Hole digger won't dig- ?

[diyDave]

Sandman- BTDT, next time just put a pipe wrench on the auger, and twist left, it'll back right out! Turn the pto off and pull up on the hyd, when you are doing the wrench trick, otherwise you'll be a Darwin candidate!

 

[2manyrocks]

Those augers are dangerous, and no hole in the universe is worth losing an arm, leg or life. Replace the cutting blades so it will work the way it was designed to work.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I am only a weekend warrior and after I had 3 of 4 holes that needed soaking, I invested in a hydraulic down pressure kit. I just don't have the time to waste on trying to dig holes. When I need a hole dug, it needs to be dug now, not in a few hours or even the next day.

 

[weldingisfun]

I am only a weekend warrior and after I had 3 of 4 holes that needed soaking, I invested in a hydraulic down pressure kit. I just don't have the time to waste on trying to dig holes. When I need a hole dug, it needs to be dug now, not in a few hours or even the next day.

Tell us where you got your down pressure kit and, if possible, post a picture of your setup. You can't keep good information like this to yourself.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Tell us where you got your down pressure kit and, if possible, post a picture of your setup. You can't keep good information like this to yourself.

I have a Land Pride PD35 post hole digger and bought the Land Pride Hydraulic down pressure kit. here's a couple of pictures.

 

[cdhd2001]

Soil was not frozen and there was no rock or obstructions in the hole. I would call the soil a reddish clay soil that seems to be sandy when it is dry.
I even moved several feet over to see if it would be any easier to dig.

My country place where I was trying to dig is in the Hillsboro Texas area.

I could dig with a shovel very slowly. Just hard digging.

I am not far from you and have the same red clay. However, we are close to a creek and the clay is always moist. I run the tractor at just above idle and take small bites. If I go too fast I will stall the engine. Takes me 10-15 minutes per hole.

 

[mykubota4x4]

Great info though old !! Am in the same boat. with a Danuser PHD wont go beyond 18in, will try the water trick & also inspect on the bit ends.

 

[bcp]

To add to this old but still useful thread, check the angle of the cutting edge.

Here is a diagram of one I examined in a store. The angle was wrong for that auger. This would be a dirt polisher on hard ground.

Bruce

 

[MossyDell]

I am worried about this issue! Am looking at post hole diggers (PHDs) and Danuser is the only one I've come across that offers auger bits for different types of soils. That makes sense to me. Does it matter? I don't know, but it seems weird that all economy and most other post hole diggers seem to offer basically the same plain augers, just in different widths.

I wonder if some of those having trouble might try a Danuser auger on their PHD. You'd have to make sure it fits in advance, of course.

My tractor is a 25.5 hp Kubota B2601, so compact. Our soil here is tight clay full of rocks—shale. I mean all sizes of shale, which is formed from compressed clay. And then there are solid shale shelfs. Now nothing I can use will go through a shelf of rock. But I need something to deal with small, medium, and big rocks above those solid shelves. Realistically I guess it would wallow them out. Trying to dig footings here, you are not going to have a nice straight trench. When you hit the edge of a big rock, it gets pulled into the trench and leaves a big hole in the trench's side.

My past experience was with an old PHD, unknown brand but sturdy, and a 33 hp JD970. It did great but our soil was not rocky. I also had a post pounder that worked well. Here, it takes some kind of pre-drilling to drive a post, from what I've been told. The rocks are unreal. To plant a small tree or bush, I have learned to bring a pick as well as a shovel.

So . . . is finding an auger made for such soil important? Does anyone offer this besides Danuser?

Here are the choices for Danuser's 20/40 PHD from their web site; the "Hole Digger Head" mentions shale:

Plain Edge
For digging in dirt, clay, sod, and other light-duty conditions.

Features:
Available in 40”, 52”, and 72” lengths for PTO diggers, and Models 8300, 8800, and 8900 hydraulic drives.
(click to see available auger bits)

Serrated Edge
For digging in compact soils, light tree roots, and dry soil.

Features:
Available in 40”, 52”, and 72” lengths for PTO diggers, and Models 8300, 8800, and 8900 hydraulic drives.
(click to see available auger bits)

Hole Digger Head
For digging in clay, caliche, shale, mixed limestone, frozen ground, and light rock. The most aggressive design offered.

Features:
Available in 40”, 52”, and 72” lengths for PTO diggers, and Models 8300, 8800, and 8900 hydraulic drives.
(click to see available auger bits)

Stepped (plain and serrated edges)
Stepped tree planting auger for bulb type trees.

Features:
Available in 33” and 40” lengths for PTO diggers, and Models 8300, 8800, and 8900 hydraulic drives.

 

[MossyDell]

Incidentally, a lot of posts in this old thread mention using water to soften the soil. A fencer whose video I watched on YouTube says the trick is water and Bentonite. That's a natural, volcanic clay sometimes used to seal pond bottoms. Somehow it melds with the existing dirt or something and the auger goes right down.

I found it here . . .