3pt, PTO, Diesel

[edkemper]

I need a cheap(er) farm tractor, mostly for brush Hog and digging post holes. So the main needs are a 3pt and PTO. I have a HD FEL, backhoe, dozer. But I really need postholes, a lot of post holes. So this is about a PTO.

Any preferences? I have a couple of local auctions coming up over the next 30 days so I want to keep my eyes open for something to satisfy my needs.

Let's keep in under $5K. As under as reasonable. I also understand that prices at an auction can vary widely. :confused2:

 

[kneedeep]

There are good midsize 75HP+ tractors selling in the auctions for good prices. One that size would give you much better performance than a SCUT and probably be about the same money. Smaller tractors don't hit the auctions much. If you bump your $$ up to 8-10K, I believe you would really increase your choices and get more tractor for less HP cost.

 

[varmint]

Probably won't compute, but a hydraulic post hole auger would be the berries for putting in a "lot" of postholes- hung off the front of something with enough output to drive it. I've watched skid steers doing it, and what a sweet way to get 'er done.

 

[jmh1783]

Somewhere here I read it isn't the PTO HP that you need to be concerned with for post hole diggers. You need to be concerned with the lift capacity of the 3pt. Even a low PTO HP tractor will screw an auger into the ground. The trick is pulling it back out again. I've seen this done and it isn't any fun at all.

 

[jenkinsph]

Probably won't compute, but a hydraulic post hole auger would be the berries for putting in a "lot" of postholes- hung off the front of something with enough output to drive it. I've watched skid steers doing it, and what a sweet way to get 'er done.

I would build up a 3ph hydraulic auger and run it on the 210 LE landscape loader

 

[edkemper]

From a few K to 10K. Far too much spending coming my way to consider this option.

With building my house, after creating the drive and leveling the pad, moving large logs to the site, etc, etc, I really don't need another large fabrication job, at the moment. If I have the time for a project, the Thumb is first.

A few thousand on an older tractor with a usable 3pt hitch and a PTO is all I'm after.

I guess any of the major brands will do the trick as long as they are still breathing.

 

[buickanddeere]

Massey 35/135/235, 65/165/265 and several other similar Massey models of that era.

 

[SSdoxie]

Your Bush Hog requirements (what you need to cut, width, etc.) would be determining factor for size and PTO power of tractor.

 

[RPW]

For ythe amount of post holes that you've indicated I'd be looking a a smaller skidsteer with hydraulic post hole digger. They can be found but they also can be expensive. I don't know how many times I've wanted a SS hydraulic PHD. My SS cost me $1500 and needed about $1500 in repairs but in the end I've got a very useful tool. I've already got about all the fence posts in place so I'm down to occasional posts. If you're a single person operation then placing a PHD square in the ground can be a challenge. If you want to stay with a tractor consider a Beltec PHD. More dollars but you can do so much more digging over a standard PHD.

Good luck.

 

[edkemper]

Massey 35/135/235, 65/165/265 and several other similar Massey models of that era.

Thank you. This is what I was hoping for.

 

[edkemper]

For ythe amount of post holes that you've indicated I'd be looking a a smaller skidsteer with hydraulic post hole digger. They can be found but they also can be expensive. I don't know how many times I've wanted a SS hydraulic PHD. My SS cost me $1500 and needed about $1500 in repairs but in the end I've got a very useful tool. I've already got about all the fence posts in place so I'm down to occasional posts. If you're a single person operation then placing a PHD square in the ground can be a challenge. If you want to stay with a tractor consider a Beltec PHD. More dollars but you can do so much more digging over a standard PHD.
Good luck.

SSs are out of my price range around here.

 

[ishiboo]

When I hear about that many post holes, I think someone really wants a pounder they just don't know it yet

 

[edkemper]

Most of the time it's the best idea is to stay in one's budget. So unless someone steps up to throw free money my way, I have to stick to getting what I can afford.

Know what I mean?

 

[edkemper]

Massey 35/135/235, 65/165/265 and several other similar Massey models of that era.

The most appreciated answer yet. Thanks again.

 

[fishheadbob]

I guess any of the major brands will do the trick as long as they are still breathing.

You hit it on the head.

 

[r porter]

i have helped put in a bunch of posts as a kid with a famall and an auger. but life really took a turn for the better when pop got that shaver post driver [which i still have 60 years later]

any reason why you dont want to drive them?

 

[prichard]

Ed, you'll find we are really good at spending other people's money.

Question for the pounder fans is there any realistic easy to go that route with his budget? Seems to me the pounder alone would be more than half the budget and you're not putting that on a scut. Am I wrong?

 

[jenkinsph]

You can look around and see what is available for $5000 in an older tractor in your locale. That would be the best way to find what you are looking for. The best bang for the buck would be dependent on what you can find. That said I would not try to find specific brands or models as that might be too limiting. Just see what you can find.

I suggested earlier in this thread to consider a 3 pt hydraulic auger which would be simple to configure. If you don't have time to build the boom pole you might have a welding shop do this for you. A simple task, just needs to be heavy duty. With a lot of post holes being able to reverse the bit out of a hole can be very important. A PA-15 or PA-30 planetary auger unit will pin in place and will work with your rear hydraulic outlets. This will make the holes and come in below budget with new phd and heavy duty augers.

Two other ideas to consider would be check to see if you can add the pto option to your 210LE and/or add the $5000 to your 210LE trade for an upgraded model with the pto option.

Last suggestion is mounting a hydraulic auger to your fel if you have aux. hydraulics available. I have seen them mounted to the side of the bucket so the operator can see the bit line up with the ground marking.

All of these suggestions should fit within the $5000 dollar budget with the possible exception of adding the pto kit. You would need to inquire about this to find out. Just recognize that while you can buy an older tractor for these jobs that is still breathing it may require more of your time for maintenance and repairs. It may stop breathing at any time so to speak. Not sure if that really saves you time or money.

 

[r porter]

in a five minute search i found this for 600$$

Pto driven Post driver

dad had a shaver mounted on the front of a farmall H. that should be pretty low cost, too tractor wise.

it is priceless to drive a hundred posts in a week end, and be drinking beer by lunch Sunday!!!!

and then put the driver up for sale monday!

 

[prichard]

in a five minute search i found this for 600$$

Pto driven Post driver

dad had a shaver mounted on the front of a farmall H. that should be pretty low cost, too tractor wise.

it is priceless to drive a hundred posts in a week end, and be drinking beer by lunch Sunday!!!!

and then put the driver up for sale monday!

Nice deal. What kind of HP would that require? If it was closer I'd have to look at it. For that $$ I wonder how much of a project it would be.