I'd venture that none of the guys knocking the Horror Freight unit have ever actually used one. I have. and in rocky soil - I live in the Sierra Nevada foothills. My soil is decomposed granite, decomposing granite, and solid granite, with lots of oak trees. My neighbor and I have dug 12" holes 3 feet deep with a 3pt PTO auger and two tractors - one to drill, one to push down with the FEL. The soil here is tough. The Predator 2HP unit works great.
If he gets one, PAY ATTENTION TO THE INSTRUCTIONS. It's a 2-cycle motor, with a very high oil content in the mix. They also recommend gas stabilizer. I bought a new gas can with a push-button spout exclusively for this unit. Check the air filter screw, as it will vibrate out. I replaced mine with a longer screw.
It starts easily, runs strong, and does not spew excess oil in the exhaust. The throttle is spring loaded, so if it sticks and spins, it will go to idle. I stuck it bad enough to shut it down, remove the powerhead, and unscrew it with a wrench - it had caught a large deep root off-center, and screwed past it instead of chewing through it. It will bring 3" rocks to the surface and spit them out. The 6" auger is great for 4x4s, and it's easy to drill clusters if you need bigger. There are replacement augers, but no other sizes. It digs 22-24" deep, and will leave loose dirt in the bottom of the hole. I just scoop it out.
I've drilled a dozen or so vertical holes full depth, one at a steep angle to get a sprinkler line under an obstruction, and used it quite a bit to start or end trencher runs. I have a bad shoulder, but have no trouble using this unit. It has exceeded my expectations in every way.
I've beat up the auger a bit, but it still works. When it doesn't, I'll replace it for $50, and try repairing the original - I weld, too, but not with Chicago Electric stuff.
