Posthole Digger PHD good buy or not ???

[MF204Mike]

I found an older International post hold digger with 2 (10) inch augers for $300.00.
However it isn't set up for a 3pt. it is currently set up on a Farmall and is lifted by a hyd cylinder.
I have seen posts on TBN with these types of PHDs but am courious if this would be a good deal or not.
The price seems cheap enough but with converting this PHD to a 3pt hookup would it be better to wait and try to find a regular 3pt PHD.

I don't have any welding capabilities and would have to farm this out for the coversion.
Any advise would be greatly appreceiated.
Mike

 

[murphy1244]

I found an older International post hold digger with 2 (10) inch augers for $300.00.
However it isn't set up for a 3pt. it is currently set up on a Farmall and is lifted by a hyd cylinder.
I have seen posts on TBN with these types of PHDs but am courious if this would be a good deal or not.
The price seems cheap enough but with converting this PHD to a 3pt hookup would it be better to wait and try to find a regular 3pt PHD.

I don't have any welding capabilities and would have to farm this out for the coversion.
Any advise would be greatly appreceiated.
Mike
View attachment 306693 View attachment 306694

Looks dangerous to operate, I don't think I would go for it.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Just curious, does the hydraulic cylinder provide sufficient up-down movement?

 

[trktrman]

Seems scary to me also.

 

[KYDan]

I can't tell from the photo how the augers connect to the powerhead. If they are in good shape and the augers will fit a standard pto driven powerhead it might be worth buying for the augers. If not I would pass on the deal. It would cost more to modify the unit than it's worth. Shop around there will be some used units available that will better suit your needs for a little more money.

 

[MF204Mike]

Just curious, does the hydraulic cylinder provide sufficient up-down movement?

I haven't seen the unit yet, going to look at it over the weekend but the guy that has it said he has used it often.
I did think that I might be able to use a boom pole with the auger head and use it that way?
I've been looking for a PHD but can't seem to find any under $450/$500 usally without an auger, that's why I thought this might be a good buy.

 

[Soundguy]

scary? dangerous?

it's farm equipment.. it's almost designed to be dangerous

to the OP.. here's the deal.

lets use some consumer grade equipment as comparison.

a county line PHD frame and gearbox ( no auger ) is about 470$ currently.

a 9-12" auger is 130-140$

thus.. lets call the auger value 130 and the phd 470.. that's about 600$ for a auger and power unit.

your machine is 300 for power unit and auger. the CONS are that it is not 3pt.. maning you will want to buy a boom pole and do surgery on it... that will cost you another 100$. maybee add in 50$-100 more for mis stuff like weld rods.. grinder wheels, OA tank usage... the PRO are that it has another auger. I'm not sure how much of a vaule that is.. I rarely see augers damaged if you use reasonable care.. though POINTS are replaceable.


that puts you at 450-500$ PLUS fab time vs 600$ hitch and go. the old one is.. well .. used.. the other new.

That's pretty darn close. If you are not tinkerer that likes to build things.. then I think personally.. I'd get new and have a warranty.

me ersonally. I might buy the old one.. because I like to make sparks and tcut scrap stuff up with torches.. and I probably have some old 3pt implement I could part out to make the frame, and thus have a 350$ investment into it allsaid and done. 350 vs 600 and I'd do it.. etc.

of course.. all my tractors are from the 40-60's mostly.. so working on rusty iron is fun to me..

my advice......... unless you are wanting a project.. buy new.. or at least.. better used... I bet you can find a real 3pt box and auger inthe 400-450$ range.. and that would be better than fabbing up the 300$ one.. but cheape rthan shiney paint on the new one.

 

[murphy1244]

Point out the pto shaft and offer him 200.00 to take this dangerous thing off his hands.

 

[MF204Mike]

Thanx for the advise guys,

I think I might just go ahead and pass on this one,
I did find a Linbaugh ?? for $450.00 but no auger. it is 3pt.
I could look at it before the weekend and maybe offer $400. because of no auger.
I just thought the extra auger with the International and only being $300.00 might have been a deal.
Like soundguy pointed out though, 300 plus another 100/150 or more ?? I'd still be tinkering around when I could be drilling holes.

 

[Soundguy]

i wouldn't pay 400 used when 470 new is that close... warranty.. etc...