Post hole digger for FEL

George2615 · Apr 5, 2014

Steve_Miller said:
:thumbdown: Not liking that idea. If I can power down i'd like to be able to power up.

Steve

That's why there is a huge price difference between a 3 pt. shaft driven PH digger and a hydraulic driven augur. Just depends how much money you want to spend to dig holes.

woodlandfarms · Apr 5, 2014

Eyup. Around $1000 all in which was double my budget. I should have thought through it when budgeting. Thought I would get used stuff but in the end had to buy all new and hoses are not cheap.

I have 18GPM at 3000PSI so the wheel motor I have is a bruiser. Surplus Center wheel motor with hub. Had all the steel cut for me at the yard but the price for cutting was negligable.

Yandaddy1110 · Apr 6, 2014

Having power down, reverse, and your head facing forward is a less frustrating way to dig post holes. If you already have a front loader, a hydraulic auger is the wat to go.

Rio_Grande · Apr 9, 2014

Woodland farms:

What displacement is your motor?

woodlandfarms · Apr 10, 2014

27 Cubic Inches. I just checked Surplus Center and they do not have them, but the do get them in stock. It came with the Hub.

Surplus Center

Steve_Miller · Apr 15, 2014

Is there a standard attachment size to post hole augers like a 2" round shaft with shear bolts, hex shaft and pin or does each manufacturers have their own configuration and connection?

Thanks
Steve

woodlandfarms · Apr 17, 2014

I used round as I could not find a hex tube but the high end hydraulic used hex. I was told because of the high torque. I do not have any rocks or other obstructions so I have not had a sheering issue yet.

Steve_Miller · Apr 17, 2014

Thanks Carl

ZAR2USA · Apr 27, 2014

http://youtu.be/8iz7ZDe8Qx8

krankieone · Apr 28, 2014

I ordered a hydraulic motor & auger from a local implement company and dropped of the design at the engineering shop to get the mounts lazer cut this morning will post some pictures up when I pick it up next week.I plan to hang the auger off the side of the bucket.

woodlandfarms · Apr 28, 2014

Sounds great. I will say I wish I had waited for cutting until the motor showed up. We got diagrams but they were not the correct ones and we had to recut the entire piece.

Steve_Miller · May 8, 2014

I have found another hydraulic motor with a lower rpm and higher torque. It's a Char Lynn with a two bolt flange face, it was leaking bad around the pressure seal so I bought a seal kit and put in it. Can I use this motor and direct couple it to the auger or will I take the small thrust bearing out of it in no time with the up & down forces that would be put on it? I'm guessing it was not made for a lot of vertical forces.

Steve

woodlandfarms · May 18, 2014

Tough answer as I am no hydraulic expert. Do you have the model number? I specifically got a wheel motor. Figured it had enough beefiness.

Actually, if the motor is cheap, why not use it and see what happens? In the end for me I don't use my PHD more than 10 times a year.

Steve_Miller · Jun 24, 2014

woodlandfarms said:
Tough answer as I am no hydraulic expert. Do you have the model number? I specifically got a wheel motor. Figured it had enough beefiness.

Actually, if the motor is cheap, why not use it and see what happens? In the end for me I don't use my PHD more than 10 times a year.

Went for it, finally made some time for this project. Just welded the rest of it up tonight and slapped her on the tractor for a test run.

1: Mount slides on beside the forks
2:Close up of the slider
3

ivots and sub frame
4:Hanging in place for the first time
5:With auger attached
6:Close up of the motor
7:A couple of holes later

Steve

Yandaddy1110 · Jun 24, 2014

Looks really nice! Good job!

Looks real simular to my build.

Only I used a truck yoke and u-joint off a drive shaft for my pivot point.

George2615 · Aug 7, 2014

Steve_Miller said:
I have found another hydraulic motor with a lower rpm and higher torque. It's a Char Lynn with a two bolt flange face, it was leaking bad around the pressure seal so I bought a seal kit and put in it. Can I use this motor and direct couple it to the auger or will I take the small thrust bearing out of it in no time with the up & down forces that would be put on it? I'm guessing it was not made for a lot of vertical forces.
Steve

Steve, I'm considering building one myself.
What model is your Char Lynn?
Is the output shaft 2" dia. or did you have to sleeve it?
What is your GPM flow rate?
Thanks

Thumbs Up Farm · Aug 9, 2014

Here you go guys, I built my hydraulic auger last year. Here is what I came up with, quite proud of it actually

.

This is using a 12 inch auger direct drive wheel motor powered from the loader power beyond through single spool valve. I mounted it on one pallet fork with a chain holding it in place. The chain in this picture was too small and broke right away. I replaced the light chain with a log chain and quick link attach and no problems since then.

I have stood the tractor up on the bit (front wheels off the ground) on top of rocks/hard dirt, pulled the back wheels off the ground when trying to pull up roots and rocks, and so far,,,, no damage. Sure glad it has a reverse!! Notice the stump right beside this hole. This thing has cut through some pretty heavy roots. :thumbsup:

woodlandfarms · Aug 10, 2014

Thumbs. Ans we have more or less the same design, could you get a close up of the attachment plate Thant goes to the wheel hub. Mine was just a pipe welded on. Clearly you did something better.

Thumbs Up Farm · Aug 10, 2014

If you click on the picture you can also zoom it up to get a closer look at the hub. I used a short 2" solid steel rod with gussets welded to a 1/2 plate for the hub attachment. You just have to be sure there is no run-out when it is put together so there is no wobble to the bit when it is turning. Your attachment to the hub looks like it should work fine. Mine may be a little overkill

The attachment to the fork is what I consider the best feature of this design. Being able to put the auger on and off easily by myself and,, being able to store it when not in use was a big consideration in my design. I can slide the rectangular tube off the tractor fork and onto a channel iron bracket mounted to a post/tree without lifting anything by hand to change it out.:thumbsup:

woodlandfarms · Aug 10, 2014

OK. Here is the killer question for everyone who has one of these.

How do you store it? I am trying to fab up some sort of stand for it and failing at every turn.