TMR
Gold Member
It doesnt take much power to run the auger but you have to be careful that it doesnt screw itself into the ground. Hold it up after it goes in about a foot and dont let it freewheel especially in soft wet clay or it will screw itself into the ground and since your PTO doesnt have a reverse, the only way out is to take a pipe wrench and reverse turn the PTO shaft to get it "unscrewed". Having done this a few times, I can tell you first hand that you wont be able to turn the auger if it is in up to the gear box. You will appreciate how much work this is after the first time and be more careful on future digs. It can happen in the blink of the eye if you are running lots of RPM and the dirt is hard on top and then gets soft, when it starts going it will go in before you can stop it. By the way, my first auger in was with a 90 HP tractor and it wouldnt lift the auger out till it was at least halfway out of the ground.
Great input...never used one but I can just "picture" the auger screwed into the nasty clay! It would be a real mess getting it back out. I assume you just run in a short distance and then pull it up to clean off the dirt...and then do another piece...at least in wet, gummy clay? Thanks...Tom R