Posthole Digger bucket mounted posthole digger?

[Anonymous Poster]

I'm looking into adding a posthole digger to a NH TC33. I'm in the rocky part of Texas and Danuser is recommending a bucket mounted hydraulic digger. They recommend this because of the downforce you can apply to the digger with a full bucket.
I haven't seen this type of digger mentioned before on tractorbynet and was wondering if anyone had experience with them positive or negative.

 

[Bird]

Barry, I've never even seen one of the bucket mounted rigs, but even Northern Tool has them listed in their catalog. If you have enough hydraulic capacity, sure seems like a good idea.

Bird

 

[mdbarb]

I've worked with someone that had one mounted to his front end loader. A problem was visibility. I had to watch the auger for position and signal to the driver. It seemed awkward. I just purchased a B21 and the dealer convinced me to get the land pride PTO auger, says it has more power than hydraulic types and I can see where I'm drilling. I understand some diggers have a removable rod so someone can pull down while your drillng. Doesnt have a reverse though. What would be way cool is a post hole digger mountable to the backhoe. Then I could drill several holes without moving the tractor.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

There are several manufactures of hydraulic diggers and many of these have models that will attach to the bucket. (danuser, worksaver, etc.) Some of these not only attach to front edge of the bucket but I have also seen ones attached to the side of the bucket for better visibility. You may need an extra set of hydraulic hoses and spool to run the digger or you could disconnect the hoses which run the bucket and use that spool for the digger.

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>What would be way cool is a post hole digger mountable to the backhoe</font color=blue>.

Danuser has a unit (Model 8200) that attaches to the backhoe dipperstick and requires 14 to 55 GPM.

I know nothing of posthole diggers or backhoes -- just reading from the Gearmore catalog.

 

[RMulkey]

I have a setup simmiliar to what you are describing. Here is a picture of a McMillen #450 Hydraulic Auger. It mounts to brackets on either side of the loader lift arms (not the bucket itself) or the backhoe dipper stick in place of the backhoe bucket. I will post a separate picture of the Loader mounting. I do not know how the digging power compares to a PTO mounted digger since I have only used this style digger. The downforce is applied by lowering the loader or backhoe. You can easily put so much down force on the digger that you lift the tractor off the ground. My dealer here in Central California said he sells the same unit to the local utility companies. I have used the digger in hard clay, serpentine granite, and fractured granite with no issues. If the auger stalls on a hard rock, you reverse the hydraulic flow and the auger diggs itself out. I use the HCVs for the 3PH Top and Tilt to control the auger. My only other advice is to buy the heavy duty augers (bits) and with replaceable cutting edges so they last.

 

[RMulkey]

Here is a picture of the cutting edges.

 

[RMulkey]

Here is a picture of the Loader lift arm mount. It is a little hard to see. It is just behind the bucket and painted to match the loader arm. I do not have a picture of the auger on the tractor or on the backhoe mount. I would be happy to get more picture if you like.

 

[Harv]

Roger -

We both have Kubota 'L's, but yours makes mine look like a toy. That's an awesome rig.

A posthole digger is on my wish list, but not near the top at the moment. But looking at your pictures and thinking of how much fencing I have to do next summer -- my lotto ticket better pay off real soon. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Every time I see a weld-on attachment I cringe 'cuz I still don't weld, Santa says a welding unit it "unlikely", and I can't easily get my tractor to any dealer. Come to think of it, a guy did come to my house to do some wrought-iron work for me with his welder.

Hmmmmm.....

Okay, break it to us gently -- how much?

 

[tractorman]

I sold a bucket mounted hydraulic post hole digger to a customer earlier in the year. There are a few other advantages to it besides the down pressure such as being able to reverse the auger if it gets jammed, and being able to drill holes in places you never could if it were on the back of a tractor. Prices on the hydraulic units should be comparable to prices of commercial quality three point hitch diggers, keep in mind that you will also need an auxillary hydraulic valve and hoses run to the front of the bucket loader. There are several different methods of mountings for the doggers, we opted for the mount which bolts to the side of the bucket. It requires drilling three holes on the preferred side. This configuration allows you best visibility. Other brands to consider are Worksaver & Shaver. Good Luck - Tractorman