Andrew, it is a learning experience for anyone using a post hole digger. I find when I drop my auger down to start a hole, it is almost always angled back away from the tractor and have to gently ease the tractor back to get the auger as straight vertically as I can before I start the PTO. Alot of times I'll have to get off the tractor to look at it to make sure it's straight if I'm not on level ground or if it's been awhile since I used the rig - as with anything, practice is better. I always leave my tractor at idle to do most of the digging, except when I pull it out to sling the dirt off the flights and then I use the foot throttle. My tractor uses an electric switch to engage the PTO and I have to keep my hand on that when starting a hole, if the auger starts to wander-off right away I stop and recheck that I'm vertical - might have to tweak the tractor a little and try again. Once the auger has started the hole a little ways, it will be easier. After a foot or so down, I'll bring the auger out and sling the dirt off and go back down and go another foot or so and do the same. As you go deeper, you may have to tweak your tractor a little to keep the auger vertical - get off and look if you have to for the first several holes, you'll get used to it after a few and will be able to tell easier from the seat if you're still verticle. Once I'm down a good ways with the auger I'll idle the speed up a little with the foot throttle and pull out quick with the 3 pt. and it will clean the hole out good and sling the dirt off the auger pretty good too. Here in Florida in the sand I'll have to sometimes stop the auger in the hole, slowly raise it out to keep the sand on the auger, move away from the hole and sling it off then go back to the hole and do it again to keep the sand from just filling the hole back in. If the sand is wet, I may have to get off and clean the sand off the flights by hand. If you're starting a hole on really grassy ground, I've found if you take a few seconds with a shovel and get just a little clod of grass out, your auger will start much better without walking so bad. As far as breaking shear bolts, I don't have that problem often. I think alot of people let the auger dig too deep before cleaning the hole out and/or run the digger at too high rpm's. Another good reason to clean your auger often while digging - good possibility to get it stuck in the hole and your 3 pt. may not pull it out!! I've come close a couple times myself, that's why I only go a foot or so at a time. No reverse on my PTO !!!! Keep working at it and the holes will go quicker as you get the feel for it all - I don't think anyone out there can go pop a hole in the ground in 60 seconds and move on and do it again & again, just doesn't work that way.
