Which post hole digger and auger bit?

[Browns329]

I am looking for a post hole digger to install about 200-300 fence posts. Some are vinyl split rail posts (5" square) and the rest will likely be wood pressure treated round posts (5-6" diameter) for woven wire field fence. I have seen some ads state that a shorter boom is needed for "compact" tractors, but I'm not sure if my Kubota L4240 would be considered compact in this case. The Kubota has about 40 PTO HP. Will any PHD work well with this tractor?

Soil in my area in NJ should be pretty good with minimal rocks...maybe some roots.

I have looked at the following and could use some input on quality, price, durability, etc. I don't think I need something super heavy duty, but I don't want to save $100 and end up with something that is poor quality. (All prices are with 9" or 12" auger bit.)

- New Woods at dealer - $925
- Used Bush Hog (Craigslist) - $700 (very good condition)
- New Leinbach 7200 Jr. at Smart Farmer online - $630 incl. shipping (they recommended this model for my tractor via e-mail)
- New County Line at Tractor Supply - $615
- New Leinbach at local farm supply yard with bit - $500 (not sure of model)
- Used (Craigslist) - $400 (owner thinks it is a Woods)

Also, what size auger bit should I use for the post holes? I guess I should have a few inches areound the posts to plumb them up and add concrete.

 

[asylum575]

Go to everything attachments website.

They have some great videos on the PHD.

I'll be ordering my 7200JR soon.

 

[radman1]

For a 5" post, I prefer a 9" auger bit. I would not use cement around the wood posts, your are inviting faster rot and decay because it holds the moisture next to the post. I tamp nearly all of my fence posts. Usually a 3/4-1" pipe. Not too thick of a pipe wall to keep the weight down. Pipe allows me to tamp in to the small areas around the post. Also, a post rarely sits in the middle of a augered hole. Uually the post sits off to one side in order to keep the fence row straight.

I also have a hydraulic tamper and with that, I will use a 12" auger because the larger foot plate requires more room and it tamps fast despite the larger hole. A 12" hole with a 5" post has a lot of area to fill in or tamp compared to a 9" hole and a 5" post.

With my hydraulic PHD, hydraulic tamper, good helper, straight run and no obstacles, I could set those wooden posts in 2-3 days. Vinyl fence takes longer because it requires drilling and setting the post and rails as you go.

 

[Chilly807]

The Kubota has about 40 PTO HP. Will any PHD work well with this tractor?

You're fine power-wise, should have no problems with that size tractor and almost any PHD. Be careful of the horsepower rating of the PHD. If you go too small the gearbox may not be up to the job. Most of the manufacturer's websites will have design power specs. A lot of the "branded" diggers are SpeeCo, the Tractor Supply one is. I wasn't really impressed with the SpeeCo products when I was shopping myself. Drilling holes through the boom weakens it in my opinion, and their lower end models are built that way. Flimsy augers too, I looked at a used one that was bent out of shape.

Soil in my area in NJ should be pretty good with minimal rocks...maybe some roots.

Pay close attention to the auger design, most of the better diggers will have a "standard duty" and "heavy duty" auger option. Unless you're in sandy soil with no rocks, the heavy duty design is a money saver in the long run.

I have looked at the following and could use some input on quality, price, durability, etc. I don't think I need something super heavy duty, but I don't want to save $100 and end up with something that is poor quality. (All prices are with 9" or 12" auger bit.)

- New Woods at dealer - $925 Sounds about right, I found them hard to get detailed info from. I talked with the factory a couple times, pretty helpful at that level.
- Used Bush Hog (Craigslist) - $700 (very good condition) Which model, anything less than a 2102 is going to be light duty.
- New Leinbach 7200 Jr. at Smart Farmer online - $630 incl. shipping (they recommended this model for my tractor via e-mail) I didn't look at this one, no dealers near me.
- New County Line at Tractor Supply - $615 SpeeCo digger
- New Leinbach at local farm supply yard with bit - $500 (not sure of model) see above
- Used (Craigslist) - $400 (owner thinks it is a Woods) Probably decent quality depending on which auger.

Also, what size auger bit should I use for the post holes? I guess I should have a few inches areound the posts to plumb them up and add concrete.

Mine came with a 9 inch, I plan on getting a 12 down the road for setting 6x6 posts.

