Delivered Post Hole Digger Issues

[yooperdave]

I just bought a Dirty Hand Tools model 110 heavy duty post hole digger from Amazon.
I also bought the 24" diameter auger bit so I could quickly plant a whole bunch of trees.

I only bought the model 110 as it would work with the 24" auger. There are 2 smaller sizes, but the auger bit selection is very limited and maxed out with 12" diameter.

Their ad clearly specifies that a Cat 1 or 2 3-point hitch will work. My LS XJ 2025H has a cat 1 hitch so we should be good to go.

After opening up the crate and looking at the booklet, the phd only attaches to a cat 2 or 3 hitch. Oops.

What are the differences with a cat 1 vs cat 2 hitch?

Can I salvage what I have or am I screwed?

I already contacted the seller to find out the options I have due to their mistake. There are no returns.
Should I ask for my money back if they will not take it back?

TIA

Yooper Dave

 

[M5farms]

Just put cat 1 pins in it and call it a day.

 

[Budweiser John]

It’s going to take a pretty fair sized tractor to turn a 24” auger and raise it out of the ground.
You might be able to swap out the lift arm pins on the auger frame for cat 1. Bushings are available to shrink down the cat 2 Top link holes to cat 1.
Proceed with caution as digging out a stuck auger with out the ability to reverse the flight is at least a 6 beer project.

B. John

 

[Tractorable]

Are the pins on the PHD removable? Can you go to Tractor Supply and replace the Cat 2 pins with Cat 1 pins?

 

[sd455dan]

Maybe get by with cat 1 pins , but maybe not i have 2 cat 2 implements that get used with cat 1 pin Some cat 2 are 26 wide like cat 1 some are wider at 32 inches iirc

if the digger will fit between the tires and clear everything the other worry will be horsepower and how strong the PTO is on your tractor.
I caught some roots running a 2 foot PHD on my Ford 3000 which had about 38 PTO hp and got all the holes dug, but broke some shear pins.

My guess is the 2 foot bit will really test the PTO on a 2025H- Especially if you have rocks, roots or just tough ground to dig in

 

[Ford850]

I see these same PH diggers listed on TSC and Home Depot sites and they list them as cat 1 or 2. I found the Dirty Hands website and product manual https://dirtyhandtools.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Post-Hole-Digger-Op-Man-Rev-D-lowres-1.pdf and it also lists these at cat 1 or 2. Are you sure yours is cat 2 or 3?

 

[wagne223]

For a "bunch" of 24 inch holes, I would rent a mini ex or a skid steer with the hydraulic auger. (Can be reversed from the hole)

Assuming you dont have a backhoe.

I used a 6 inch PTO auger for a line of fence posts, once!
Looking back over your shoulder, trying to control the speed and depth and angle, then having to disconnect and pipe wrench the bit out when I hit a root cured me of using a PTO auger years ago.
Could not imagine a 24 inch bit.

Not trying to rain on your parade, just brings back memories of fighting with that thing!

I'm sure with a lot of patience and the right operator they are good tools.
Just not for me.

 

[yooperdave]

It’s going to take a pretty fair sized tractor to turn a 24” auger and raise it out of the ground.
You might be able to swap out the lift arm pins on the auger frame for cat 1. Bushings are available to shrink down the cat 2 Top link holes to cat 1.
Proceed with caution as digging out a stuck auger with out the ability to reverse the flight is at least a 6 beer project.

B. John

I also bought a 9" auger. I was hoping to drill pilot holes with the 9" and then go back with the 24". Only drilling 24" down.

Yooper Dave

 

[yooperdave]

For a "bunch" of 24 inch holes, I would rent a mini ex or a skid steer with the hydraulic auger. (Can be reversed from the hole)

Assuming you dont have a backhoe.

I used a 6 inch PTO auger for a line of fence posts, once!
Looking back over your shoulder, trying to control the speed and depth and angle, then having to disconnect and pipe wrench the bit out when I hit a root cured me of using a PTO auger years ago.
Could not imagine a 24 inch bit.

Not trying to rain on your parade, just brings back memories of fighting with that thing!

I'm sure with a lot of patience and the right operator they are good tools.
Just not for me.

My wife will be supervising from the ground. I dug big holes prior with my front end loader for the bigger 10' trees. Topsoil on top and sand below - little to no rocks.

Yooper Dave

 

[yooperdave]

I see these same PH diggers listed on TSC and Home Depot sites and they list them as cat 1 or 2. I found the Dirty Hands website and product manual https://dirtyhandtools.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Post-Hole-Digger-Op-Man-Rev-D-lowres-1.pdf and it also lists these at cat 1 or 2. Are you sure yours is cat 2 or 3?

