Posthole Digger PHD Help.....Please

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Guys,
Im lookin for a little bit of advice on a PHD. The unit will be used on my Massey 1040 for occasional post hole work, probablly 6" posts so I would want the 9" auger. The other use would be to plant a bunch of small pine trees so Im thinking about getting the 12 " extra auger also ! I put in about 50 small trees last year and did it by hand ! It took me a full day to stand up straight again !

I know a lot of you have had very good luck with Leinbach and I just spotted this site with free shipping, I like free ! Do you think the 7200 model will suffice for my light duty requirements ? Here is a link to the site I was looking at. Thanks !

BTW my neighbor and friend Dennis Bialecki offered the use of his but Im not really big on borrowing !
Tractor Augers, Post Hole Diggers, Tractor Auger Bits

 

[ToadHill]

Just a tip, as an older guy with a bad back. I plant about 200 seedlings each year on the farm. I use a planting bar and the local boy scout troop. They help me plant and they get credit toward their forestry merit badge. With about 10 scouts each year, we get done in about 2.5 hours and the rest of the day we spend in the woods doing tree ID and I teach them about tree felling. They get a demonstration on chainsaw safety and how to fell trees in the direction you want them to go.

They enjoy the day and I have a lot of fun as well.

 

[Timber]

I have a Landpride but I use it all the time for a lot of things but that just my mindset. If the only auger I was going to buy it would be the 9" but as a 2nd one the 12" would be the next 1. I don't really know what your question is but it will do everything you mentioned. I will say though it is 1 tool of many needed for digging holes. Don't think just because you have a PHD that your Shovel and clamshell are going to collect dust

 

[gerard]

For occasional use I wouldn't spend a ton of money. I bought a pretty cheap one at tractor supply ($500 new w/ 9inch auger) and it works fine for light use. As long as you're dilligent about raising the auger while drilling to clear the dirt and try not to stop the rotation while it's "buried" you'll do fine. (Of course when you snap a shear pin you have no choice!). I've had some holes take 1 minute and some take 15 and several shear pins. All depends on the rocks. Oh and one more tip - if digging a hole in grass, always remove the grass layer first with a shovel. While you would think it would dig right through, what happens is the grass wraps around the tip and prevents it from cutting into the soil. Many times I've had the auger turning and going no where until I lifted it up, cleaned the grass off the cutting tip and set it back down. Then just keep the cutting edges sharp, that makes a big difference too.

 

[Double Orange]

Scott, If you have access to a wielder, put a bead along the edge of the spiral on the auger. 50 holes from now she'll still look new.

 

[mjarrels]

Scott,

I have a 14" auger on my Danuser and it seems to work well for many task.

mark

 

[gotrocks]

I bought my Leinbach in '95 and paid $446 with 12" bit.
Never have sheared a pin, have gotten it stuck, (get out the BIG pipe wrench) and had to unscrew by hand.
I usually run my B-2910 at idle speed when using.
After many holes in all kinds of soil the cutting edge wore out.
Called Leinbach and they UPS a new one for fair price.
I would not purchase anything but the 12". That will give some room for adjustment of posts.

I have used mine to break up new flower beds, just drill side by side by side.............

Last one, I thought deeper would be better..... all of a sudden up come water blowing all over the place. Oops, forgot I had run a 1 1/4 pvc pipe to the pond.

I forgot to mention find a place to hang it up when not in use.

 

[UpstateSC_Papi]

Scott, If you have access to a wielder, put a bead along the edge of the spiral on the auger. 50 holes from now she'll still look new.

Got a pic of this? Not picturing it in my feeble lil' mind...

Michael

 

[Double Orange]

Got a pic of this? Not picturing it in my feeble lil' mind...

Michael

Mike, My camera is in Florida with wife visiting grand kids for Easter.

On the outer edge of the auger starting at the bottom. Putting a wield will re-inforce the streght of the metal.

 

[scott_vt]

Mike, My camera is in Florida with wife visiting grand kids for Easter.

On the outer edge of the auger starting at the bottom. Putting a wield will re-inforce the streght of the metal.

Afternoon Double Orange,
Thanks for that tip !!! Im still lookin around on price and would like to buy just the 12" auger with it as another poster suggested. Im definitetly not digging another 50 holes by hand again !

