Slip cluch on post hole digger?

[Rancher Ed]

Grrrrrrrrrrr. (I broke 3 shear bolts digging one hole and only got it 2' deep, I had to finish it by hand.) Other than to keep the bolt manufactures in business, is there a reason all post hole diggers have shear bolts instead of slip cluches? Or at least have it as an option?

Ed

 

[mjncad]

How fast were you running the PTO?

 

[RickB]

Bush Hog 2103 PHD's have a slipclutch driveline.

 

[Rancher Ed]

How fast were you running the PTO?

I had the tractor at an idle (700rpm), I don't know what PTO speed this is. We have lots of rocks here.

Bush Hog 2103 PHD's have a slipclutch driveline.

Cool. So there isn't any real reason other than shear bolts are cheeper than slip cluches?

 

[mjncad]

Well there's your problem...rocks.

 

[Timber]

I know I have said this many times and I also live in very rocky Massachusetts. My 1st question is what brand of PHD are you using and how big is the auger? I have laid miles of fencepost in New England & I can tell you that the PHD is just 1 of many that I brake out when digging holes. I have 5 different bars, a clam shell & spade. It is rare that a PHD alone will dig a 4' hole. Do you clear the hole as your drilling or are you just plunging to full depth.When you encounter roots and stone you have to get off you tractor and work the hole by hand. The bottom of any hole has to be cleaned with a clam shell. Many people seem to think that once they buy a PHD they can do all their post holes from the seat of the tractor & that is just not the reality of it. That all said the PHD is my favorite implement.

 

[Rancher Ed]

I know I have said this many times and I also live in very rocky Massachusetts. My 1st question is what brand of PHD are you using and how big is the auger? I have laid miles of fencepost in New England & I can tell you that the PHD is just 1 of many that I brake out when digging holes. I have 5 different bars, a clam shell & spade. It is rare that a PHD alone will dig a 4' hole. Do you clear the hole as your drilling or are you just plunging to full depth.When you encounter roots and stone you have to get off you tractor and work the hole by hand. The bottom of any hole has to be cleaned with a clam shell. Many people seem to think that once they buy a PHD they can do all their post holes from the seat of the tractor & that is just not the reality of it. That all said the PHD is my favorite implement.

It is a massey ferguson model 900 with a 12" auger. I do clear the hole every 8" or so. We have anywhere from 8" to 2' of top soil that doesn't have too many rocks and it has been digging through it fine. The problem comes when we get below this where we have glacial deposits. This is a blue clay mixed with gound up granite that holds the rocks together. Most of the rocks are <2" but there is at least one per hole that is 6" or bigger.

Sounds like our best bet will be to dig till we hit the clay/rocks and then finish the hole with the crow bar and clam shell. It is still way better than digging the whole hole by hand:thumbsup:

Ed

 

[flusher]

It is a massey ferguson model 900 with a 12" auger. I do clear the hole every 8" or so. We have anywhere from 8" to 2' of top soil that doesn't have too many rocks and it has been digging through it fine. The problem comes when we get below this where we have glacial deposits. This is a blue clay mixed with gound up granite that holds the rocks together. Most of the rocks are <2" but there is at least one per hole that is 6" or bigger.

Sounds like our best bet will be to dig till we hit the clay/rocks and then finish the hole with the crow bar and clam shell. It is still way better than digging the whole hole by hand:thumbsup:

Ed

Your 5-ft digging bar is your most useful tool when using your PHD. It dislodges those pesky rocks at the bottom of the hole so your auger can get a bite again. And if you have a helper working with you, that bar makes a handy lever to get some added down force on the auger.

 

[Rancher Ed]

Your 5-ft digging bar is your most useful tool when using your PHD. It dislodges those pesky rocks at the bottom of the hole so your auger can get a bite again. And if you have a helper working with you, that bar makes a handy lever to get some added down force on the auger.

I agree it is very useful, the problem is any rock over 5" or so must be taken out of the hole by had. One hole I dug yesterday I broke 3 shear bolts, each time taking out a 6-8" rock and I was still only down 24" I think with all the rocks we have we will just drill down to the clay and rock and then dig the last 6-12" by had.

Ed

 

[Timber]

The 12 inch drill is working against you on this & I am sure it is the source of your shear pin problems. The larger the diameter of the drill increases the stress on the shear pins. I do everything with a 9 inch drill, yes you do have to be tighter on your tolerances but it is easier drilling a smaller hole