I ended up getting a Kubota BL80A used. Seems to be good quality, made by Auburn Consolidated Industries in the US I think. I'll say this, whether it's a mistake or not, Kubota wants $150 for replacement teeth, which is ridiculous. I'm having some made far cheaper than that, probably free if I play my cards right..

Have a look at Greenline, the EM5000 and FM5500 both look pretty good, and the augers I saw were decent too. Probably cheaper than the Woods, they are cheaper here anyway.

The JD Frontiers might be worth a look too, they are competitively priced here.

Chilly

 

[Crusty Nut]

Hey, I'm new to the site but I just took delivery today of a L-7300 from Everything Attachments. It went together quick and I promptly tried it out a few times. It works very good and is very easy to control. I have several hundred feet of fence to put in in a week and this is a major labor saver.
Crusty

 

[asylum575]

Browns329,

Which local dealer had the Leinbach with bit for $500? I'm in NY and it may be worth the drive.

 

[Browns329]

asylum575 - I sent you a PM.

I was just on everthingattachments.com and they have the Leinbach L7300 for $580 with free shipping within 1000 mile radius of NC. Based on their video, I do not need the 7200 Jr for my size tractor.

 

[mfreeland]

I recently purchased a Woods PHD35 w/12" augar from an implement dealer for $400 - it was never used but had been sitting on his lot for 5 years after a customer had backed out of a deal. I thought $400 was a steal after others had quoted me $1100-1200 for the same PHD/augar. But later, I saw a King Kutter PHD at the local Farm&Fleet and Rural King which looked to be identical for $430 + $120 for the augar. Looks might have been deceiving but everything I could see, and I mean everything except the paint color, looked identical. Both had Chinese made gearboxes so the Chinese knock-off argument wouldn't seem to explain the 100% mark-up.

 

[gtrippleb]

I have a woods phd35 with a 9" auger I use with my ccy SC2400. It seems to do pretty good. I haven't actually used it to dig any holes yet except for trying it out, but I didn't have any problems. It was pain to get it off as the width is almost to wide for the 3pt.

 

[Grateful11]

The Countyline at TSC is on sale through May 2nd for $399 + auger. It's what
we have but haven't used it yet. We picked up a used one with the 9" HD auger
for $500, didn't even have any paint worn off except the very tip. I don't think
we'll keep it, probably long enough to get the new calf lot built and sell it. I just
don't see needing it that often, for fence repairs handheld PHD's are just handier.

 

[Chilly807]

I recently purchased a Woods PHD35 w/12" augar from an implement dealer for $400 - it was never used but had been sitting on his lot for 5 years after a customer had backed out of a deal. I thought $400 was a steal after others had quoted me $1100-1200 for the same PHD/augar. But later, I saw a King Kutter PHD at the local Farm&Fleet and Rural King which looked to be identical for $430 + $120 for the augar. Looks might have been deceiving but everything I could see, and I mean everything except the paint color, looked identical. Both had Chinese made gearboxes so the Chinese knock-off argument wouldn't seem to explain the 100% mark-up.

I'd say you did pretty good on that deal. That's probably his cost price or less.

Anyone in the US that's quoting $1100-1200 is overpriced on that unit, they're available here for about $900, same auger (heavy duty double flight). I looked at a PHD 65 for $1200 which I thought wasn't too bad.

The Chinese gearboxes are pretty much standard these days, although Land Pride is expensive enough to have one made in North America.

Chilly

 

[Browns329]

I have been searching for a used unit but have not found anything good...most of them are $500+ and are 2+ hours away from me.

Does anyone have an idea of quality on the County Line model (from Tractor Supply Co.) versus the Leinbach L7200/L7300? I can get either one for around $580 brand new with a 9" auger bit.

What is the difference between the Leinbach L7200 and L7300? I e-mailed everythingattachments.com a few times and they have not responded.

 

[Chilly807]

I have been searching for a used unit but have not found anything good...most of them are $500+ and are 2+ hours away from me.

Does anyone have an idea of quality on the County Line model (from Tractor Supply Co.) versus the Leinbach L7200/L7300? I can get either one for around $580 brand new with a 9" auger bit.

What is the difference between the Leinbach L7200 and L7300? I e-mailed everythingattachments.com a few times and they have not responded.

