What it the best value for the money on a hydraulic post hole digger. My tractor is a Kubota L4330 equipped with front end loader (LA853). I think I need a low volume hydraulic motor. I need something with down pressure; so either a bucket mount on the loader, or some type of down pressure 3 point hitch setup. I do not have remote hydraulic valves, so I presume I will need to purchase this kit also. Any suggestions?
Posthole Digger Hydraulic Post Hole Digger
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texasjohn
Super Member
I built a platform on my 3ph post hole digger and mounted weights on it for down pressure... about 400 lbs worth, plus weight of phd which is another maybe 300 lbs (guessing). This works fine for me... most important is the type of tip you have... there are 3 types of tips.... I recommend rock tip if you are likely to hit any rock, else you will just bounce and bounce and go no where. The weights I have are individually less than 100 lbs each and can be used in other applications to provide weight/balance when not using the PHD
mjncad
Super Member
TexasJohn:
Any photos of your post hole digger that you can share? I just traded my Bush Hog 2102 PHD in as a down payment on a lawn tractor to supplement my JD 4200.
I used the PHD for all of 12 holes, and I hated using it because it was such a nuisance to hook up and detach. When neighbors would ask if I would dig post holes for them, I said sure...the first hole is $100, which includes the hook up and disconnect fee. Any holes after that would be charged on a sliding scale depending on quantity. Needless to say that turned people off, which was fine with me.
I will probably rent a PHD for future projects, or hire someone to do them.
Any photos of your post hole digger that you can share? I just traded my Bush Hog 2102 PHD in as a down payment on a lawn tractor to supplement my JD 4200.
I used the PHD for all of 12 holes, and I hated using it because it was such a nuisance to hook up and detach. When neighbors would ask if I would dig post holes for them, I said sure...the first hole is $100, which includes the hook up and disconnect fee. Any holes after that would be charged on a sliding scale depending on quantity. Needless to say that turned people off, which was fine with me.
I will probably rent a PHD for future projects, or hire someone to do them.
Neophyte
Platinum Member
I'm not sure who the best value is for a HPHD. I know Northern Tool sells one for about $1400.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_25114_25114
You can also find a Belltec model NC-200 on eBay for around $1600. A lighter duty NC-150 would be even less. This is a quick attach unit but they also make a bucket mount unit, which may decrease the price further.
http://cgi.ebay.com/belltec-Skid-St...yZ109296QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.belltec.net/nc_series.html
Doing a quick search I found an inexpensive Prarie Phoenix unit for about $900 from LD Distributing.
http://www.cattlerange.com/banner-ads/prairie-phoenix/post-hole-digger.html
I have a 3PH PTO PHD and I second what mjncad said. The 3PH units are a pain to setup. They also provide no down pressure. This means you either have to add weight as texasjohn has done or purchase the hydraulic down pressure kit. The latter possibly requiring a 3rd SCV. Rather than a 3rd SCV you could use your FEL controls since you don't need your bucket while you are digging holes or even add a diverter.
I really like the hydraulic bucket mounted units but I have never used one. I have used the quick attach type on a skid steer and it works very well, of course it has a good deal of hydraulic power behind it and the visibility is very good.
I like the quick attach method but I'm not sure it would work well on a tractor since you may not have the best visibility of the auger touching down. The bucket mount is nice because it provides an offset so you have better visibility of the auger on the left or right side of the bucket. Once you install the bracket, installation and removal appears to be simple. With the bucket mount unit, you could possibly use the hydraulics from the bucket curl functions since you will not need these while digging holes.
A light duty unit requires roughly 5-12 GPM and a medium duty unit requires roughly 10-25 GPM.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_25114_25114
You can also find a Belltec model NC-200 on eBay for around $1600. A lighter duty NC-150 would be even less. This is a quick attach unit but they also make a bucket mount unit, which may decrease the price further.
http://cgi.ebay.com/belltec-Skid-St...yZ109296QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.belltec.net/nc_series.html
Doing a quick search I found an inexpensive Prarie Phoenix unit for about $900 from LD Distributing.
http://www.cattlerange.com/banner-ads/prairie-phoenix/post-hole-digger.html
I have a 3PH PTO PHD and I second what mjncad said. The 3PH units are a pain to setup. They also provide no down pressure. This means you either have to add weight as texasjohn has done or purchase the hydraulic down pressure kit. The latter possibly requiring a 3rd SCV. Rather than a 3rd SCV you could use your FEL controls since you don't need your bucket while you are digging holes or even add a diverter.
