Post Hole Digger + Shale = ?

[avc8130]

I am a hobby goat farmer on ~13 acres. We on the top of a ridge pretty much on solid shale. When I scoop in with the backhoe on my Kubota L39 I get "
discs" of shale. It is pretty crumbly. I would like to greatly expand my current fenced area to get my goats my pasture and possibly add some horses to make the wife happy.

What are the chances I will be happy with a PTO post hole auger? I have replaced a few wooden posts with a hand held PHD. It was tough, but doable.

ac

 

[whistlepig]

I would rent one and try it first before buying one. I have rented two man gas powered post hole diggers and also rented a skid loader with a hydraulic powered post hole digger attached to the loader arms. Three point post hole diggers don't work well in rocky ground. I do have a three point post hole digger for my tractor but the ground here is soft and almost rock free. I used to live on the side of a river bank. I appreciate soft ground with no rocks more than anyone could imagine.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Just my :2cents: here, but I think that a 3pt post hole auger with hydraulic down force kit will drill your shale without problems. If you can drill it with a manned PHD, then a 3pt auger with a hydraulic down force kit would be no sweat. Just be sure to get the right auger and teeth and I am fairly sure that you will have no problems.

Good luck

 

[avc8130]

Just my :2cents: here, but I think that a 3pt post hole auger with hydraulic down force kit will drill your shale without problems. If you can drill it with a manned PHD, then a 3pt auger with a hydraulic down force kit would be no sweat. Just be sure to get the right auger and teeth and I am fairly sure that you will have no problems.

Good luck

If I need to add a hydraulic down force kit, would I be better off getting a skid steer style setup for the loader? I have a 3rd function valve, not sure what GPM the skid steer auger would need.
ac

 

[whistlepig]

If I need to add a hydraulic down force kit, would I be better off getting a skid steer style setup for the loader? I have a 3rd function valve, not sure what GPM the skid steer auger would need.
ac

It depends how much money you want to spend. A post hole digger on the loader would be the easiest to use. That would be a very expensive set up. My Bush Hog three point post hole digger is set up for a down force cylinder option. That would be a lot cheaper. If you are going to be drilling fence posts the rest of your life go with the loader set up.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

If I need to add a hydraulic down force kit, would I be better off getting a skid steer style setup for the loader? I have a 3rd function valve, not sure what GPM the skid steer auger would need.
ac

I personally do not care for the loader mounted PHDs, but that may just be me. :confused2: You get way more power out of a PTO auger and I have no problem plumbing up the hole with my hydraulic side link. The big plus about a hydraulic auger is that you can back it out if for some reason you get it stuck. But I believe that a lot of the problems that people have is because of the technique that they use while digging their holes.

Land Pride has several hydraulic PHDs. This one, the HD25 is rated to work with 5-12 GPM, but it is a 3pt model. They might have some sort of adapter to be able to use it on a loader, I don't know. You could check it out though. A regular skid steer auger is going to take waaaaay more hydraulic GPM than you have. But whatever way you go, you would have more power with a PTO auger.

 

[whistlepig]

Just remember rock and shale is abrasive. Down pressure may just grind the end off your auger quicker.

 

[avc8130]

Yeah, I am noticing the GPM requirements. Looks like I have ~12gpm available...and the skid steer stuff starts at 15gpm. That's just not gonna fly.

Looks like PTO will have to do.
ac

 

[JohninCT]

Rock auger may be necessary. Here are some for example

skidsteer post hole digger, rock auger bolt on rock head items in post hole diggers store on eBay!

 

[jenkinsph]

Living in the mountains it seems like every time I need a fence post or gate post hole there is a rock in the way. I have a 3pt pto setup and a PA30 hydraulic auger for my backhoe. The backhoe mounted auger makes positioning the auger over the hole much easier for one man working alone. That said it is a little pricey to setup with an assortment of larger bits.

My recommendation is to get the place ready to drill the holes and then rent a machine for a day or two.

Here's a couple of pics of my setup on the 110tlb.

 

[avc8130]

I have a smaller pasture I want to fence in soon. I will probably lay out the fence line and just rent a 3-pt pto setup from the local shop for $75/day. I should be able to bang out the whole pasture (probably about 20 posts) in a day's rental if everything goes halfway smooth.

If that goes well, I will consider what I need to buy to do the larger and future projects.

ac

 

[bigbull338]

you need to rent a belltec hydrolic posthole digger.then you wont have a problem digging in your rocky ground.i priced the belltec a few years ago an they wanted $4500 for it.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have a smaller pasture I want to fence in soon. I will probably lay out the fence line and just rent a 3-pt pto setup from the local shop for $75/day. I should be able to bang out the whole pasture (probably about 20 posts) in a day's rental if everything goes halfway smooth.

If that goes well, I will consider what I need to buy to do the larger and future projects.

ac

Once you see what auger bits cost and replacement cutters you may find it is cheaper to rent than to buy. Typically a post hole digger just takes up space and doesn't get used alot on 13 acres. Once you fence the property it sits there. $75 a day is reasonable imo.