This is rather funny.

Your .pdf is nearly identical to my paperwork inside the shipping crate - with the exception of the cat 2 or 3 hook up.
The good news is the fix appears to be almost a no never mind. Fleet Farm will have what I need.

Upon further inspection... your .pdf is revision 'D' and my manual is revision'C'. Maybe I have an older model though the number is the same

Yooper Dave

 

[yooperdave]

Just put cat 1 pins in it and call it a day.

Thanks!

Yooper Dave

 

[mred2]

Tell wife to stay clear of the PHD. I have seen people hurt really bad on them, trying to help from the ground. Good luck!

 

[yooperdave]

In summary,

The product was advertised under Rev D of the owners manual which specifies a cat 1 or cat 2 hitch, but Rev C of an older vintage specifies cat 2 or cat 3 hitch.

The model numbers and part numbers are the same regardless of revision. However the hitch configurations are different.

Yooper Dave

 

[sd455dan]

I also bought a 9" auger. I was hoping to drill pilot holes with the 9" and then go back with the 24". Only drilling 24" down.

Yooper Dave

That is worth a try.
we tried to (pilot) hole the 2 foot auger with a 12 inch, and it didn't work, -the auger would not settle down and dig straight.

Using the 9 inch may be narrow enough to keep the center of the auger in alignment on the way down.

One suggestion that may help to get started also, (if) you have thick grass growing where the holes go, is to dig about 3 inches down in a 2 foot circle with a shovel where you want the hole centered . It may help get the bit started by removing the sod. seemed to help when we dug the 2' diameter holes.

 

[guitarman]

you can change the pins to CAT ! then use a bushing for the top link. just be sure your tractor will handle the 24" auger

 

[Scrambler82]

Is it heavy duty ?

Is it worth the price ?

 

[guitarman]

Sizes for different category hitches is cat 1. 3/4 on top link and 7/8 on lift link cat 2 is 1 inch on top 1 1/8 inch on lift

 

[Rustyiron]

That is worth a try.
we tried to (pilot) hole the 2 foot auger with a 12 inch, and it didn't work, -the auger would not settle down and dig straight.

Dave I'll have to agree with 455dan on this one. Just like a wood auger bit. No matter how you drill/dig your "pilot" hole, you can't make it bigger with a auger bit, it' needs the center point to hold the bit where it's wanted and that material was removed with the pilot hole. Iirc cat 1 pins are 7/8" where cat 2 is 1 1/8" the width should be ok, you'll just have to adjust your lift arm stabilizers to fit.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Good luck using a 24" auger on your 2025. I had a dirty hand tools model 100 with a 9" auger on my MT125 (25hp, 17 pto hp). It definitely took agile reactions to keep it from corkscrewing into the ground. Could only dig about 4-6" at a time, then lift to clear the hole, otherwise not enough power to pull it up. Did about 40 holes with it after I learned "a system" about how far I could go and at what speed.

Part of the lifting power problem was that I could not use the outermost holes on the arm (closest to the gearbox) that's where you get the most strength to lift. I had to use the second one closest to the tractor in order to get the auger high enough. The MT125 sits a lot lower than your 2025, so you may not have an issue with going with an outer hole.

For "undoing a corkscrew", make sure you move your pto lever (the one for mid /rear pto) into neutral position, otherwise you will also be fighting against the hydraulics. Also make sure the electric pto switch is off, and the engine is shut down. I used a large pipe wrench and a 3' length of 2" steel pipe for a cheeter bar. Usually a 1/4 to 1/2 turn popped it loose.

For planting trees, I found it easy to auger 3 or 4 holes right next to each other in a circle pattern, then just shovel out the remaining dirt left between the holes. Only going 20-24" deep, there won't be much dirt left in the hole.

When I sold my 125, the DHT PHD went with it. I found it to be a valuable tool, for both posts and planting trees. (I did plant over 200 trees/shrubs using a hand held auger). I'll never do that again! When I just purchased my XG3025, getting a PHD was a requirement. I still only went with a 9" auger. No stones/rock here, and no roots where I use it, just hard, hard, clay soil.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I agree with the previous posts, you should be able to switch out the cat 2 pins for cat 1, use a bushing for the arm into the top link mount. There is no way you could 'pilot hole' with the 9", and try to follow with the 24". It will be bouncing all over the place and something will break / someone will get hurt....