First time drilling post holes

[AGGIE00]

I remember those days. Now I have the hydraulic PHD on the front supplied by the third valve I use for the grapple. With this setup I can reverse the bit and apply as much pressure as I want without climbing off the tractor and hanging on the PHD.

 

[jenkinsph]

I remember those days. Now I have the hydraulic PHD on the front supplied by the third valve I use for the grapple. With this setup I can reverse the bit and apply as much pressure as I want without climbing off the tractor and hanging on the PHD.

I prefer it on the rear. Hydraulic forward and reverse with down pressure is needed in the Rocky Mountains.

 

[AGGIE00]

I prefer it on the rear. Hydraulic forward and reverse with down pressure is needed in the Rocky Mountains.

And Texas blackland. I can drill holes 3 or 4 to 1 compared to the rear mount. Plus I can drill my corners deeper without having to hand clean the bottom of the hole.

 

[MMagis]

Plus I can drill my corners deeper without having to hand clean the bottom of the hole.

Can you explain that? Unless your PHD has some sort of magic feature to prevent dirt from falling back in the hole when you lift the auger out, I can't visualize not having to clean the bottom of the hole.

 

[grsthegreat]

Can you explain that? Unless your PHD has some sort of magic feature to prevent dirt from falling back in the hole when you lift the auger out, I can't visualize not having to clean the bottom of the hole.

ive drilled in clay before, and didnt have to clean the holes either. in the decomposed granite i have...i always have to hand clean

 

[DAY]

At the bottom, when you are deep as you want, just pull the auger up real quick- while it is spinning!- and all the dirt comes up in a big, whirling tornado.

The loose soil is trapped between the sides of the hole and the auger. There's no place for it to go, but up and out. There will be a nice ring of soil around the edge of the hole, ready to put back in around the fence post.

The hardest part of the job is packing that dirt around the post with a big ol' heavy iron tamper. Pull a Tom Sawyer, and tell the kids what FUN it is. . .

 

[MMagis]

Having dug more holes than I can remember, I almost always lift the auger out while it’s spinning. That doesn’t stop dirt from falling back in.
Drilling in clay does make a difference, it’s been a while and I didn’t think if that. All that said, that has nothing to do with whether the PHD is hydraulic or not.

 

[old papa]

A lot of good info here. I would just like to add about a gallon of water poured down the hole and a few minutes wait will make the PHD a lot easier to get unstuck in heavy clay.

 

[grsthegreat]

A lot of good info here. I would just like to add about a gallon of water poured down the hole and a few minutes wait will make the PHD a lot easier to get unstuck in heavy clay.

how about gasoline or diesel fuel/fertilizer mix.

thats what i wished for the time mine got stuck HEHE :laughing:

 

[SandyTX]

Have said it before like others.Check your gear box oil(80/90).Every TSC PHD and lots of others I have seen come dry shipped.
Keep playing "SAFE" ! :thumbsup:

Boone

Thanks for the reminder. That was the first thing I checked

 

[ole farmerbuck]

We welded a 'wiper' blade (iron strap) on ours to throw the dirt away when the auger bottoms out. helps on dry dirt. With moist dirt, we dont have to clean holes.

 

[mjncad]

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.

My shoulders are crap, so I'll either rent one or hire it done the next time I need a hole drilled.

-I didn't mean YOUR tractor, ole farmerbuck, I meant the OP!
I see now it is a JD 4300, with 27 PTO HP. That should be enough to handle a 9" auger, but I'll defer to your experience; you have drilled a lot more holes in the planet than me:thumbsup:

When I had my PHD, it had a 12" auger on it and my 4200 handled it fine. I think my PTO HP is 20 - 21.

 

[AGGIE00]

Can you explain that? Unless your PHD has some sort of magic feature to prevent dirt from falling back in the hole when you lift the auger out, I can't visualize not having to clean the bottom of the hole.

