Limiting depth of post hole digger

[Fallon]

I fully agree. I probably did a thousand holes in clay and maybe got stuck twice. My only issue was having to sharpen the auger a few times until I had someone hardface it. Bigger tractor.

That touches on something I forgot & nobody else has mentioned... Make sure your teeth are in good shape. They are wear items & should be cheap & easy to replace. If you dont you will wear out your auger quick. Teeth are generally self sharpening.

I did have massive problems with my first auger not digging at all. A nice beefy Pengo. I quickly realized the 1/2" thick carbide frost teeth didnt work in clay, even after sharpening them a bit. Getting thinner sharper dirt teeth in got it digging nicely though.

 

[buickanddeere]

Once you use a hydraulic post hole auger on a front end loader . You will never again willingly dork around with a pto driven three point hitch system.

 

[majorwager]

Buickanddeere,
100 percent agree that FEL hyd PHD absolutely the most effective means to drill holes.

 

[greggyy]

Once you use a hydraulic post hole auger on a front end loader . You will never again willingly dork around with a pto driven three point hitch system.

That is how I came to own my PTO PHD, the owner instead uses a skid steer with hydraulic PHD, ok if you have the $$$, some of us are stuck dorkin around

If you were closer, I would invite you for a BBQ so you could demo the benefits....lol

 

[rScotty]

I've finally figured out to go very slow RPM - something the old JD530 2 cylinder does very well. And then I lift the auger often. Over the years I've collected a few different size augers and each one seems to have a different kind of nose piece and teeth and/or tooth setup. I'm guessing that some are made for different soils than others.

I still haven't figured out the best way to secure the tractor from rolling off when drilling a hole. The tractor has to be able to move a few feet forwand and backwards each time the auger is raised and lowered. How to do that best is a puzzle to me.

 

[greggyy]

I asked a few people who sell different type of augers, they all said none work well in rocky soil. I would have to think the more aggressive ones should be better if the rocks are smaller in size, but the few I have seen had teeth wedged in, I do not like that idea, but I am going to try new teeth on the one I have, that and stop and use a bar and or water overnight, should help.

Re the moving, I guess that depends on the gantry and size etc, but I thought the idea was use a fair size larger auger compared to the post, that way hole does not need to be exact. A few on youtube do not seem to be concerned about much at all, seen some who like to stand near auger too...maybe they are there to catch it if things go wrong ?

 

[rScotty]

I asked a few people who sell different type of augers, they all said none work well in rocky soil. I would have to think the more aggressive ones should be better if the rocks are smaller in size, but the few I have seen had teeth wedged in, I do not like that idea, but I am going to try new teeth on the one I have, that and stop and use a bar and or water overnight, should help.

Re the moving, I guess that depends on the gantry and size etc, but I thought the idea was use a fair size larger auger compared to the post, that way hole does not need to be exact. A few on youtube do not seem to be concerned about much at all, seen some who like to stand near auger too...maybe they are there to catch it if things go wrong ?

I found that the harder and rockier that soil, the more important it was that the tractor be free to move fore and aft as the auger is raised and lowered. Even a slight angle will stick or stall the auger in some soils. So if the tractor is being held rigidly in postion with the parking brake on or loader bucket down that could be part of the problem folks have with learning to use a post hole drill.
My old tractor has good torque at low idle, but the hydraulic PHD have way too many advantages. If I had many holes to dig, I'd sure go with a hydraulic PHD.
rScotty

 

[greggyy]

I have not noticed this at all, mine goes straight up and down, prob to do with geometry of boom, links and a lack of depth due to rock

 

[Tx Jim]

I have not noticed this at all, mine goes straight up and down, prob to do with geometry of boom,

Are you referring to a pendulum type PHD? If so there is no way the auger will remain straight up/down without tractor being relocated during hole drilling.

 

[Fallon]

I rebuilt my old 3pt PHD to be QH compatible. It got worse, but I had the same issues in the stock configuration. I generally had a ground guide helping & they would call out instructions to keep level. Maybe 8" or so of front/rear movement as you go down 3'. I could have done it solo, but we were digging holes as we put them in to optimize spacing for the fixed distance top rail. They liked the 30-60 second break.

I still have similar issues with the SSQA PHD on the loader, but not quite as much.