First time drilling post holes

[SandyTX]

Picked up a Auger at TSC last weekend with a 9" auger bit.
I dug 4-5 holes in the yard ( to plant some trees) and it worked great.

I then took it out to my farm and dug 3-4 more holes which went ok.
So I then went to the gate to dig 2 holes for the new poles for the gate.
I got the first one down almost 4 ft and went to pull it back out and bamo (stuck like chuck). No lift at all. After 2 hours of digging it out; I had to spin the auger by hand (after i disconnected the PTO to remove it).

Now I thought; I'll never do that again; I'll take smaller bites each time.
Well you see where this is going....

Next hole; I do about 4-5 bites and its going great and the depth is good. I'll just do one more pass to clear the dirt and BAM! stuck again .

Well after 2 more hours of digging I managed to digg about 5 post holes with the tractor in 6 hours. Live and learn. But I can tell you I'm not letting it happen again (on purpose at least). It was a nice day out (60s) and cloudy so all was not lost. I did move about 1/2 ton of soil to finish up some back stops on the shooting range.

All in all it was good; no one got hurt and I got in some great seat time.

 

[beenthere]

That is an education that many of us have, as well.

Good to pass it on for others to learn from too.

 

[Samandothers]

I have not gotten the auger stuck.....yet anyway. I am still learning how to get the hole plumb. I have not gotten the hand of digging and pulling up to keep the hole perpendicular to the ground.

 

[simonds]

When I go to auger holes, I always take my 24" pipe wrench with me. Many of times I have had my auger get stuck in tree roots. I shut it down and reverse the auger out of the hole with the pipe wrench. Much easier than digging. After all that is why I bought the auger was to cut down on digging with a shovel and clam shells.

 

[grsthegreat]

Ive been using my auger for years..have dug many holes. Luckily we have decomposed granite here, so there is not too much tendency to get stuck.

But i still continually raise and lower the POD as I'm digging to keep the hole clean. I never let it just plow on down.

i was digging some holes at a friends place, and it hit clay and dove into the ground. after unhooking and chaining it to the loader, i had to use a pipe wrench to rotate it.

I SURE wish the pto would run in reverse,,,, is that too much to ask for in the 21st century :laughing: :thumbsup:

 

[tcartwri]

When I go to auger holes, I always take my 24" pipe wrench with me. Many of times I have had my auger get stuck in tree roots. I shut it down and reverse the auger out of the hole with the pipe wrench. Much easier than digging. After all that is why I bought the auger was to cut down on digging with a shovel and clam shells.

Standard Operating Procedure when using an auger. You usually only have to turn it backwards a half turn or so, and it will pull free.

 

[Gobblin Tom]

I watched a good video on everything attachments on the post hole auger showing how to use them.

 

[mjncad]

SandyTX:

How I can empathize with your PHD experience, which is why I got rid of my PHD...more trouble than it was worth.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Right on guys, use the pipe wrench and turn the PTO shaft to reverse the auger. NO need to unhook from the tractor, unless for some reason your PTO shaft doesnt free wheel in neutral. Dont try to turn the auger itself unless you want a hernia, turn the pto shaft to reverse the auger. It takes several rounds on the shaft to get one turn on the auger, but usually after a turn or two it will come out if you kept the hole cleaned out as you went down. NO way would I try to dig one out, way too much work. Just back it out just like you would remove a screw( a very big screw) from a board.

 

[MMagis]

SandyTX:

How I can empathize with your PHD experience, which is why I got rid of my PHD...more trouble than it was worth.

You'd rather dig post holes by hand than back the auger out ever once in a great while? You have better shoulders than me.