Posthole Digger Northern Tool Auger Replacement Parts?!

[piaffepony]

I bought the NorTrac 3-Pt 12” Post Hole Auger 2 years ago (paid $770 for it too). I’ve dug 20-25 holes with it and it’s no longer digging.

Northern tool doesn’t sell any replacement parts in store. I had to call customer service and they only sold the replacement side blades... not the tips! They’d only sell the whole auger bit for $250! You can get replacement blades and tips for TSC brand for $50... so I’m pretty pi$$ed. Does anyone know of another brand of auger bits that will fit the NorTrac frame? If I have to spend $$$ on a new bit, I’d like to get one that I can buy smaller replacement parts for.

FWIW, I tried all the tricks I know of.... pilot hole, the soil was plenty moist, adjusted the linkage on the auger itself and on the tractor to try and get more downward pressure.... No go. I took the blades off and tried to sharpen them. Nope. I unscrewed the tip and tried to kind of sharpen/smooth it a bit to see if that helped and still didn’t work.

 

[Mat4644]

Do you have a tractor that can apply 3pt down pressure? We don't and often had to add at least 100 pounds to the auger to dig in some conditions. TSC brand auger. Looks like you already tried the pilot hole and the cutting edge isn't damaged.

 

[piaffepony]

Do you have a tractor that can apply 3pt down pressure? We don't and often had to add at least 100 pounds to the auger to dig in some conditions. TSC brand auger. Looks like you already tried the pilot hole and the cutting edge isn't damaged.

Other then adjusting the linkage height and lowering it all the way... no. What’s the easiest way to add more weight?

I’m replacing rotted, round wood fence posts that my ex husband installed incorrectly as they break so it had no problems digging in the same area before. Last year, the last hole I dug hit some large tree roots. It didn’t get stuck or anything, but it hasn’t dug since. It turns just fine but won’t go down.

 

[Mat4644]

I have an old Cub wheel weight that fits perfectly on the gear head and doesn't interfere. Others use weight lifting plates. Make sure your 3 pt descend valve is open enough. Mine wouldn't cut in some conditions without the added weight. Keep the cutting edge clean from vegetation.

Internet photo

 

[RjCorazza]

My old 3 point auger stopped drilling well after doing my 55 post holes. I was fortunate in that I bought replacement teeth and tip when I bought the auger from a now defunct company. It's likely the cutting teeth are the same (or similar enough) to bolt on replacements from another company like TSC. The tip could be the same also, or at least fabbed to fit.
I would take the auger to a farm supply type store and see what may fit. Anyway, my issue was 100% the auger tip wasn't pulling the auger into new soil, and it didn't look very "worn out" to me.

20 years later, my fence needs replacing so I bought an ssqa hydraulic auger to do the holes. I haven't started the job yet, but it should be a lot easier than the first time around.

 

[mred2]

I just had to replace the tip and blades on my auger. TSC had at least 2 different types/sizes. Their tip and blades fit my 12 year old auger without a problem.