post hole digger woes...

[Jksnvly]

Used my Speeco PHD on my 2520 for the first time. It worked fine on my 2320, but there must be a subtle difference in the rear configuration of the tractors, because I couldn't get enough height out of it to keep the auger from touching the ground w/o some metal shaving on the PHD. After that was rectified, I dug 24 holes w/o problem until I hooked on something unseen and it took my auger to the ground. Wound up leaving the auger buried!!!! have to get a neighbor with a backhoe to pull it out and the speeco is going and I'm buying a JD compatable one from my local dealer- so much for saving money.

 

[MrJimi]

Is there someway that you could maybe unscrew it out of the ground ? like with a big pipe wrench or some other tool that will unscrew it, you may have caught a root or buried junk and if you try to just pull it out, you could do lots of damage, be careful
Jim

 

[kennyd]

Go to Horrible Freight and get a big pipe wrench, with that and a piece of pipe you should be able to unscrew it.

What exactly was the issue on the 2520 vs. the 2320? I should work better on the 2530

 

[Jksnvly]

You would think the thing was cemented in- there is NO movement to be had. The shape/configuration of the PDH arm allows it to touch the part of the tractor that holds the adjustable link (hook like piece that pivots-sorry not much on nomenclature) and once the main arm of the PHD touches this 'hook' the ability to raise the auger off of the ground is done. Have to think the JD or Frontier model won't have this clearance issue as it would be madfe to fit. Another lesson learned on cutting corners. Nothing wrong as far as power went, thought it was going to pull me and the 2520 right into the ground

 

[aesanders]

Take a look at Bush Hog post hole diggers. They are very well built, and can even get a manufacturer's stand for it.

 

[ClemBert]

Take a look at Bush Hog post hole diggers. They are very well built, and can even get a manufacturer's stand for it.

I have a Bush Hog brand post hole digger also. In fact, when I was buying all my John Deere equipment the JD dealer recommended the Bush Hog brand over the JD. He ended up shipping the Bush Hog PHD as a separate shipment since he was able to get one but did not have one on hand at the time of my other equipment purchases.

 

[JerryG]

If the auger screws into the ground, there is no way that the tractor can pull it out unless the ground is very loose gravely stuff. It might not even then. Changing brands of diggers won't change this. Other than that, I can't see how the digger could be causing a problem with its design. Maybe I'm missing something. If we had a picture, we might be able to see what the exact problem is.

 

[Jksnvly]

JerryG- guess you missed my point, I'll clarify. Actually 2 problems. 1: The speeco unit does not fit the tractor correctly, it does not allow it to raise the auger completely off of the ground and 2: the auger is stuck in the ground. w/o power reverse I know it's not coming out via a PTO connection.

 

[RonMar]

Try a pipe wrench... I have a 2 footer I take out along with the PHD as I have lots of trees and roots. Unless you go hydraulic, pretty much anything you buy will need a manual unscrew if it augers in. I set the lowering rate on my 3PH to dead slow to help prevent this and I raise the auger frequently while it is in the hole to help keep it freed up. I auger at a slow bell and also keep my foot on the clutch so I can stop it quickly if in spite of the first two precautions it hangs up anyway. It is far easier to unscrew a 1 revolution hangup than a 4-5 turn hangup

Good Luck

 

[AlanB]

Are your adjustable lift links set correctly? Mine (NH) has three positions on the one link and an adjustable on the other, I have to change the "start point" sometimes when I change implements.

I weld about a 2" pipe horizontally on the top flight of our augers. That lets me put a shovel handle, spud bar, breaker bar or whatever is handy in there and back stuck augers out. We tend to do it a bit more then the average guy working on his house.

 

[unreconstructed]

Been looking at PHD myself--the Belltec's look pretty good. The hydaulic would be mighty nice I would think, but its at 5 grand.

Have a lot of rocks--don't know if the Belltec is better than JD but it might be worth looking at. Its definitely more expensive.

Haven't thought of welding a pipe at the top of the auger--that's a great idea.

 

[JerryG]

JerryG- guess you missed my point, I'll clarify. Actually 2 problems. 1: The speeco unit does not fit the tractor correctly, it does not allow it to raise the auger completely off of the ground and 2: the auger is stuck in the ground. w/o power reverse I know it's not coming out via a PTO connection.

