Limiting depth of post hole digger

[CobyRupert]

Having PH digger auger corkscrew into soil will not happen if tractor operator eases 3 pt control lever forward in small increments with engine at 1200 rpm's(little ABOVE IDLE) not matter what type of soil one is attempting to drill a hole into.

Yeah, I've been wondering myself how a 3 point hitch can allow the auger to corkscrew down farther than what the 3 point hitch is lowered to without the front end of the tractor lifting up?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Thanks for a lot of great info guys. I think it is just going to be a learning curve for me. I have used tractors beforehand, but never a PHD on a 3point. The examples of different soils, I believe, has a lot to do with my situation. It was the end of the day, had just finished assembly of the PHD, and wanted "to try it" . Probably my first small mistake.

For the life of me, I can't remember if I was just nudging the 3 point down, or pushed it all the way which allowed the auger to screw in about 12", stalling the tractor. I know the rpm were low at that time (tractor idles at 1200), so maybe 1500 tops. After it freed up from about that 12" depth, I bumped the throttle up thinking it was too low and that was why it stalled (not enough power).

Remember, this is a 25hp SCUT, max rpm is at 3300, 540 pto is at 3050. The highest I went was about 2200.

My only other experience with using a "larger PHD" was in very rocky (shale) soil, and you had to run it full throttle just to go a couple of inches. Granted this was a 2man auger, not 3 point.

After all the discussion here, I think the basis of my issue was lowering the PHD to fast and not being prepared for when it "dug in". I have not been able to get to try it again, but I will definitely post my results.

 

[greggyy]

lol....your lucky.....I have broken mine on every joint because I have to add weight & even then it takes forever. I have added so much welding and plates now, I hope to make it past 2 holes before something breaks

If you have draft control, use it to limit depth, otherwise, learn to use your hydraulics with more finesse, or, adjust hydralic speed so it moves slower, I also do not see the need to rev too hard.

If the front is lifiting up, then you prob need more weight, or a bigger tractor, sounds also like doing by hand may be possible.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

lol....your lucky.....I have broken mine on every joint because I have to add weight & even then it takes forever. I have added so much welding and plates now, I hope to make it past 2 holes before something breaks

If you have draft control, use it to limit depth, otherwise, learn to use your hydraulics with more finesse, or, adjust hydralic speed so it moves slower, I also do not see the need to rev too hard.

If the front is lifiting up, then you prob need more weight, or a bigger tractor, sounds also like doing by hand may be possible.

Crazy thing is that I have one of the little upright 2 stroke 1 man augers from TSC. IT HAS A 4 " auger. You will be lucky to do 3 or 4 holes 24" deep in a day, that's including filling w/ water to loosen it up. That's why I got the 3 point one...getting to old to be beat up like that. Now it's the opposite, the auger wants to go back to China:laughing:

 

[Oldoak]

Having PH digger auger corkscrew into soil will not happen if tractor operator eases 3 pt control lever forward in small increments with engine at 1200 rpm's(little ABOVE IDLE) not matter what type of soil one is attempting to drill a hole into.

I agree. This has been pointed out several times in this thread.

By easing the PHD down in small increments, I have never seen or heard of a 3Pt hitch PHD pulling the front end of a tractor up in the air while the auger continues to screw itself into the ground. Without pushing the 3Pt control lever further forward, the auger just can not go any deeper than the operator allows.

 

[bcp]

Now living where there are too may rocks and roots, I've never tried this. If I lived where there was "screw-in" soil, I would make this modification and see what happened.

A sharpened strap, maybe 1/4 x 1 1/2, welded between the bottom flight and the one above, like the blue shape in this photo.

I think it would stop the screw-in problem, if you don't have rocks to get trapped.

Bruce

 

[greggyy]

I agree. This has been pointed out several times in this thread.

By easing the PHD down in small increments, I have never seen or heard of a 3Pt hitch PHD pulling the front end of a tractor up in the air while the auger continues to screw itself into the ground. Without pushing the 3Pt control lever further forward, the auger just can not go any deeper than the operator allows.

That probably depends on the tractor....some probably should not be doing holes

 

[greggyy]

Crazy thing is that I have one of the little upright 2 stroke 1 man augers from TSC. IT HAS A 4 " auger. You will be lucky to do 3 or 4 holes 24" deep in a day, that's including filling w/ water to loosen it up. That's why I got the 3 point one...getting to old to be beat up like that. Now it's the opposite, the auger wants to go back to China:laughing:

I have one of them too....ironically it works the same, I have too much rock and an old PHD setup.....but the person it came from, used to use a second tractor FEL to push down in soil without the rock I have....so, I think the auger is not too great, I welded a pipe and put 20kg weights x 4-6 on it, works much better then, but that stresses everything else.

You will work out a method, at least your not doing a few rounds in the boxing ring with the manual one

 

[fishheadbob]

That probably depends on the tractor....some probably should not be doing holes

I fully agree. I probably did a thousand holes in clay and maybe got stuck twice. My only issue was having to sharpen the auger a few times until I had someone hardface it. Bigger tractor.

 

[greggyy]

Seeing my old International can lift over 2000lbs and prob weighs double its lift, I doubt I could get it stuck, but if I did I know the fame and supports etc would break if you kept lifting the lever up, I should have done photos of each time the tractor broke the digger gantry and frame and lifter and some welds, would have provided some comic relief, I think I got one 9 inch hole to about 16 inches deep......I have a new type of soil down here, cement soil.....ba ha ha

Gonna wait for some rain....

I really wish my auger would try to go home like his