BoomerBaby
New member
- Joined
- May 19, 2011
- Messages
- 5
- Tractor
- New Holland TC55
Got a newbie question here and could use a little advice. Might just be a little ignorance on my part about my tractor.
I've had my TC 55 for awhile now but have never used the PTO. I've pretty much just used the hoe and FEL.
So today I come home with a new County Line auger from Tractor Supply. Got some fence posts to set. It all goes together quite well actually. Not a bad unit, especially for the price.
Go to try out some test holes and here comes the discovery...
Seems that it is only the weight of the auger that is pushing down. I sort of expected that I would be able to exert some downward force on it when I lower the 3 pt. It digs an okay hole, but not very deep. The auger's downward progress is easily stopped at only maybe half the auger depth. I suppose the soil is harder at the bottom of the hole and without much downward force (just the weight of the auger and it's gearbox, boom, etc.) tehe holes just don't go very deep. My 3 pt. is not exerting any downward force. So my holes are sinking not nearly as far as I thought they could -- maybe 18" or so.
Several decades ago I recall when I had hired a guy with a mid-sized tractor to drill some holes for me. We had hardpan. And I remember him pushing down so much on the auger that the rear wheels of the tractor both came off the ground. Lots of downward force and smoking auger cooled with water from a hose. Anyway, I am don't have hardpan where I am now, so I'm not looking to get the rear tires off the ground or anything like that. But I thought at least I should be able to exert some downward force with the 3 pt so that I'd have more than just the weight of the auger pushing down.
So I'm wondering if my 3 pt is somehow set to float and if there is a way to lock it somehow so it will actually push down and not just float. I've looked all over for some control or lever I may not have been aware of.
So... can I exert downward force with my 3 pt? Or is that just the way it is?
Thank you for any sage advice.
BB
I've had my TC 55 for awhile now but have never used the PTO. I've pretty much just used the hoe and FEL.
So today I come home with a new County Line auger from Tractor Supply. Got some fence posts to set. It all goes together quite well actually. Not a bad unit, especially for the price.
Go to try out some test holes and here comes the discovery...
Seems that it is only the weight of the auger that is pushing down. I sort of expected that I would be able to exert some downward force on it when I lower the 3 pt. It digs an okay hole, but not very deep. The auger's downward progress is easily stopped at only maybe half the auger depth. I suppose the soil is harder at the bottom of the hole and without much downward force (just the weight of the auger and it's gearbox, boom, etc.) tehe holes just don't go very deep. My 3 pt. is not exerting any downward force. So my holes are sinking not nearly as far as I thought they could -- maybe 18" or so.
Several decades ago I recall when I had hired a guy with a mid-sized tractor to drill some holes for me. We had hardpan. And I remember him pushing down so much on the auger that the rear wheels of the tractor both came off the ground. Lots of downward force and smoking auger cooled with water from a hose. Anyway, I am don't have hardpan where I am now, so I'm not looking to get the rear tires off the ground or anything like that. But I thought at least I should be able to exert some downward force with the 3 pt so that I'd have more than just the weight of the auger pushing down.
So I'm wondering if my 3 pt is somehow set to float and if there is a way to lock it somehow so it will actually push down and not just float. I've looked all over for some control or lever I may not have been aware of.
So... can I exert downward force with my 3 pt? Or is that just the way it is?
Thank you for any sage advice.
BB