PHD tried to dig to China and take my tractor with it...

[montelatici]

They delivered the PHD today, it is the 7200JR. It doesn't look that JR. to me. It is a big implement. Left it on the pallet as I had to cut half a field I couldn't finish yesterday. I started reading the little manual. The first pages are all disclaimers about how dangerous the thing is!

 

[Tom_H]

stimpee - it was pricey, but luckily I've forgotten the price

However, I enjoy the ease of attachment, downpressure, and revers every time I use it!

It would work better on a bigger tractor though - b3030 works but is marginal no doubt

I have to say though, Charles, that is a sweet looking machine. I wish I had your entire rig! Nice!

 

[DuaneW]

A bigger tractor with 'more' hydraulics would have probably just resulted in a bent digger, have had to dig out a danhauser when it 'hooked' the edge of a very large sandstone. Stopped the descent with the hyds because we were bumping up and down to clean the hole, but the digger arm got bent before we could get it stopped. It does happen, but not all the time. I can not remember ever getting that digger stuck other than this one time.

DuaneW.

 

[have_blue]

I just bought one of those JR PHDs. You guys are scaring me. I have always used the backhoe to dig post holes, sure it is messy, but I never risked being sucked to China with the backhoe!

I've often wondered why augers are designed like they are. All they have to do is separate the cutting edge from the screw by 3-4" and use a different pitch. If you keep the hole reasonably clean, it should never screw in.

I've had my best luck turning the auger rather fast, feeding slowly, and "pecking". As the hole deepens, you have to pull out often so the auger doesn't get traction. Chewy red clay is a challenge. I imgine a lot of good augers have been abandoned in that stuff.

 

[Barryh]

A Power Trac would have had power reverse on that auger.... Sorry, couldn't resist.

Yeah, Yeah, I know...

 

[Andre']

Not sure what one of these cost but it looks like a serious auger.
http://www.belltec.net/post_hole.html

 

[Fug1000]

I did over 50 holes, mostly for new trees last year.

Over 40 of those was with my 24inch bit.

Just try to make one that large 'dig to china'

Now when I drop down to my 12 inch bit, I can defiantly loose control if I don't keep my hand on the lever and let her down ever so slow.

I imagine a 9inch is that much easier to bury and a six inch? forgetaboutit!

You have to keep your hand on the 3PH lever, your foot on the clutch and be ready to stop it in a seconds notice. You will get a 'feel' for it and will be able to tell when it's about to go out of control.

I got her stuck once or twice but I didn't have to get off the tractor to dislodge it.

I applied full up on the 3PH lever and then I would let off the clutch just a tad so it would just start to spin then I would hammer the clutch back down and it would rise a small amount. Repeat a few more times and your PHD is free.

I don't recommend that method, especially if roots are the problem for you but in heavy soil without other obstructions, it works for me.

The 24inch bit is a bear. Last year during the drought I was digging with it.
The soil was like concrete here. I would have to start my hole and I would get no farther than a few inches and then it just would not dig any farther..the soil where the blade was trying to dig would get a shiny black glassy look to it..hard as nails!

Then I would fill the hole with water and move to the next one and repeat as needed.

Then the next day after the water had soaked in, I would resume my digging and it would cut me a 3 or 4 foot hole like a knife through butter.

I have 70 fence posts to start on in a week or two..woohoo!

 

[have_blue]

I have 70 fence posts to start on in a week or two..woohoo!

Prayers and sympathy from TBN.

I dug a few 16" holes in baked earth, and it got glazed at times. I noticed the cutting edge had become rounded, so I touched it up just a little with a disk grinder. It was 100% better, but after a few more holes it started to round off a little.

 

[72chevy4x4]

I've drilled holes using a small tractor before and the easiest way to get the job done was dig down 4-6" inches, pull the dirt up and throw it 'out' of the hole and down again, continually pulling the accumulated dirt up as you go. I suppose with more HP, this would have not been necessary

 

[Barryh]

I've drilled holes using a small tractor before and the easiest way to get the job done was dig down 4-6" inches, pull the dirt up and throw it 'out' of the hole and down again, continually pulling the accumulated dirt up as you go. I suppose with more HP, this would have not been necessary

Sounds like this is the way to go. With a little patience, and some practice. I'm sure a lot of this cork screw action can be avoided. This will be my plan of attack when I start using mine.