GreenWannabe
Platinum Member
Both the pilot bit and the flight cutting edges probaby need to be sharpened fairly frequently. If they are too worn, they need to be replaced.
Posthole Digger Brush Hog - Post Hole Digger. Anyone have the Down Force Hydraulic Attachment?
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Gittyup
Elite Member
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- Kioti CK25 Shuttle Shift, loaded tires, JD X739
The bit shown is double fluted. It has about twice as many cutting spirals as mine, and the pitch is flatter in order to accommodate the number of spirals. A single flute spiral is angled more toward the ground, less flat. It might bite better for you. Kinda like a fine threaded screw vs. coarse threaded: fine thread holds better, but is harder to start.
You can buy replacement tips and cutting blades at TSC. But yours looks new, so I doubt that is the problem here, unless it was improperly installed. Still wouldn't hurt to sharpen the cutting blade.
You can buy replacement tips and cutting blades at TSC. But yours looks new, so I doubt that is the problem here, unless it was improperly installed. Still wouldn't hurt to sharpen the cutting blade.
pitt_md
Veteran Member
I have a cheapo Fleet Farm PHD single flute model. The only problem I have had is if grass wraps around the starting bit I can not get it to even start digging. Other than that it digs fast no matter if its clay or black dirt.
OP
Altex
Silver Member
Actually I do sharpen my blades (wings/edges) often on the grinder. That was the first thing I noticed had gotten dull and worn to the sides. But, sharpening doesn't seem to last long. Then I thought maybe the blades were too worn down (short in length) so I bought new replacement Blades and a new End Tip (on the pilot bit) which was easy to replace. It seemed like it worked at first, but maybe I was hitting softer clay. After a while, again round and round but not down.
"Thavil", regarding the action of my PHD when drilling clay, I do try bringing it up and then down quickly to get more force and bite while keeping the auger in the hole. But that too helps very little with my clay. As a side note, found this good video clip (and other clips) on Everything Attachments:
Leinbach Post Hole Digger Demo
"skyco", also thought about adding weights to the boom. I'd have to rig something, but what a hassle for each hole. The Down Force Hydraulic Attachment adds 550 lbs of force. Imagine adding 300 lbs of weight manually each time? At one point being frustrated, I jumped off the seat (tilted it to keep the engine going) and tried to push and hang my weight on the boom. Then thought what the _ am I doing? Not too smart.
"Gittyup"' that really makes sense!! Mine with more cutting spirals and the flatter pitch doesn't help grab as much as a single flute spiral-steeper pitch would. (fyi the picture was taken when I first got the tractor new).
I will check out getting a new Single Flute Spiral Auger first, because it's much cheaper than the Down Force Hydraulic Attachment. Just finished this project (1600' of fencing) but will have another project in a few months at another property. Need to check the soil before I spend more $ on a new Auger and/or Hydraulics. Hopefully No Clay, cause that would solve the problem!
Thanks all for your input. Appreciate it!
"Thavil", regarding the action of my PHD when drilling clay, I do try bringing it up and then down quickly to get more force and bite while keeping the auger in the hole. But that too helps very little with my clay. As a side note, found this good video clip (and other clips) on Everything Attachments:
Leinbach Post Hole Digger Demo
"skyco", also thought about adding weights to the boom. I'd have to rig something, but what a hassle for each hole. The Down Force Hydraulic Attachment adds 550 lbs of force. Imagine adding 300 lbs of weight manually each time? At one point being frustrated, I jumped off the seat (tilted it to keep the engine going) and tried to push and hang my weight on the boom. Then thought what the _ am I doing? Not too smart.
"Gittyup"' that really makes sense!! Mine with more cutting spirals and the flatter pitch doesn't help grab as much as a single flute spiral-steeper pitch would. (fyi the picture was taken when I first got the tractor new).
I will check out getting a new Single Flute Spiral Auger first, because it's much cheaper than the Down Force Hydraulic Attachment. Just finished this project (1600' of fencing) but will have another project in a few months at another property. Need to check the soil before I spend more $ on a new Auger and/or Hydraulics. Hopefully No Clay, cause that would solve the problem!
Thanks all for your input. Appreciate it!
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Gittyup
Elite Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2007
- Messages
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- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Tractor
- Kioti CK25 Shuttle Shift, loaded tires, JD X739
Have you thought about switching to steel posts and just getting a post driver attachment instead. More money, but sure is fast.
kenstrac
Platinum Member, RIP
Have you got a neighbor with an older International with 2PT hitch that could come over and help you out ,I did all my post holes with my old 300 worked great they have down pressure.
PA hayseed
Platinum Member
BELLTEC Industries :: RSA Series Augers
Of course you get that real auger, or this real PHD
BELLTEC Industries :: TM48 Post Hole Digger
These guys make serious PHD equipment, everything else is really hacky. I know people will get on here and say that "i've used my x brand and it's the best", but that means nothing. Talk to the people at this company for 2 minutes, the TM-48 uses the weight of your tractor - in my case it is about 6k. Having worked on a hydraulic drilling platform, down pressure is only one part of the equation, another one is torque, and another is speed, and yet another is operator experience and the next is......blah blah blah.
Bottom line, you can't churn butter with a toothpick. I bought a woods PHD65 brand new at auction for $400, with a brand new doublflute auger and top notch bit. If I had to spend a penny more than that I was going with the Tm-48. When the woods dies, and it will eventually, it is what I will get.
Just thought you should see what the best is. There are other ways to skin that cat, like water in the hole overnight, having another tractor use its bucket as downforce on the boom (kinda dangerous), jogging the auger by moving the tractor (dangerous) etc etc. You will be the deciding factor. The hydraulic downpressure kit will not get you through rock though, unless it is very thin.
Of course you get that real auger, or this real PHD
BELLTEC Industries :: TM48 Post Hole Digger
These guys make serious PHD equipment, everything else is really hacky. I know people will get on here and say that "i've used my x brand and it's the best", but that means nothing. Talk to the people at this company for 2 minutes, the TM-48 uses the weight of your tractor - in my case it is about 6k. Having worked on a hydraulic drilling platform, down pressure is only one part of the equation, another one is torque, and another is speed, and yet another is operator experience and the next is......blah blah blah.
Bottom line, you can't churn butter with a toothpick. I bought a woods PHD65 brand new at auction for $400, with a brand new doublflute auger and top notch bit. If I had to spend a penny more than that I was going with the Tm-48. When the woods dies, and it will eventually, it is what I will get.
Just thought you should see what the best is. There are other ways to skin that cat, like water in the hole overnight, having another tractor use its bucket as downforce on the boom (kinda dangerous), jogging the auger by moving the tractor (dangerous) etc etc. You will be the deciding factor. The hydraulic downpressure kit will not get you through rock though, unless it is very thin.
Happyman
Gold Member
powerstroke444e
Veteran Member
We have a worksaver that has the down force kit and it works great in hard clay during the dry summer months. I have also used it to put post holes in old road beds and worked great. I can tell when the bits/cutting edge gets dull and needs replaced.