Posthole Digger Post Hole Digger on cat 0

Anonymous Poster · Feb 26, 2001

Does anyone have experience with post-hole diggers (augers) on a cat 0 hitch. I'm looking at a John Deere 445 which has a cat 0 hitch and a 540rpm rear PTO option. One place I looked at which had some potential was:

http://www.worksaver.com/product/phd-ut.html

What do y'all think?

Caretaker · Feb 26, 2001

Augie,

My GENERAL, UNEDUCATED impression is that maybe it would be okay.../w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

It really depends on what kind of soil you are digging into and what size of auger you have on the unit. In loose, sandy soil, with a 6" or 9" auger, providing that you keep moving the auger in & out to clear it, it would probably go okay. In hard, rocky, mountainous soil, forget it - rent a unit instead. I think the best advice I could provide would be to remember that it's a smaller tractor - it will take longer to dig a hole. If you are trying to run it 8 hrs a day, contracting to get so many holes dug . . . I'd be concerned about the unit (and my tractor!) lasting for very long.

hth,

Dave Wells

radman · Feb 26, 2001

Most small post hole diggers are category 1. You will need to measure the max width of your lift arms and those of your digger. It would be best to see if the digger will fit on your tractor before you buy. I dont know if any one makes a category 0 digger. I have used a category 1 digger on a 16hp kubota B1700 in dirt and clay type soils. It does work but need to dig slowly and raise frequently to clean out the dirt or the tractor might not be able to lift the digger. Dont let the digger go in too fast and bury itself. If you have rocks or tree roots you may not be happy. Remember if the digger gets stuck and can't be lifted out, use a pipe wrench to reverse the direction of the auger and screw the auger out backwards.

Anonymous Poster · Feb 27, 2001

I bought a shaver 101 which is cat. 0 over the internet from eastern farm machinery it works fine for the 30 of so holes I dig each year.

WVBill · Feb 27, 2001

fjohnson:

How far are you from eastern farm machinery? Didn't the shipping cost just eat you up?

I ask because I wonder about buying implements over the internet....

Anonymous Poster · Feb 28, 2001

I also bought a backhoe so the shipping included both pieces it was $330.00 I saved about $1200 from the "local" quotes I received. I guess the shipping wouldn't have been worthwhile if I had just bought the post hole auger, but I'm not really sure.