Need Advice on Post Hole Digger for B7800

[Dr. Bob]

Guys,
I need your advice.
I need a post hole digger for my '03 B7800. Wife and daughters have horses and we need more fencing.
I do not want to spend $1000-$1200 on a really good post hole digger. Money is tight! I would like to spend about $400-500 on one. I have seen a Leinbach brand out there for about that price. Does anyone have experience with these or other brands in my price range?
Any advice from you guys is always welcome!

 

[Ductape]

I've read good things here on the Leinbach as an occaisional use PHD. I've looked at the King Kutters @ Tractor Supply. They are under $550 with one auger.

 

[jas67]

I just bought a Leinbach 7200 via eBay from McGrew's Equipment in Seven Valleys, PA (south of York) for $365 with choice of 9" or 12" auger (I got the 9).

I haven't had a chance to use it yet, it will be a few weeks yet before I get to putting the fence up.

jas67
'80 B7100 w/ FEL, Leinbach 7200 post hole digger, king cutter 5' rake
'?? G1800-S w/ 48" deck

 

[Fug1000]

I have a bush hog PHD and I love it. But I made a deal and bought it WITH my B7800 so I can't give you an exact price.

I am currently working on a project that required 68 posts and my B7800 and the 12inch auger made short work of the digging part. Pictures will be posted when I am done.

WARNING. It is SO easy to dig your holes crooked. You will get an eye for it but if you are trying to make sure every pole is EXACTLY 8 ft. apart, you better dig them holes straight.

A 12 inch bit is more forgiving in this area as you have some room to work with your pole side to side and front to back but a 12 inch bit-dug hole will require more fill.

That means more gravel or more concrete and neither are free.

A 9inch bit dug hole better be as strait as an arrow or you can forgetaboutit.

I also have a 24 inch bit...it's for planting large root ball trees and it does a great job but I gave 500 bucks just for the 24 inch bit.

The stress and strain you put on the PHD will vary depending on your soil but if your soil is pretty hard or a lot of clay, be prepared to take that cheap PHD back if it won't 'cut the mustard'

You get what you pay for and if you have a LOT of holes to dig....I would recommend against skimping.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I've been happy with my cheap PHD from TS. I'm not sure of the brand. I have clay but almost no rocks. I backfill with pea gravel btw, it's easier and better than soil. A loader full will last a lot of posts. I always try to keep the bit sharp. Another thing to watch is keeping the sod off the cutting edge. I use a coarse file for sharpening. Clay can be very hard when dry. I also keep a handfull of shear pins. (soft bolts)

I'm sellin my only horse this weekend. I feel your pain. I'd hate to price my 2" x 4" wire right now, or the posts for that matter. Have fun fencing.

Kevin