Posthole Digger Brush Hog - Post Hole Digger. Anyone have the Down Force Hydraulic Attachment?

[Altex]

Iv'e been using my Brush Hog PHD 2102 a lot for fence posts. It didn't come with the Down Force Hydraulic Attachment, which I didn't know existed when I acquired it. Too often I hit CLAY! When I do hit clay, the auger just goes round and round but not down. At that point, I get out my "Spud Bar"(Digger/Tamper Bar) and go at it a few cubic inches at each swing. Then clean it out with the manual PHD, and back and forth. I'm getting muscles! Often I try to go back to my Brush Hog PHD but still, round and round but not down. So I chip away at it.

When I don't hit clay, I can use the Brush Hog PHD and within seconds get a 3 deep hole. But when I hit clay, it may take me up to 40 minutes manually.

I just found out that the 2102 has the capability of adding the Down Force Hydraulic Attachment which adds 550 lbs. I've been trying to find more info about this kit but can seem to find any, even on the Brush Hog website.

Anyone know how much the Down Force Hydraulic Attachment Kit costs and have any comments on the performance? Or any other links to this subject?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Can't speak for you PHD, but I have a Land Pride PD35 with a down pressure kit. I am sort of in your situation, some areas I drill a hole in seconds and other areas it can take forever. After having a few holes that didn't want to get drilled was when I bought my down pressure kit. It was about $550. Unfortunately I have had no need to use it since I got it put on, so I have no first hand experience as to how well it works. I imagine that it will work very well though with all the pressure that it puts on the bit.

I am a weekender and do not have the time it takes to get stuff done when things don't go right, thus the down pressure kit. Things are easier when you have the right tools. Get a hold of a your Brush Hog dealer and get that thing ordered.

 

[jmc]

Mine does that on hard clay. Its problem, I think, is the pilot point. It's a blunt radius that mostly just polishes the clay. Before the next project, I'm going to grind more of a drill shape on it, providing that replacement tips are available in case it doesn't work out or it wears to quickly.

John

 

[chadincolo]

If you are going to be doing enough post holes to justify the cost, get it! It will work, they can put enough force on the auger that it will amaze you.

 

[Gittyup]

I have the same Bush Hog PHD. I've had no problems in hard dry clay. Have you checked your bit? Is the cutting edge good and sharp?

 

[MarkV]

And if you do not have remote hydraulics to the rear of your tractor add another $1000 to the bill.

MarkV

 

[Kfbeal]

It looks like you could make that fairly reasonable from this diagram:

http://www.landpride.com/ari/attach/lp/public/manuals/317-059m.pdf

Of course that's for a landpride.

 

[thavil]

Altex - If you have more holes to dig before you purchase the down force kit, you might want to try something that has helped me in clay. When my auger would just spin in the clay, I would lift the auger about 6" up and then drop it back down fast (making sure I never lift the bottom of the auger above ground level). Usually, after a few tries, the bit would bite in the clay and I could finish the hole without using my tamper. I'm sure some of the safety police will come after me but this has worked for me without issue.

 

[Happyman]

I have the same Bush Hog PHD. I've had no problems in hard dry clay. Have you checked your bit? Is the cutting edge good and sharp?

I agree. The bit could be the problem. I suggest you purchase a better bit with a good auger point and cutting "wings". Or maybe just sharpen the one you have. If that doesn't work, THEN go with the hydro down-force attachment.
My $.02

 

[Kfbeal]

When you say bit, what exactly are you referring to? The spiral tip or the starting blades that are replaceable?

 

[GreenWannabe]

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.

 

[Skyco]

What about just adding some weight out on the end of the boom? I'd make it easily removeable in case you have trouble lifting a stuck bit out of the hole.

 

[Gittyup]

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.

 

[pitt_md]

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.

 

[Altex]

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!

 

[Gittyup]

Have you thought about switching to steel posts and just getting a post driver attachment instead. More money, but sure is fast.

 

[kenstrac]

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]

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.

 

[Happyman]

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.

Ok. It IS the cats meow of PHD. But how much is that kitty in the window

 

[powerstroke444e]

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.