Post-hole digger

GlennT · Jan 25, 2003

You are reading a post by a happy Texan (an "oustlander" to my neighbors). I purchased a Leinbach Model 7300 post hole digger for use with my John Deere Model 670 and it works great!! My tractor is about as small as they come (18 HP), but there certainly is no problem with power. I run it at 1,300 RPM and it doesn't even work hard when I'm down 42 inches with the gearbox right in the top of the hole. The only minor problem (VERY minor) is that when the auger is up as far as it will go there is only about three inches or so below the point of the auger so I have to pull the auger forward and tie it up so it doesn't scrape on door sills and such. I was concerned while digging the first hole because I hit a big rock down about 30 inches and broke a shear pin, but after that it's been smooth as silk. Whoopee!!

OkieG · Jan 25, 2003

Glenn,

Tools are such a pleasure when they work the way they are supposed to.

A couple years ago it was time to put a fence around the swimming pool (about 20 posts). The fence vendor quoted over $1000 for installation (/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gifYikes!). I bought a Danuser with 9" auger and did the job myself. The PHD worked like a dream. It cost less than $1000 and after the project was over, I owned the tool. Can't get better than that. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I also got to learn a little about putting in a fence.

OkieG

Anonymous Poster · Jan 26, 2003

Glen You should be abel to adjust the hight of your digger. Try putting it in one of the lower holes in the top link mount. Or move the looped pice back a hole or two where it ataches to the boom. If that dont work. Can you adjust the draw bars up on the three point? Most will have three holes on the links or a set of holes further out on the draw bar.
TOOLS

herbenus · Jan 27, 2003

I had a Leinbach. It worked great. Same problem with it dragging during travel. I took rope and tied it up for long distances. I tried different link setups but it didn't help much. On a small tractor I think you only have so much room. Put all my holes in and sold it and made most of my money back. Sort of like rental but cheaper. It's nice to be a collector of implements but I really didn't need it sitting around rusting.

WVBill · Jan 27, 2003

I have a Linebach 7300 also. On my Kubota B6100 there is NO clearance between the tip of the auger and the ground when in the full up position (all adjustments for max height made). Not only does this cause the tip of the auger to drag when traveling (easily fixed by holding it up to the boom with a chain) but it puts the PTO driveshaft at an extreme angle when starting a hole and this causes the auger to oscilate making it hard to "hit the hole" after picking it up to clear the spoils.

I'm thinking of cutting 6 inches or so off the top of the auger and re-drilling the shear pin holes. I know this will reduce the max depth I can dig but would I be creating any other bad side effects?

Anonymous Poster · Jan 27, 2003

I dont know if you guys know that a Special Post Hole Digger for the smaller compact tractors is available? It is approx 6 inches shorter on the auger and about 1 foot shorter on the boom---Thus allowing higher lift and 8-10 inches of ground clearance---Still get the 40-42 inch digging depth--Pricing is about the same as the regular digger--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sweettractors.com>http://www.sweettractors.com</A>

GlennT · Jan 27, 2003

I've spent some time sitting on my box blade with a coffee cup and studying the PHD. I can't reset the bolt on the upper arm any more because the lower arms on the tractor's 3-pt. hitch just aren't long enough to permit it. I can live with it the way it is. I don't understand how you can cut 6 inches off of the auger and still drill a 42 inch hole. In order to get down 42 inches I have to drop the gear box right down to ground level and that puts the the safety shield around the top of the auger right down in the hole. I finally figured out how I'm going to store the unwieldly thing. I had been sketching out plans for a stand that would support the PHD with that heavy gear box up in the air, but I was afraid that it would be tippy. That thing could kill you if it fell over on you. Then I had an idea that seems to work fine. When I removed the PHD from the tractor I first took off the auger and rested the gear box on its safety shields on the floor. It only takes 5 minutes or so to remove the two bolts that hold on the auger and resting the gear box on the floor also makes it a little easier to remove the 3 pt. hitch connections. I may make a small dolly with 3 or 4 casters to put under the gear box so I can move the PHD around. This way at least the beast isn't going to fall over on me. I still have hopes of being sent to the next world by a jealous husband.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 28, 2003

I store mine by hanging it from the rafters with a come along. Or with a chain hoist. It is easyer to take on and off iif it is suspended. Also if you are not going to use it for awhile you can lower it to the ground and slide it out of the way. If you want to move it you can use a boom pole.
TOOLS

markie61 · Jan 28, 2003

If you have a dirt floor or sheltered dirt area, one dealer said he just used the PHD to drill a hole and dropped in a 5 gal pail. When he wanted to remove it, he dropped the auger into the hole (which was enough to steady it). Then it was just a matter of handling the 3 pt hitch end (which is MUCH lighter). One could build a similar arrangement on a dolly (screw a 5 gal pail, PVC pipe, etc on a rolling platform) assuming you had enough clearance to get the tip of the auger into the hole.

Mark

GlennT · Jan 28, 2003

As, usual I've gotten some good ideas. Thank you. This is another group of those postings that I print off and save for future reference. I've got a few ring notebooks with these kinds of things, arranged by general categories. They sure are handy. Diesel oil viscosity or additives? Give me a minute to dig it out. Battery life? I've got it! Laying irrigation pipe with a subsoiler? You bet!! These printouts are my own personal reference book--tailored to meet my needs. You can't beat that!! Thanks again.