Posthole Digger Speed to run post hole digger

[bspeedy]

Pole depth depends upon the height of the pole. 2' depth is ok for an 8-footer, but too shallow for most others. I haven't looked it up, but I believe 25-30 percent of overall length is the recommendation.

 

[oosik]

Man, OH, man - I've got enough concerns/problems with the pto driven equipment I already have/use. I'm sure glad I don't use wood posts and need an auger. I'll let all you guys have the fun. I'm 100% T-133 posts on my fence line. And I use a manual pounder for that mile and a half of fence line I have.

 

[CincyFlyer]

We screwed an eight inch auger into our clay soil, and it took a giant pipe wrench with a ten foot extension (and an hour's wasted time) to unscrew it. If it had gone much deeper (and when it threads into the ground, it goes quickly!) I would have had to backhoe it out. Gotta keep it cutting, and often it's a slow speed and light feed, "following" the cut rather than pushing it, that works the best.

 

[CobyRupert]

We screwed an eight inch auger into our clay soil, and it took a giant pipe wrench with a ten foot extension (and an hour's wasted time) to unscrew it.

Gulp!

I ask this question on every post ole digger (PHD) thread, but no one has ever tried it (or answered): Cant you just use the pipe wrench or a bar on the PHD's PTO shaft, and use the PHD's gear box's ~4:1 mechanical advantage to back out the auger using a lot less force?

 

[k0ua]

Gulp!

I ask this question on every post ole digger (PHD) thread, but no one has ever tried it (or answered): Cant you just use the pipe wrench or a bar on the PHD's PTO shaft, and use the PHD's gear box's ~4:1 mechanical advantage to back out the auger using a lot less force?

I have seen several people mention doing that in threads. I don't really know, as I have never used a PHD. Well the PTO driven ones anyway. Dug plenty of post holes the hard way.

 

[CincyFlyer]

Gulp!

I ask this question on every post ole digger (PHD) thread, but no one has ever tried it (or answered): Cant you just use the pipe wrench or a bar on the PHD's PTO shaft, and use the PHD's gear box's ~4:1 mechanical advantage to back out the auger using a lot less force?

I never thought of it, but it may not have mattered if I had. Augurs are relatively cheap and widely available, and I can always weld on a new shaft (which it needs, and still hasn't gotten); gearboxes and PTO shafts, perhaps not so much "home repairable", they'll cost actual dollars (though the whole digger was maybe $400 or so). I have thought that "reverse gear" in a PTO would be nice, however. But engaging the clutch on something known to be stuck would be a heart-pounding exercise.
In this case, I turned the tractor around to try to pull the augur out with the FEL (utter failure, with more than a ton of lifting force!)

 

[powerscol]

Gulp!

I ask this question on every post ole digger (PHD) thread, but no one has ever tried it (or answered): Cant you just use the pipe wrench or a bar on the PHD's PTO shaft, and use the PHD's gear box's ~4:1 mechanical advantage to back out the auger using a lot less force?

Yes I have done it that way. Its slow going but worked when I could not do it the other way. However I put the wrench on the U joint at the head of the auger and not the PTO shaft. One other thing in digging is drop the 3PT very slowly (a notch at a time) as you go. This should keep it from getting stuck as easily. I also spray paint a line on the auger for how deep I need to go

 

[NTG]

Got it put together and dug some practice holes Saturday. Worked pretty well, I just need more practice keeping the hole straight.

 

[sdef]

I agree with all of the "use a slower speed" posts. PHD speed depends upon tractor PTO HP, ground condition and gear ratio of the PHD mostly, I think. If you drill enough holes, especially in hard ground, you most likely will get it stuck. I tried various tips from TBN including using a 48" pipe wrench. I even had to attach a chain to a pipe wrench on my first "stick" and driving the tractor in a partial circle a few times to get the auger starting to back out. Was really stuck badly with the flights having large rocks jamming them in place I think.

My ground is very hard clay and rocks- big rocks. I figured out a better way of backing out the auger on my property and that was to simply, gently, back the tractor up a couple inches and move it forward a couple inches- back and forth a few times while trying to lift the PHD using the 3PH lift lever. In a few minutes the hole will have loosened/enlarged enough to free the auger. Think of trying to remove a loose tooth when you were a child. Same concept and works great for me with little effort expended. I emphasize the word "gentle". My PHD is an ETA using the HD SpeeCo augers.

 

[Wayoldguy]

Gulp!

I ask this question on every post ole digger (PHD) thread, but no one has ever tried it (or answered): Cant you just use the pipe wrench or a bar on the PHD's PTO shaft, and use the PHD's gear box's ~4:1 mechanical advantage to back out the auger using a lot less force?

I have used a long (4') bar stuck through the U joint. I had to replace a zerks fitting that I broke off, but other than that it worked great! You get the gear reduction working in your favor. Only took me about a half hour to get back to work.

Take it slow and good luck!
Jim