Land Pride Posthole digger on a LS MT 125 problems!

[Catahoulabuddy]

9" new auger bit on a used Land Pride posthole digger. Tractor is an LS MT 125, 24.6 HP.

I'm not exactly sure what the problem is. When I engaged the PTO and lower the bit into the ground the PTO takes off really fast and then starts to bind after about a foot. So I reduced the PTO speed, but at low RPMs the auger will still drive way too fast and bind up.

To make matters worse the shear pin isn't breaking. The first drive resulted in the PTO bind making the tractor shut off (I know, I know, I thought the shear pin would break and wasn't watching the switch!) but the tractor didn't seem to take any damage and runs fine :fingers crossed:.

The dirt is hard packed clay, which I thought would ****** the auger but the auger just takes off really fast through it. It had rained for a couple days (central Virginia) and I though that the ground had softened up but after a couple inches the ground is almost rock hard.

I was focusing on keeping the bit level and maintaining a steady speed on the PTO, but the auger still was taking off through the ground and causing a bind.

I have 100 holes to dig and welcome any advice. I can put water in the holes and drive the auger more slowing through the clay, but wanted to check in with you guys first to see what else I should do.

I got the tractor mostly because of size and the backhoe. I have a decent amount of trees on the property and wanted to have a tractor small enough to fit between the trees and be serviceable for most tasks, but if the consensus is I need more horsepower than I will probably just hire someone to dig the holes for me.

Thanks!

 

[Ford850]

The most common reason for that is you are lowering your 3PH too far/fast, allowing the auger to do it's thing and bite into the soil pulling deep. Try babying the drop so the auger doesn't have the freedom to pull in too deep too fast. Gradually lower the 3PH as the auger clears a bit at a time.

 

[widefat]

My Kubota is about the same hp and size. I live in Central Va and have the same clay. What works for me - I run the tractor at the lowest rpm possible (throttle at lowest setting) and really lower the PTO slowly. Dig a little, pause and let it churn, dig a little more, back it out to clear. Be slow and patient. By 'a little' I mean 4 or 5 inches at a time. I never have issues with it bogging down or going to deep now. And, I never need more hp to get the hole dug.

 

[Catahoulabuddy]

Yeah, I think you are right. I had the PTO at about mid speed and that's probably it. I just didn't think that the PTO should be that slow

 

[Catahoulabuddy]

I'll try that! Thanks for the advice

 

[SSdoxie]

I run my PHD with engine just above idle, usually around 1000 RPM, and use the 3 point drop speed adjustment set as slow as reasonable to adapt to ground conditions.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Yep, slow and slow.... The first time I used my mt125 with the Dirty hand tools PHD / 9" auger, I sent it to China. Took me about an hour to get it out. Never broke the shear pin, the tractor stalled when the auger couldn't go any deeper. :shocked:

After that experience, I slowed the 3 point drop really slow and the RPM to about 1250-1500 (first time was at 540 pto speed). Did the next 30 holes without a problem. Like others said, let it dig just a few inches, then lift it. I kept one hand on the PTO switch, the other hand on the 3 point handle. As soon as I would hear the engine start to load, I would lift the auger. If it didn't immediately lift, I hit the switch.

Practice makes perfect... Then more practice. It will work! Good luck!

 

[Catahoulabuddy]

I was hoping that a MT125 owner would respond.

That's the exact experience I had. I'll slow her down and give it another shot this weekend.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

When I mentioned "lifting" the auger, it wasn't out of the hole...just enough to break the tip loose. Then lower it to let it get another few inches of bite, then lift it a little again. Little bites at a time. You'll get the hang of it.

 

[Maddiecycle]

Did anyone have to modify the PHD to fit the MT1 series? I see conflicting information about needing to buy a compact-specific PHD such as from Everything Attachments.