In my opinion, which is exactly that, you may be better off to drive for a couple hours and spend almost the same money for a high quality used digger. If it was good quality to begin with and used sensibly, it will either be good for a lot of years yet with nothing required, or will need minor attention to put it back in good shape.

Your best bet is to compare the used price with the cost of the same model new. If the used one is half or less than half of new cost, you're looking at a good deal if it's in decent shape. Bear in mind, the new one at $580.00 is probably not the same quality as the used one at $500 that is $1300 new.

The County Line is SpeeCo rebranded. I wasn't overly impressed with them when I was shopping, although they offer several different models. Leinbach I have no experience with.

Sean

 

[Luremaker]

I am looking for a post hole digger to install about 200-300 fence posts. Some are vinyl split rail posts (5" square) and the rest will likely be wood pressure treated round posts (5-6" diameter) for woven wire field fence. I have seen some ads state that a shorter boom is needed for "compact" tractors, but I'm not sure if my Kubota L4240 would be considered compact in this case. The Kubota has about 40 PTO HP. Will any PHD work well with this tractor?

Soil in my area in NJ should be pretty good with minimal rocks...maybe some roots....

For 200-300 posts you may want to consider a post driver. In the time it would take you to auger a 9" hole you can easily drive in a 5"-6" post and be done with it. No concrete needed. My L3130 daily handles my Shaver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvpuvaLUqaM

 

[Ed_Indiana]

Just bought a Countyline 100, catagory 1 & 2 for my B-7800 at TSC on sale for 399.99. Also bought a 12 inch auger for 144.99. Will soon be putting it to work. Have a neighbor who has used this digger and is very pleased with its durability.

 

[TJB63]

Just bought a Countyline 100, catagory 1 & 2 for my B-7800 at TSC on sale for 399.99. Also bought a 12 inch auger for 144.99. Will soon be putting it to work. Have a neighbor who has used this digger and is very pleased with its durability.

I just bought the same for my B7800 but missed the sale. I opted to go with the 9 inch auger, since I'm not fencing in a 1000 plus acres, I figure it should do just fine and seems to have good reviews. Time will tell.

TJ

 

[Browns329]

you may be better off to drive for a couple hours and spend almost the same money for a high quality used digger....
Sean

Chilly - I certainly agree with your logic. However, it is difficult for me to determine the quality of them without seeing them, or at least knowing the model number. For example, one person who said they thought they had a Woods, then said it was a SpeeCo. Someone else has a Bush Hog but doesn't know what model. Others look pretty rusty in the Craigslist ads, so it is hard to tell if they were taken care of.

For 200-300 posts you may want to consider a post driver.

Luremaker - Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, about 200 of the posts are for vinyl split rail fence (posts are 5" square hollow vinyl), so I don't think a post driver would work.

Another 50 posts or so will probably be 4-6" round pressure treated wood posts for non-climb woven wire horse fence, so those posts could be driven. Post drivers look very expensive so I don't think it would be worth it for me to buy one, but I heard that a local guy will come and do it for about $3/post. I may look into that when I do the wood posts.

Thanks for all the tips. Any other comments are appreciated, especially if anyone knows about quality of the Leinbach vs. County Line (Tractor Supply/SpeeCo?).

 

[Browns329]

Is Befco Model 200 good? Found a used one for $450 with 2 bits.

 

[Browns329]

Is Befco Model 200 good? Found a used one for $450 with 2 bits.

My excitement has turned to disappointment...
The Befco was listed on Craigslist and the guy sent me some pics. It looked to be in really good condition, came with 2 bits, and was even orange to match the Kubota. I set up an appointment with the guy yesterday afternoon for 10:00 am this morning. I took off from work this morning, hooked up a trailer, and was on my way for the 1 hour drive. I called him at about 9:30 to tell him I was running a little late, and he said that he sold the PHD last night!

 

[pitt_md]

The SpeeCo PHD I bought from Tractor supply has been used to put in several hundred wood posts. I have used it in what I am sure would be called extream conditions. I have broken several shear pins and had to replace the cutting edges many times due to digging through rock. I have the 9" and 18" augers. So far so good. I have bent up the flute on the 9" auger a bit but it works fine.
It was about $500 with the 9" auger.