Need some help with post hole digger

[merlebo02]

Ok guys/gals, acquired a post hole digger and it seems to work as it should.. It has a 9" auger on it and had it hooked up to a 30 hp New Holland tractor.. The problem is it will only dig down into the ground 1 maybe 2 feet at best. It will continue to spin strong, no sign of it bogging down, but will not go down any deeper.. We have it set on the third setting which makes it go down as low as it can when the arms are in their lowest position.. What could possibly be our problem??

Disclaimer: this is our first time using a post hole digger so the problem could be something really simple that we are not doing correctly..


Thanks in advance of any tips/replies

 

[bcp]

See how far down it will go with the auger removed.

See if there is a BIG rock 1-2 feet down where you are testing it.

Bruce

 

[merlebo02]

We are wanting to replace the 9" auger with a 12" so we will give that a try next time.. We drilled in several different spots so no rock was in the area.. It would just got down about 1 ft and sit there and spin not going any deeper.

 

[newbury]

Where in Mississippi?

Do you have a layer of heavy clay? If it was Texas I might expect caliche, but not Mississippi.

Pics would help.

 

[MF283]

Draft Control?????

 

[gwdixon]

As already implied, move the auger out of the way (put it at an angle) and see how far the drive head will go down. Or you can remove the auger and do the same thing.

The 1' to 2' drop may be as low as the 3PH can go.

If your vertical lift arms have several holes where they attach to the horizontal lift arms, make sure the vertical lift arms are at their lowest setting. (lowest holes.) This will make the arm longer and it will penetrate a bit more.

The upper (top link) attachment point won't make a great deal of difference but it should be on the lowest (bottom) hole.

Here is a video from EA.

Post Hole Digger - YouTube

 

[CharlieS]

The problem may be as simple as soil compaction. This time of year red clay can get as hard as concrete. I've seen, and done myself, welded a piece of 2 inch pipe on the top bar of my post hole, then using a long bar one or two men can pull down applying additional "down weight" to help the auger engage the soil. I've also seen ground so hard it would actually get hot enough you'd see smoke coming out of the hole.
What we did to partially solve that problem was made a more agressive digger point with some steeply angled cutting teeth similar to ripping teeth to break up the smooth surface at the bottom of the hole and enhance digging a little. While not a cure-all it has helped some.
Note too, if it is a hard soil/compaction issue the larger the auger the more pronounced the problem will be.

 

[bspeedy]

PTO shaft length is my guess (too long). Remove the auger and lower the 3 pt. It will stop when the shaft bottoms out on itself. Solution is to cut the shaft to allow it the full travel of the length of the auger bit.

 

[prichard]

Is the auger new? You realize there is no down pressure on 3 point, weight is the only thing lowering the auger.

Could be physical like has been pointed out. Often this is due to the ground. Hitting hard packed dirt, clay stone, etc. If it is an older unit new point and cutters may be all you need. Some have had to add weight to the unit, some have added hydraulics, some have added a lever.

See http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...erating/207657-newbie-question-3-point-w.html

 

[teg]

Going for the more simple guess... 3ph can have "stop screws" to only lower the 3ph to a certain point... most likely not the case but easy to check.

 

[coralhead]

I've had grass/sod wrapped on the cutting edges to keep them from biting into the soil and stopping the digging.

 

[bcp]

A few months ago I was looking at a new post hole auger in a store. The cutting edge was ABOVE the flighting it was bolted to. The mounting holes appeared round without adjustment.

I should have taken a photo but I keep forgetting I have a camera in my phone now. Here is a crude drawing.



Bruce

 

[Fallon]

What is 1-2' down? Around here 1-2' down is a layer of clay, above that is nicer dirt & topsoil. When I got my PHD, it had a really nice heavy duty 9" auger on it with frost teeth. Big carbide suckers thicker than your thumb. I'd dig down a foot or 2, hit the clay, then stop. Couple hundred lbs on the PHD, soaking the hole with water, etc. nada. Got a cheap 6" auger & it would dam near corkscrew itself into the ground all the way down. Used it to make pilot holes for a while. I eventually got some much thinner more aggressive teeth for that auger & it does a lot better. I got another cheaper farm store 12" auger & it will still dig more aggressively than the 9" due to the thinner sharper & more aggressively set teeth than the 9".

 

[Rustyiron]

All it takes is a flat rock the size of a cookie under the center point to stop it also.

 

[CADplans]

Adjust the drop rate of the 3PH to "fast" then pick up and drop the PHD in the hole repeatedly.
The spinning auger will move a small rock, or penetrate hard pan.

If that does not work, add 100 pounds of weight to the PHD head,,, and repeat.

If it is a rock, be ready to quickly lift the PHD,,,
a rock in the flighting will cause the spinning auger to go in the ground like a wood screw.

A 9" auger will always be easier to dig with than a 12"

 

[bindian]

The problem may be as simple as soil compaction. This time of year red clay can get as hard as concrete. I've seen, and done myself, welded a piece of 2 inch pipe on the top bar of my post hole, then using a long bar one or two men can pull down applying additional "down weight" to help the auger engage the soil. I've also seen ground so hard it would actually get hot enough you'd see smoke coming out of the hole.
What we did to partially solve that problem was made a more agressive digger point with some steeply angled cutting teeth similar to ripping teeth to break up the smooth surface at the bottom of the hole and enhance digging a little. While not a cure-all it has helped some.
Note too, if it is a hard soil/compaction issue the larger the auger the more pronounced the problem will be.

I rented a PTO auger to set my barn poles. Same thing...........go down about a foot into the hard, red clay and it would just spin and glaze the clay. The point was dull and needed replaced. Water and down pressure helped.
That's when I decided to buy a hyd. auger! Never regretted that purchase.
hugs, Brandi

 

[powerscol]

As stated above check your lower 3pt link arm settings when lowering. Also sharpen you cutting teeth - makes a huge difference

 

[buickanddeere]

Once you use a loader mounted hydraulic PHD you won't go back to anything else.

 

[bindian]

Once you use a loader mounted hydraulic PHD you won't go back to anything else.

Yep..............or on your backhoe.
hugs, Brandi

 

[MF283]

When i hit clay around here, i'd wiggle the auger with a handle that my old Servis model has, it was just enough to get it going.

Ronnie