Posthole Digger my new post hole digger

[OkeeDon]

Nothing special about my new post hole digger unless someone happens to be looking for a little basic info.

I bought a Leinbach Model 7400 from Corriher Implements in Newton, NC (they advertise on this forum). It came with a 9" auger and I added a 6" and a 12" auger. The Phd with one auger was $400; the additional augers were $80 and $100, for a total of $580. I happened to be on my way to our cabin in the northwestern corner of NC, so I was able to swing through Newton (near Hickory) and pick them up, saving freight. The also had me sign a statement that I was picking it up for delivery out of state, saving me the NC tax. Florida has a Use Tax, and I'll declare the purchase and pay the Use Tax, Real Soon Now, when I get a round Tuit.

 

[OkeeDon]

The folks at Corriher assured me it would fit on my TC18, but I don't think they've actually tried it. When I first mounted it, the 3 point hitch would not lift it high enough for the auger to clear the ground (this picture is after I had it modified). We knew it would work because we used a come-along to lift it a bit higher, positioned it where we wanted a hole, and let it down, first with the come-along, then with the 3ph control. But, I had to figure a way to get it higher when lifted. The problem is simply that that TC18 is a small tractor, the wheels are a bit smaller than most, and the 3ph is simply closer to the ground than larger tractors.

 

[OkeeDon]

Leinbach and others make a special model for compact tractors, but Corriher did not have them, and the other places I found were more expensive and further away.

So, I did some measuring, and found that if I extended the length of the yoke that actually does the lifting by about 4", it would lift the auger with more than enough clearance. I took the yoke to a local fabrication shop, and they removed the factory angles at the bottom of the tube and welded on longer angles, then redrilled the holes for the category 1 pins. The holes are now 4" lower than it was originally, so the back of the boom lifts almost 10" higher.

 

[OkeeDon]

So far, so good, The auger has more than enough clearance, and the boom can be lowered enough to bury the gearbox, so there is no limitation on the depth. Some of the models for compact tractors sacrifice the depth of the hole with a shorter auger in order to fit; I didn't want that compromise if it wasn't necessary. The modification seems to be strong enough, but if I see it bending, I'll take it back and have the sides reinforced.

The modification cost $102.50 including tax, so my total investment is now $682.50 for the phd and 3 augers, still less than other brands/locations.

Florida sand is extremely easy to bore, with no rocks or other impediments, the toughest thing I'll come up against are roots. So, I didn't need the assurance of buying one of the supposedly heavier-duty brands. I haven't heard anyone complaining about the Leinbach units in any conditions, regardless.

We'll use the 6" auger for 4"x4" posts and 3" round fence posts; the 9" auger for 7" - 8" round corner posts, and the 12" auger for landscape planting. My health will not let me dig with a shovel or use a manual phd or wrestle a gas-auger, so this purchase was easily justified.

 

[SCB]

OkeeDon,
Glad you got it to work for you. I recently bought the leinbach 7400JR model for my bx. It worked with out the modification. Just wanted to let others know what the model was that fits the smaller tractors.

 

[BobG_in_VA]

You can buy "short" augers. Instead of the 42" or so standard auger length, we have one that is about 32 or 36". No problems even with 3pt hitch that doesn't go up that much. BobG in VA

 

[ducati996]

My impression is its the curvature of the boom pole that makes or breaks it on smaller compacts.....If you look at the link, you will see the aggressive curve on the pole

I have a Green mfg or also known as Greenline. I use it on my JD 4100 (clone to the 4110 for reference) and it fits perfectly with a 42" auger ....the model is a EM5000

They have samller models for the smaller compacts - like a 2210 or BX series and it will fit those as well
Pricing at the time was good and competitive, the unit is well made along with the auger having replacable teeth

Green MFG

 

[Inspector507]

I had never tried my old SpeeCo(TSC) post hole digger on my TC18 until 2 weeks ago. My wife came home and asked if I could dig 40 or so holes for a co-worker. I didn't even know if it would fit on the TC18. It fit pretty good and had about 4-6" of clearance with a standard length auger. I tried a few test holes no problem. Didn't even get to go over to his house and punch holes, his neighbor did it /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

So, a PHD from TSC will fit a TC18 as well.

