new PHD first and second use ...

davebar · Oct 13, 2003

The first 21 holes with the 6 inch auger on my b1550 went really easy with only about 3 holes that I couldn't get down to 2ft. the next 40 holes I couldn't get any down to 2 feet! Working in the rain a few holes I'd only get a coupla inches down before it would stop and just spin without biting. hitting the bottom of the hole with the pry bar loosened up the clay easily and turned up no rocks just hard clay or hard pan. Are there different auger bits for different type soils?? Would it help if I notched the bits to make a serated edge?? Any other ideas to get the auger more bite?? hang a weight off the arm?? Does bouncing the phd in the hole (like a pile drvr) damage the gearhead?

thanks,
dave

zuiko · Oct 13, 2003

You can get downpressure kits for a lot of PHDs. I don't know how much they are but I don't think they are too bad.

TractorTeen · Oct 13, 2003

I had looked into buying a PHD about 6 months back. I was told that the biggest thing is to get a good bit. Bits are made for different types of soil. You may not have the right type of bit for the soil you are digging in.

gsganzer · Oct 13, 2003

The best augers I've seen have replaceable cutting edges. They just bolt on to the leading edge. They're usually offset so one bites the inner diameter of the hole bottom and the other bites the outside diameter of the hole bottom. You can make your own out of some hardened steel (Local steel shop) and devise a way to bolt them on.

I made a set and just used 1/2" mild steel and "hard faced" them with the same welding rods used for "hard facing" backhoe buckets and blades. They don't need to be too sharp. They seemed to work alright, but eventually got broken by heavy rocks. I think the factory cutting edges might be carbide or similar.

Justaplain · Oct 14, 2003

Check for grass on the cutting edge. I have had that foul up the digging. bcs

Justaplain · Oct 14, 2003

Also try moving forward or backward while the auger is down and rotating. bcs

edt · Oct 14, 2003

davebar i rented one and after about 15 holes i filed down the edge of the cutting blade seem to work better
good luck edt

davebar · Oct 16, 2003

thanks for all the suggestions. I'll give 'em a try this wkend when I'm on the farm next.

dave

JFarms · Oct 17, 2003

Dave, my light weight JD 4100 (about 2500 lbs equiped) is too light to scratch my hard pan. My PHD is a Bush Hog 2100 with down pressure, adding another 150 lbs of down pressure. When my clay is soft from rain or irrigation, it easily drills a 12-inch bit 4 feet down, no down pressure needed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif But if my ground is dry, it's hard as rock and down pressure is worthless. Hard pan is worse--no amount of rain or watering helps. The PHD barely scratches hard pan no matter what time of year. So most of my drilling is planned for springtime. If I could do it again, I'd forget the downpressure. Expensive & no return I can see. I've also tried a 3000+ lb Bobcat on the hard pan and it was useless too, and just scratched it. So, IMO, hard pan takes a really heavy machine, or you do it the hard way--with a digging pole. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Best of luck. -Jonathan