Posthole Digger Weight position on PHD

[Mick Oz]

It's been a long while since I posted here but you know how it goes , I was busy.
I am getting ready to put in about a hundred mixed tees and plants and will be using my phd with a 6 inch auger to break into the hard dry clay.
After the wet season it usually works ok, but for the other 9/ 10 months of the year the auger goes in about 4 inches then just grinds round. So I have to add water and soak the hole for a day or so and that will get me down another few inches each time.
But when I put a 8 foot steel tube on the end of the PHD boom and i swing off that I can force the auger down to 3 feet or so in just 10 minutes.
Extra weight seems to be the answer for my need, but I only got the PHD this year and won't drill holes in it to add weight. Plus adding weight ontop of the boom seems a little dangerous on the rough ground I have to drive over.
Has anyone added extra weight on the lift arms at the base of the A frame supporting the PHD boom?
Seems like it should work, but I can't see where it has been done already.
Any thoughts?

Mick

 

[PHPaul]

A better idea is hydraulic power down on the PHD. More controllable, less work, not terribly difficult to fabricate.

 

[jenkinsph]

For that many trees and shrubs you may be better off renting a larger auger and skid steer for a day. Probably take less than a minute per hole and a lot safer. A larger hole may improve the chances for the new plantings too.

PHPauls suggestion for a downforce kit is another good route to take.

 

[Mick Oz]

Thanks for the ideas I will see what I can come up with.

 

[EMB5530]

I do the same thing and use my PHD for tree planting.
Instead of using the auger I built a bit out of an old rim(maybe around 24") some pipe and I bought a replaceable auger tip from Tractor Supply that is threaded and welded a nut into the center of a piece of pipe and threaded it in. I then used ripper teeth from my box blade welded slots into the rim so I could pin 4 of them in across from each other 2 on the inside of the rim and 2 outside. Then, the old lawn mower blades I welded on the center pipe at various angles downward. It cuts the dirt up very well but if the dirt is moist and sticky it can turn the clay into round balls so as I am drilling I take saw dust, leaves, and wood chips and throw them in to help keep the soil broke up and loamy. (Note: grass clippings do not work well as an amendment as they just catch on everything and do not mix in well)

Just an idea if you have a good amount to plant.
I know it has saved my back a lot of dirt work.

 

[Mick Oz]

I like the sound of that

 

[PHPaul]

EMB5530, a most interesting idea. Any pictures/videos of that monster?

 

[EMB5530]

I can go and try to get some today. Currently I am building another toy for the tractor but I just used the tree auger about 2 weeks ago so I have some holes that are fairly fresh to show the resulting work also.

 

[PHPaul]

That would be great. Looking forward to the pix. Thanks!

 

[EMB5530]

Here are some pics of the PHD/ Tree planter and some pics of the soil afterwards.

 

[EMB5530]

NOTE:

The sixth pic is showing a small but important part on the bit. On my phd the shaft has nothing but a sheer bolt to secure the auger and with this size bit the twisting stresses would break the bolt since the diameter of the pipe on the gearbox shaft is not a tight enough fit therefore it does not hold snug to the shaft. Hence I made a collar clamp and it keeps the sheer pin from breaking.

For the pipe around the phd shaft I took a piece that was a little too big sliced it and formed it as tight to fit as possible. Just didn't want to wait another weekend to go find a piece that fit. As this build only took about 3 hours I was not interested in perfection but in production but if you can find the right size for your phd you might not need the collar but I recommend it.

 

[PHPaul]

Thanks for the pictures, that's a heck of an idea! I'll have to start scrounging for parts.

 

[EMB5530]

No problem!
Good luck!

 

[npalen]

Here are some pics of the PHD/ Tree planter and some pics of the soil afterwards.

View attachment 348312View attachment 348313View attachment 348314View attachment 348315View attachment 348316View attachment 348317View attachment 348319View attachment 348321View attachment 348324View attachment 348327

Very ingenious invention there, Eric!!!

 

[EMB5530]

Thanks!

 

[jemclimber]

Thanks for the pictures and the great idea.