I really like the hydraulic bucket mounted units but I have never used one. I have used the quick attach type on a skid steer and it works very well, of course it has a good deal of hydraulic power behind it and the visibility is very good.
I like the quick attach method but I'm not sure it would work well on a tractor since you may not have the best visibility of the auger touching down. The bucket mount is nice because it provides an offset so you have better visibility of the auger on the left or right side of the bucket. Once you install the bracket, installation and removal appears to be simple. With the bucket mount unit, you could possibly use the hydraulics from the bucket curl functions since you will not need these while digging holes.
A light duty unit requires roughly 5-12 GPM and a medium duty unit requires roughly 10-25 GPM.
CurlyDave
Elite Member
These guys also have one. http://www.skidsteersolutions.com/Skid_Steer_Augers_s/1.htm
Price is $1295 plus you need to buy the auger.
I have been looking at these for a while, but I am not yet ready to drill any holes, so it will probably be another year.
Price is $1295 plus you need to buy the auger.
I have been looking at these for a while, but I am not yet ready to drill any holes, so it will probably be another year.
PineRidge
Super Member
Guys before you spend your hard earned bucks be sure that your tractors hydraulic flow is ample to drive one of these augers. I know my TC-40D can't handle the flow requirements needed.
dfkrug
Super Member
- Joined
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- Tractor
- 05 Kioti CK30HST w/ Prairie Dog backhoe, XN08 mini-X
PineRidge said:
The Worksaver 714H works well. One of the units I bought is on a
Prairie Ddog b/h (pictured), another is on Kioti 2375 hoe. This unit
is designed for low-flow CUTs (5-10 GPM) and comes with brackets to
bolt it to your loader bucket. I fabbed brackets for the Prairie Dog,
which works way better than a loader (or 3pt hitch). The gearbox
is a hefty 3.18:1 unit that gives good torque. I also made my own
plumb indicator as it is always a chore to keep the PHD drilling
straight. These units are about $1500, less the auger.
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dfkrug
Super Member
- Joined
- Feb 3, 2004
- Messages
- 7,602
- Location
- Santa Cruz Mtns, CA
- Tractor
- 05 Kioti CK30HST w/ Prairie Dog backhoe, XN08 mini-X
In my research for an hydraulic PHD for CUTs, I noticed very few
units designed for low hyd flow (5-10 GPM). Most were designed for
skidsteers and required over 10GPM. Both Worksaver and Rhino
sell low-flow units.
units designed for low hyd flow (5-10 GPM). Most were designed for
skidsteers and required over 10GPM. Both Worksaver and Rhino
sell low-flow units.
mikim
Veteran Member
checkout the TM-48 at belltec.com ---- no idea of the price ....and you will need remotes --- ya want 'em for other stuff anyway.
stevenf
Platinum Member
I own the Belltec TM48 and am very pleased with it, It is a 3pt hydraulic down pressure implement and cost around $4,000 just for the auger and the bits run around $300 for a puff drill (tpost size bit) to $1,600 for a 12" they have other sizes but these two I own. I can drill thru solid limestone down to about 6 foot with the 12" RAD bit in less then 15 minutes and many will go down in 5 or less. It is sweet and if your drilling in rock is the only way to go. They do make front mount augers for skidsteers but are not advisable for a tractor loader arms. I have all four tires solid filled and the tractor weighs well over 10,000 closer to 12,000 pounds, when drilling thru rock the entire hookup tractor and auger go thru some serious girations that would tweak your loader frames matter of fact with enough speed the tractor is rocking back and forth enough to almost get air under the tires. It would truly be a bad fit on the front of a tractor just to much stress. It also requires two sets of remotes one set for the hydraulic top link and the other set for the hydraulic down pressure the auger runs off the pto. This is where a skidsteer hydraulic auger really shines because with a hydraulicly driven gear box you have reverse with the pto you do not at least on most tractors. I have proven that you can get a 12" auger stuck in rock at 6' deep and also that it takes 4 men 4 hours a big adjustable wrench and an 8' cheater bar to back the auger out of a hole once its stuck, the lesson is never never let your speed drop until you are on the way back out of the hole OOPS. I'll include a picture of mine mounted sorry its not a better picture it was taken from the front for AG tax purposes showing the grapple to gather brush on the ranch.
Steve
Steve