On the boom of the model 65 and also on the model 70, there are three holes where the yoke mounts. Which hole is yours mounted in, the one closest to the tractor, the middle or the one closest to the auger head?

 

[RonMar]

I weld about a 2" pipe horizontally on the top flight of our augers. That lets me put a shovel handle, spud bar, breaker bar or whatever is handy in there and back stuck augers out. We tend to do it a bit more then the average guy working on his house.

That is an outstanding idea!

 

[Jksnvly]

JerryG- we experimented with all three (or 4?) of the hole locations and didn't see much difference btwn them, none corrrected the lack of ground clearance issue.

 

[Bill Barrett]

I got the big high flow model with a 12" auger $1500.00
Hydraulic Drive

 

[drssg]

Actually 2 problems. 1: The speeco unit does not fit the tractor correctly, it does not allow it to raise the auger completely off of the ground and 2: the auger is stuck in the ground. w/o power reverse I know it's not coming out via a PTO connection.

For problem one, based on your first post, it sounds like you already decided to buy another PHD. I bought a cheap PHD at TSC, and it also provided little ground clearance. I ended up using a tie down to pull the bottom of the auger towards the tractor during transport. This gives it enough height for most situations.

For problem two, the "neighbor with a back hoe" approach sounds like it will involve the least amount of swearing. After screwing mine into the ground once, I'm now more careful about how I lower it. Instead of putting the 3PH all the way down, I lower it a little at a time. When I see it's not digging anymore, I lower it a little more.

 

[cdhd2001]

After screwing mine into the ground once, I'm now more careful about how I lower it. Instead of putting the 3PH all the way down, I lower it a little at a time. When I see it's not digging anymore, I lower it a little more.

Ditto! I only needed that lesson once!

 

[Kamik]

Now that I've decided which tractor to buy (a tough decisioning process eased by the expertise of the folks in this forum) I'm looking at implements. Based on the information and suggestions in this thread the Land Pride HD25 3-point hitch hydraulic post hole digger seems to have the feature set I'm looking for. I'm thinking hydraulic rather than PTO drive as I don't relish the thought of backing out the auger using an oversized pipe wrench!

So how do I hook it up and power it from a 2520? I'll be ordering my tractor (wow, MY TRACTOR, doesn't that sound nice!) with turf tires and a CX-200 loader but I'm debating getting the backhoe now versus next year. The penalty for not getting it now would be about $400.

Could I order Power Beyond now in anticipation of getting the backhoe and use it to power the post hole digger? And if I did, what kind of contol valve would be used to control it? I'd like to be able to use the post hole digger without disabling the loader.

Kamik

 

[Jksnvly]

Update! I never bought another PHD, but I was finally able to get the buried auger out of the ground. It took 2 of us and a large pipe wrench as there was some wiggle to it after sitting all winter. It is bent and no longer usable. I bought another from TSC and although it is still too long, worked okay on level ground. I'm much more cautious in my hole boring now.

 

[kennyd]

Now that I've decided which tractor to buy (a tough decisioning process eased by the expertise of the folks in this forum) I'm looking at implements. Based on the information and suggestions in this thread the Land Pride HD25 3-point hitch hydraulic post hole digger seems to have the feature set I'm looking for. I'm thinking hydraulic rather than PTO drive as I don't relish the thought of backing out the auger using an oversized pipe wrench!

So how do I hook it up and power it from a 2520? I'll be ordering my tractor (wow, MY TRACTOR, doesn't that sound nice!) with turf tires and a CX-200 loader but I'm debating getting the backhoe now versus next year. The penalty for not getting it now would be about $400.

Could I order Power Beyond now in anticipation of getting the backhoe and use it to power the post hole digger? And if I did, what kind of contol valve would be used to control it? I'd like to be able to use the post hole digger without disabling the loader.

Kamik

Kamik,

You will need to add a rear remote to your machine to power the HPHD. Lots of threads on this if you do some searching...But I also suggest you start a new thread with specific questions. Also consider mounting the HPHD on the loader rather than the 3PH-that way you will have down pressure available to you.