 

[teg]

"free shipping"??? I bought that one from the Leinbach store for $360 for 12" auger, last fall. I went in with another guy so it was half of that. "...offered the use of his but Im not really big on borrowing..." ask him if you could pay half for it? The guy I went in half with, was more then happy to let me store it .

 

[gerard]

I bought my Leinbach in '95 and paid $446 with 12" bit.
Never have sheared a pin, have gotten it stuck, (get out the BIG pipe wrench) and had to unscrew by hand.

You gotta have the best soil I've ever heard of. I have times I go though a couple of shear pins on one hole!! They do shear pretty easy but then they're supposed to. Probably should have gone with a slip clutch - would have saved a lot of time!

 

[gotrocks]

You gotta have the best soil I've ever heard of. I have times I go though a couple of shear pins on one hole!! They do shear pretty easy but then they're supposed to. Probably should have gone with a slip clutch - would have saved a lot of time!

Did I mention that I usually run PH at idle speed. That way if it hits a tough root/rock the engine stalls unless I hit the clutch quick enough?

I suppose if I had it reved and it hit something the pin would shear before I could hit the clutch.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Guys,
I just bought myself a little present ! I just ordered the Leinbach 7300-12 for my MF 1040, the fella on the phone was very helpful and said that machine is a perfect match for that PHD. I should have it next week, and will let you know how it works out !

Just thought I would update this thread with what I actually bought, it sure gotta beat diggin by hand !

Leinbach Post Hole Digger LB-7300

 

[UpstateSC_Papi]

Congrats!

Let us know how it works for you!

 

[scott_vt]

I bought my Leinbach in '95 and paid $446 with 12" bit.
Never have sheared a pin, have gotten it stuck, (get out the BIG pipe wrench) and had to unscrew by hand.
I usually run my B-2910 at idle speed when using.
After many holes in all kinds of soil the cutting edge wore out.
Called Leinbach and they UPS a new one for fair price.
I would not purchase anything but the 12". That will give some room for adjustment of posts.

I have used mine to break up new flower beds, just drill side by side by side.............

Last one, I thought deeper would be better..... all of a sudden up come water blowing all over the place. Oops, forgot I had run a 1 1/4 pvc pipe to the pond.

I forgot to mention find a place to hang it up when not in use.

View attachment 98642

Good Mornin Guys,
Just one last followup on this PHD thread. I did purchase the Leinbach 7300 unit, I didnt want to post any kind of review until I really had a chance to test this unit out and and try it in some different applications ! When I first got it I planted a bunch of small pine trees, spelled fairly shallow hole, but with the 12" auger I found it was the ticket for numerous plantings ! As a side note, you can take a piece of chalk and mark the bottom of the rear tire, make one revolution and drop that PHD in the ground again for the next tree ! Dont forget to tighten your lower arm turnbuckles !

My second project was planting a bunch of split rail fence on various parts of the property ! I was cruising along just great, when my Uncle Dave arrives up the driveway and says, why not a couple of sections in front of the shed for a hitching post ! OK Uncle Dave, no problem, as soon as he leaves my PHD started drillin for China ! I coulnt get that thing outta the ground no how ! But some where in my memory banks, someone ( Gotrocks) said get a big pipewrench ! Well a bit of sweat, but that method does indeed work ! Thanks TBN and Gotrocks !!!


All in all I am very happy with this unit, it has done everything I have thrown it at it to date ! I would defintely reccommend this unit, the 7300 is well matched to the Massey 1040, and the previous link that I provided on where I bought the unit from were helpful and curtious !

Here are a couple of shots from my latest adventure, the post holes ranged about 2 to 2 1/2' deep that is until I started drilling for China !

BTW I have purchased some extra shear bolts from True Value, money well spent !

 

[shimp]

scotty

thanks for the update on the phd, looks like its a real tuff outfit.

glad its worked good for you

 

[dtd24]

I really like the weld bead idea on the edge of the auger. I think I may have to head over to my step dad's metal shop!!!

 

[pitt_md]

For occasional use I wouldn't spend a ton of money. I bought a pretty cheap one at tractor supply ($500 new w/ 9inch auger) and it works fine for light use.

I have to agree with this. For what you intend to do you do not need to spend a lot of money. I have a TSC PHD and I put in a whole lot of fence already and its worked great. My soil is not to rocky so I have only busted one shear pin in the process.