auger but heard that if your soil is rocky, which mine is very, that a hydraulic auger is a better choice since they will stop when obstructed versus breaking shear pins, bolts etc. My tractor is only 30hp and the pump would'nt run a hydraulic very well, (now my dealer tells me!). Should I expect a lot of breakage with a pto auger in my extremely rocky soil?

[Timm250]

The best thing about a hydraulic auger is being able to reverse it if it does get stuck. Digging an auger out that is stuck under a root or rock is not fun. I have never broken a shear bolt but I have gotten the auger stuck several times.

[Terryfied]

Very good point! That doesn't sound like fun at all. Might have to demo a hydraulic to see if my pump might just be enough. Thanks!

[schweizer]

Hydraulic auger is much more expensive. Shear bolts are easy to replace.

I have rocky clayey "soil" and I've broken several shear bolts. Just keep a few around when digging post holes.

Have to admit, having a hydraulic auger at the end of the backhoe would be nice, but 4-5x price difference wasn't enticing enough.

Marcus

[TxFig]

I've gotten my pto driven auger stuck a few times - and while it's not fun, it's not really all THAT hard to get out (just takes work and patience). For the price difference, I would not get the hydrolic one...

[Botabill]

There is no doubt that a hydraulic auger is best. You can reverse the drive to get out of a hole and apply down pressure that you can't always do with a 3PTH. As part of my business I auger with a Kubota KX41 (photo below). It is a small excavator and find the height I can lift the auger and bit just clears the ground. That is something you may have to look out for if you get an auger to use on a backhoe. Unless you plan to dig lots of holes it may be more economical hire someone to do the job for you.

[LD1]

If it is just a one-time thing, I would rent a SS with a hydraulic PHD on the front.

[MtnViewRanch]

Just so that all the options are mentioned, there are 3pt hydraulic augers and there are down pressure kits for 3pt augers. I personally prefer the 3pt augers vs the loader mounted hydraulic augers so that a person can carry fence posts in the bucket and have them right there with you as you dig the post holes.

Just my , any of them are better than digging by hand.

[MBTRAC]

I'd take a hydraulic auger every time over a pto drive, they give much better control & being able to reverse is a real positive ( though 1 you you can only appreciate once you've had to dig out a jammed pto auger)- also in rocky ground even with shear pins the PTO digger & tractor are put under far greater stress.....if required you can run an auxilary hyd pump from your pto for increased flow.
My preference is to have the hyd auger drive mounted to the FEL, again for great control/reach & I find it easier for positioning when operating alone, it all depends on indiividual work method: we seperate/sequence the operations, when we're digging holes (rather than driving posts ) firstly we mark where the hole is to be drilled & lay all the posts out, dig the holes then drop the post into the holes, then go back to level, if required trim & ram the posts firm...

[ch47dpilot]

Found a pick of this online it may be a third option. You can always run a PTO hydraulic pump but will probably need an external tank and control valve. A hydraulic motor control valve is different than one you use for a cylinder. All the parts can be found at surplus center. I didn't add it up but I'd guess for under $1000.