 

[fig]

Don,

Leinbach is just up the road about 45 minutes from me. They make just about anything 3ph related. You could put a strap on the unit to hold the auger up (pulled towards tractor) and out of the way a little can't you? That would give you a little more clearence when traveling.

Fig

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> You could put a strap on the unit to hold the auger up (pulled towards tractor) and out of the way a little can't you? That would give you a little more clearence when traveling. </font>

We actually tried that, with a tie-down strap at first and later a come-along. It lifted it high enough for travel, but it was a real bear letting it down and pulling it up for each hole. I expect to use it first for replacing over 60 fence posts, and later for planting a lot of shrubs and small trees. In order to be efficient, I have to be able to back up to the hole location, drill, pull up, and move to the next location without leaving my seat. My son-in-law will be "planting" the fence posts behind me and tamping in the holes; my wife will help me in the same way with the plants.

 

[Mike_C]

There is one thing wrong with it.... it's not on my tractor!

nice, nice...

 

[Dargo]

I sort of ran down the Lienbach 7400 PHD after I bought mine. With around 45 hp PTO, I kept breaking shear bolts. I put in a grade 5 and then twisted the 12" auger in half. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I've since put in a slip clutch and got me a couple of new augers. Now, I have to brag that it is a pretty darn good auger for the price. I paid $375 for the new PHD with a 12" auger. I've now drilled over 5000 holes with it, and it's still going strong. Have at it!!

 

[FL_Cracker]

5000 holes, your place must look like swiss cheese.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> With around 45 hp PTO, I kept breaking shear bolts. </font>

That leads to a story that could be funny if it wasn't so embarrasing. I've never used a tractor-mounted PHD before. Heck, I've never even seen a tractor-mounted PHD before, except in pictures. So, I tried my first hole. I gently lowered the boom until the tip of the auger was positioned where I wanted it. Then, I engaged the PTO. Next, I lowered the control lever for the 3PH. I didn't let it go down really fast, but I didn't make it slow, either.

Well, the auger screwed itself right down into the ground in about a lickety-split, and quit. Almost stalled the tractor -- I had to throw in the clutch Real Fast to keep it running. I let the clutch out a little -- almost stalled. The auger would turn about 1/4 revolution and stop.

My 15 PTO horsepower just wasn't enough to even think about breaking the shear pin, let alone hurt the auger. It wasn't powerful enough to keep the auger spinning, even in our soft sand.

Now what to do? That thing was screwed in there! The 3PH hydraulics weren't strong enough to pull it up, and the horsepower was enough to get it spinning and break it free.

I resorted to gently rocking back and forth, making the hole larger in at least 2 directions. Finally, I wiggled it enough that it wasn't trapped by it's own threads any longer. I engaged the PTO again, and this time it spun, and I could lift it.

I've learned to take smaller bites. Let the auger down in the hole a little, let it spin, pull it up to free the dirt, and next time go a little deeper, and keep repeating until I geet it as deep as I want it. As long as I keep scouring the hole with the up-and-down motion, it does a great job.

At least I know I'll never break a shear pin... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[davidseaquist]

I bought the Leinbach L 7200 JR post hole digger with the 12" auger. I have used it on my b7100 I have only drilled about 10 holes. The tractor is something like 16 hp. I have stalled the tractor drilling holes and broke about 8 grade 2 shear bolts. I raised up the rpm's some to get more power to the pto. My soil has clay and rocks and shale. sometimes when I tried to drill holes the auger spun around the ground in a 2' circle before it dug in. the angle is pretty steep for the top u joint that connects into the gear box. I think it is a good unit for the money David.

 

[lmiller]

Don

I have the same PHD and have the same height problem on my B7800. Nice fix. I'll be welding on some longer tabs in the near future.
I'm still trying to figure out 3pt hitch geometry, I tried moving the bolt at the top of the boom, but the only result was a sore back /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Did you have to change the length of the pto shaft?

Lou