Small Kubota & a PHD

[LSmith]

Hi All,

I am considering buying a PHD for my little tractor. I have a Kubota 175 which is about 18hp. While I don't want to dig to China, I would like to be able to set 6" or 8" posts in our rocky soil. Is this asking too much of my baby 'bota?

Lane Smith

 

[art]

That might be depending on your rocks.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

The rocks may give you fits, but I think I recall a few posts by people with 18hp tractors using PHD without too much trouble. I use a PHD in hard pack clay with a 24hp tractor and have lots of power to spare, but I admit to not having a rock problem. A couple weeks ago I planted about a dozen trees by using a 12" auger bit and drilling multiple holes for each tree in the soil. The top 6" was heavy wet clay from rain, the remainder was rock hard dry clay, and I drilled each hole down to gearbox.

I've read of some people who've gotten the auger bits stuck by rocks.

 

[Hambone]

Don't know about the rocks either. Used my little tractor with 12" bit in clay, no problem at all. Just above idle.

 

[GareyD]

I ran my PHD with a 9" auger behind my little Ford 1700, which is about the same size tractor as yours...with the rocks I have here in GA, I keep sharp cutters on it, and don't have any problems...I usually stick mine in the wet clay beside the creek or lake shore.

GareyD

 

[david43a]

Gearmore has a small post hole digger that will fit on my bx22 tractor it is rated for up to 22 pto hp and has shorter bits about 6" shorter. The cost is around $500. dollars the bits are extra. Good luck.There is a cheaper unit at northern tractor but you would have to pay for the shipping. good luck . You could always try renting or borrowing one to see how well it would work on your tractor. David

 

[HammerFour]

I have a Tractor Supply Company phd I use on my B7100 and I don't have any problems in the heavy clay soil we have around here. I use a 9" auger on it. The auger does drag the ground a bit at times when traveling around the place but I just have to keep an eye on it.

I also have to pull forward a bit as I dig the holes to keep them vertical, is this normal or is the geometry such on my 3ph to require this?

Hmm......

 

[rambler]

twstanley, that is normal operation for a phd. As the 3pt goes down, it moves back.

I too used a TSC phd with my brother in law's 7100. Poor thing has a real leaky 3pt, but it still worked fine with a 12" auger. You described it real well.

--->Paul