The MAGIC feature is the ability to dig a deeper hole than what you will get with a rear mount phd. I want my corners 5' deep and the rear will not go that deep clean. I can go over 15' and drill a 24" pier hole for foundations. All I was saying is that the front mount works out much better because of down pressure and clearance. It's also safer than pulling or hanging on a rear mount.

 

[MMagis]

The MAGIC feature is the ability to dig a deeper hole than what you will get with a rear mount phd. I want my corners 5' deep and the rear will not go that deep clean. I can go over 15' and drill a 24" pier hole for foundations. All I was saying is that the front mount works out much better because of down pressure and clearance. It's also safer than pulling or hanging on a rear mount.

So you're setting a post on loose dirt? I guess I just don't like the idea, though I can't say for sure it's bad.
Not sure why anyone would be hanging or pulling on a PHD? That certainly wouldn't be safe, but I've never seen the need.

 

[AGGIE00]

So you're setting a post on loose dirt? I guess I just don't like the idea, though I can't say for sure it's bad.
Not sure why anyone would be hanging or pulling on a PHD? That certainly wouldn't be safe, but I've never seen the need.

So you are saying that you have never drilled a hole that the weight of the phd alone was enough for the bit to bite and dig to full depth? You must have pure sand. I feel like I am arguing with a professor who speaks in hypotheticals and has never actually done what he is arguing about. Almost all around here who dig post or pier holes for a living use skid steer loaders for the same reasons I listed for using the front of the tractor.

 

[billt102]

Aggie is your hydraulic phd a high-flow skid steer style?? I don't imagine my 4300 would output enough hydraulics to run one of those... I have access to one, but it is skid-steer style attach also. just wishing it would work...

 

[MMagis]

So you are saying that you have never drilled a hole that the weight of the phd alone was enough for the bit to bite and dig to full depth? You must have pure sand. I feel like I am arguing with a professor who speaks in hypotheticals and has never actually done what he is arguing about. Almost all around here who dig post or pier holes for a living use skid steer loaders for the same reasons I listed for using the front of the tractor.

Seems you're the only one arguing. I was simlpy asking a question. I'm not sure, but I think you worded your question wrong. I'm saying that the PHD digger does fine without my help pushing or pulling unless I hit rock. Then, nothing is going to help. If the PHD stops digging for whatever reason, a very slight adjustment in angle (move forward or backwards SLIGHTLY) does the trick every time. I have no sand at all. Soil varies from heavy clay to shale. I've dug plenty of holes, not sure why you think that just because you can't do something that no one can.

 

[AGGIE00]

Seems you're the only one arguing. I was simlpy asking a question. I'm not sure, but I think you worded your question wrong. I'm saying that the PHD digger does fine without my help pushing or pulling unless I hit rock. Then, nothing is going to help. If the PHD stops digging for whatever reason, a very slight adjustment in angle (move forward or backwards SLIGHTLY) does the trick every time. I have no sand at all. Soil varies from heavy clay to shale. I've dug plenty of holes, not sure why you think that just because you can't do something that no one can.

So it is bad to have a small amount of loose dirt in the bottom of the hole when the post is set, but ok to wallow out the hole?

 

[AGGIE00]

Aggie is your hydraulic phd a high-flow skid steer style?? I don't imagine my 4300 would output enough hydraulics to run one of those... I have access to one, but it is skid-steer style attach also. just wishing it would work...

Not all skid steers are high flow. Mine is primarily used on a skid steer, but works fine on my tractor. It doesn't spin near as fast as the pto style, but doesn't need to since it doesn't grind its way to the bottom. I do have skid steer fittings on the front though.

 

[jenkinsph]

AGGIE00,

Are you using a skidsteer or a tractor with ssqa?

I considered the front mount hydraulic auger setup and rented one to use on a job but found it necessary to have a spotter since the auger was directly ahead of the tractor cowling. So I went with a rear mounting on my backhoe which makes it easy to see and control.

Much more reach than a fel mounted unit too.