Post-hole digger help

Anonymous Poster · May 7, 2003

I'm wanting to put in a new fence, and just got myself a 9" auger and 3-point drill. The short question is: Now how do I use it?

Just playing around with it, it readily drills into the ground, and a nice 4' hole is easy to make ... but the lower 2-3' ends up with loose dirt in it. There must be a trick of some sort.

Anyone with experience, please report.

BTW ... I'm useing a TC-30 . It does not have live hydralics, so the speed of the auger is the speed of the engine.

Thanks in advance for any help. If it doesn't rain, I'll need to get to this project this weekend.

OkieG · May 7, 2003

Deertick,
I, too, am a newbie to posthole digging. My first and only project, so far, was placing 20 or so posts for a pool fence. I don't know any "old timer" tricks, but once I had the depth I wanted, I would run the PHD up and down several times in the hole. A little dirt would be flung out with each pass. After a few times, there would only be a few inches of loose dirt in the bottom of the hole. If you don't feel like trying to shovel the dirt out, drill the hole a little deeper than you need, to compensate for the loose dirt at the bottom.

OkieG

Anonymous Poster · May 7, 2003

> BTW ... I'm useing a TC-30 . It does not have live hydralics, so the speed of the auger is the speed of the
engine.

I don't understand this comment? Is the auger pto powered, or hyd powered? Either way, the auger will go faster or slower in step with the engine. Live hydaulics only involves using the clutch (well, the clutch having no effect on hyd controls), & I thought all tractors nowadays have live hyd?

--->Paul

OkieG · May 7, 2003

Now how do I use it?


Since you are brand new to using a PHD, I have one other comment, regarding safety...

A Posthole Digger is one of the most deceptively dangerous tools you can have. NEVER get close to a spinning auger. Stay in the tractor seat any time the auger is turning. The auger is slow, but powerful. If it catches your clothing you can be seriously hurt. That, by the way, is an understatement. Be Safe.

OkieG

Anonymous Poster · May 8, 2003

Hi,

I am awaiting delivery of a post hole digger myself...

Recently someone posted an idea that sounded like it might be useful. They said to run the auger to the bottom of the hole, then stop it. Lift it up and dirt would ride up on the flights. Then start it turning again after it is almost all the way out of the hole, and the dirt would fly off and not fall back into the hole.

Sounded like a plan to me. I am going to try it when I dig my first holes...probably...

Spencer · May 8, 2003

( Just playing around with it, it readily drills into the ground, and a nice 4' hole is easy to make ... but the lower 2-3' ends up with loose dirt in it. There must be a trick of some sort.
)

Deertick, Are you stopping the auger from turning before you lift it out of the hole?

Henry · May 8, 2003

I've got a similar rig and have learned to:

- Spin the auger quickly when raising it out of the hole. It helps get the dirt out
- Start the hole with the auger tilted slightly away from the tractor.. you'll get straighter holes that way
- I use an iron digging bar to (manually) break up rocks and clean-up the holes when I'm off target a little.

Best of luck!
Henry

Freds · May 8, 2003

I normally dig at a slow engine speed (it doesn't take much) and when I have the depth I need I get the bit spinning quickly and yank it out of the hole. As soon as it clears I push the clutch in. I learned by doing and don't know if this is the best way, but it works. I start the bit plumb and move the tractor forward slightly as I'm drilling to keep it plumb. It sure helps to have another set of eyes here. A helper can also clear the dirt from around the hole before pulling the bit out, with the bit stopped of course, but raise it slightly before stopping it. I think it is also more important to have the tractor level side to side so at least your hole is true in one direction.

Fred

Rick Jay · May 8, 2003

Deertick,

I'd just like to clarify a few of the comments made so far.

First of all, if you have an assistant to help you, make sure they stay far away from the auger while it is in use. A spinning PTO shaft can be very dangerous. Without getting too graphic, it could probably very easily pull an arm off. It only gets worse from there. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Next, make sure to raise the auger frequently while initially drilling the hole. If you drill straight down without lifting, you will most likely get the auger stuck in the hole. Then you'll have to manually reverse it out with a BIG wrench.

Once the hole is made, you can run the auger to the bottom, fill the flights with the dirt, lift it and "fling" the dirt. I use the same "hit the clutch at just the right time" method that was mentioned. I generally run the tractor at just a little more than idle, 'cause that's all I needed.

Someone else said how deceptively dangerous these things are. I thought I read somewhere that the majority of PTO accidents are caused while using a post hole digger.

Good Luck, and be careful.

~Rick

Anonymous Poster · May 8, 2003

Hello--I use the method of digging slowly (lower rpm)and then raising auger 3-4 inches occasionally to clear the hole of dirt--The last step is to clear the hole by raising slightly and then go back down and fill the auger flights with the remaining loose dirt--then turn off the PTO--raise auger from the hole until you are clear 5-6 inches and the engage the pto at slow rpm and spin off the dirt--works everytime--This is basically the same proceedure used in drilling metal or wood with a bit in a power drill--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co. *Hay Specialists*