3-Point Hitch PTO Speed

[TurkeyFarmer]

Hello Guys and gals,
New here and of course I have a question. I bought a used Yanmar 1500D tractor. So far I have done only a few things using the front loader. I just bought an auger and have two questions. MY PTO has 3 speeds. When using the auger which speed is the best to use. In other words, is "1" the lowest gear and "3" the highest ? Also for using the auger, about what RPMs should I run at?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[Sysop]

I always run my auger at very low speeds while digging the hole. Once the hole is to the desired depth, I'll kick the RPMs up a little to clean out the hole and toss the loose material off the auger as I raise it.. Running it fast is how folk end up "corkscrewing" the auger into the ground to the point the three point cannot lift it out. You want it to make the hole somewhat slowly so it has a chance to break up the material as it rotates, and for the rotation to lift the material out naturally.

Going slowly, you can make your holes much faster than if going at high speed, you corkscrew one hole. The time it takes to disconnect the auger, move the tractor, manually rotate the bit out of the ground, get it all hooked back up and continue on will kill progress.

 

[Rosher18]

I have an L185DT, with a three speed PTO built into the transmission. On mine, 1 is 540 PTO at 2430 engine, 2 is 700, 3 is 1000.

Hopefully this helps. I don't have any experience 3pt augering, but plenty with a torque bar style 2 man power auger.

 

[Sysop]

I should have specified, sorry. Mine only has a 540PTO. I generally dig the hole at or very near idle letting it chew the material up fine (helps for repacking the hole if it isn't huge chunks). Then I just spin it up fast enough to toss the loose off as I raise it.

 

[TurkeyFarmer]

Hey Sysop..LOL Already "corkscrewed" the auger doing just what you said NOT to do. Should have looked on here first. My tractor is also a 540, so I guess I'll leave the PTO setting at "1".
By the way, in order to get the auger out I had to disconnect turn around and chain the auger to the bucket and pull it out. Guess I'll learn. Thanks.

 

[Sysop]

Lots of folk just stick a bar through the bolt holes at the top of the auger and rotate it back out by hand. Many loaders have less lift than the 3pt, so for many that isn't an option.

Congrats on graduating the School of Hard-Knocks! :thumbsup:

 

[RjCorazza]

Here is a thread with pto rpm numbers : http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/yanmar/244500-pto-speeds.html
Sounds like you are getting the hang of augers.... Corkscrew it in a few times and it was amazing how fast I learned to keep the engine rpms down and my hand quick on the hitch control!

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Wouldn't it be great if tractor PTOs had a reverse setting?

 

[Sysop]

Wouldn't it be great if tractor PTOs had a reverse setting?

I don't think you realize the wisdom with which you speak. Better pipe down before someone expects ya to make it so. I honestly don't think anyone would have thought of it before now.

I remember when common contractor grade drills didn't even have reverse. Tractors aren't the cutting edge of technology, to say the least. Safety switches galore, collectively billions spent transitioning through the various EPA tiers, PTO shields too large to work around to connect an implement. What do we see as users? Headaches, not anything useful like a reversing PTO for sure...

It seems tractor makers keep the buyers coming back with features like "the seats now have drain holes! Trade your 1970s model with rotted seat (for scrap weight rate) today!"

 

[Fallon]

Run it slow. I never ran my 3pt PTO PHD above half throttle on a 540 rpm PTO, so maybe 300rpm tops. Any faster & its unmanagable, not to mention dangerous.

 

[lennyzx11]

Got my new to me John Deere PHD 300 out today again for some honest holes.
Still working on the spinning the dirt out technique as I haven't quite got that part.
Per here, I put it touching the ground, then engage the PTO at idle. Slowly ramp up about a third throttle.
Also researched here for storing it. Biggest PITA to connect implement I have so going to build a stand or hang it from a rafter. Currently leaning against a tree which is infinitely better than trying to hook it up from a laying on its side storage position like try number one!
It's the cat's meow for planting also! Won plus points with chief gardener (wife).

 

[Texasmark]

I always run my auger at very low speeds while digging the hole. Once the hole is to the desired depth, I'll kick the RPMs up a little to clean out the hole and toss the loose material off the auger as I raise it.. Running it fast is how folk end up "corkscrewing" the auger into the ground to the point the three point cannot lift it out. You want it to make the hole somewhat slowly so it has a chance to break up the material as it rotates, and for the rotation to lift the material out naturally.

Going slowly, you can make your holes much faster than if going at high speed, you corkscrew one hole. The time it takes to disconnect the auger, move the tractor, manually rotate the bit out of the ground, get it all hooked back up and continue on will kill progress.

+1 on that especially if you are a new operator. Case in point, recently helped a new neighbor dig some post holes. Neighbor is new to tractors. I told him how and why but in his inexperience he didn't follow my instructions and augered one all the way in. I go to the house and get my 36" pipe wrench and cheater pipe and explain how he can get it out. He does a fine job now. But he had a learning curve to get over and he did. The rest is history.