Post Hole Digger - if stuck

[Devildog]

Nice looking digger Charles.

I just dug about 50 post holes this weekend and hung the auger up twice. Since I didnt have my trusty pipwrench handy I kept some pressure up on the 3pt and rocked the tractor back and fourth and it inched up out slowly. I dont like doing it this way cause Im afraid ill bend my auger but it worked when we were hung up.

 

[hilld]

The Posthole digger - mines a Mcmillen, but a couple of other comapnies make them - takes 5 gpm or so. You have to have hydraulics run forward, which I do for my grapple. A diverter off the FEL would work I assume.

The digger mounts on a QA plate, so it should be easier to get on and off than a 3 pt, which is evidently a pain. Since its on the FEL, you can apply down pressure, which the reuglar 3 point doesnt have.

I'll try for a picture, but I've enver done it before

So what did that PHD cost you?

Derek

 

[Raddad]

I use a Jackall 8000. It's a big bumper jack. I put it under the 3 point or chain it to the auger.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200310544_200310544

 

[Charlesaf3]

So what did that PHD cost you?

Derek

$1700 for the drive, $283 for a 12" auger. Also got a 24" auger for planting.

I already had remote hydraulics running forward.

 

[Raddad]

How fast can you spin the auger. McMillen has a specification of 15 or 20 gal/min to get good speed out of an auger. I believe a fast auger speed helps it get stuck less often.

McMillen

 

[johnk]

Charlesaf3,
If you don't mind asking;;;; How much did that Rascal run you? What is that frame where your bucket goes? Did that come with it? Looks like it will sure do the job...

 

[Raddad]

I couldn't stop thinking about the speed of my augger so I looked it up on the Land Pride site. I think at 5 gal/min your spinning the auger at 20 rpm. On a Land Pride 3pt post hole digger running at 300 rpm from the pto its spinning the auger at 100 rpm. For large augers I slow mine down but for my 9" I spin it at 100rpm. I have only gotten it stuck on roots other than the time I got it too close to the fence when replacing posts on an existing fence. Regardless of the post hole digger, changing fence and posts in an existing fence row full of trees and shrubs is one of the worst jobs I have. Fortunately I don't have any pictures of that self imposed disaster.

 

[Charolais]

If your tractor has a ground speed PTO you can jack the rear wheels off the ground, engage the GSPTO, put the tractor in reverse and back/reverse the auger out of the hole. MF,Long and Farmtrac have ground speed PTO and I'm sure there are a few other brands as well.

This also works on pull type combines, hay conditioners and round balers if you get the pick up plugged with crop. You can just back up and back the plug out.

The ground speed PTO isn't used often but I sure like to know it's there when I need it.

 

[The Gardener]

It sure is! Impressive.

As a complete novice, I just need a little more help with this option. Aside from the advantage of downward pressure, does the hydraulic connection also allow for a reverse direction on the auger's spin?

If not, besides the easy, QA attachment [which looks terrific] and the downward pressure, are there other advantage(s) that this design has over the PTO design?

I must say that unit pictured is amazing.

Thanks!
The Gardener

 

[crazymike]

for those of you interested in the hydraulic, I second that notion.

I just set up a tractor for a customer with front mount hydraulics and a quick attach plate.

The front mount hydraulics are just two hoses run from the rear remotes.

The front remotes I put on male/female bobcat quick couplers. The quick attach plate is also bobcat.

This allows the customer to go to any rent-all place and rent bobcat attachments for their tractor. This customers main use was a hydraulic sweeper. However, they can now attach any number of rented pieces of equipment.

hydraulic post hole digger
hydraulic front mount bush hog
tree shear
front mount snowblower
concrete breaker
hydraulic chipper

then, with the quick attach you can rent pallet forks, etc...

Aswell, there is a huge market of used skid steer implements.

 

[ridgerunnerinwv]

I was wondering how do you escape a difficult scenario should a PTO powered, Post Hole Digger get stuck in the hole? Is there anything that can be done other than a hand shovel solution?

If it drilled into clay or somehow lodged itself within a collection of smaller rocks, I am unsure how you would free it.

What prevents a tractor PTO from having a reverse? Is it simply impossible to design? I ask because that would certainly eliminate most of the concerns regarding a Post Hole Digger becoming stuck.

Thanks,
The Gardener

The pipewrench sounds like a good idea,you have to be careful using the hydraulics to lift or you can bend the auger.

 

[Charlesaf3]

runs slow in fact - 36 RPM or so. But much more force as a result. Which is why it can handle a 24" bit. But yes, it is reversible - thats a big part of the attraction.

see the pdf brochure here
http://www.mcmillenattachments.com/_includes/fileblob.asp?I=243&table=product&ext=pdf&name=Mc%20BROC%2075%20Series.pdf


Crazy mike - that's more or less how Messicks set mine up.

 

[hilld]

$1700 for the drive, $283 for a 12" auger. Also got a 24" auger for planting.

I already had remote hydraulics running forward.

Thanks for the info, I tried googling the unit and couldn't find a price, only specs. I already have a QA bucket and front hydraulics for my grapple, I need to call the bobcat dealer to see if they rent one, so I can "try before I buy". Usually they will credit you the rental fee towards a purchase so sometimes that works out just fine.

As far as speed, while it is slower, sometimes that is better. Similar to drilling in metal, you don't want high speed, as a matter of fact you want a lower speed combined with cooling so the bit doesn't overheat and does a better job of cutting. I do like the fact that you can put some serious downward pressure with the loader arms, compared to the gravity weight of a 3pt auger.

I did notice that on the McMillen site they had all sorts of augers, once especially for rock, have you seen that one? Does it work as advertised, I have a lot of rock, but would also be doing some "drilling" in just plain dirt. If they make an auger that is the jack of all trades, that would be something to look at.

Thanks for the info.

Derek

 

[3RRL]

Wow,
That hydraulic PHD you have is really good looking and seems rugged too. However, it's expensive when you add everything up. Looks like you got over $2200 with your set up, and that probably doesn't include a couple more hundred bucks for shipping (for a lot of us). If you don't have the front hydraulics, you're looking at another $1,000 bucks or so to get that set up too.

When I bought my Leinbach 7300 including auger, it cost me $400 as an add-on with the tractor purchase. That's a far cry from having your set up plus adding the tractor hydraulics up front. With that said, If I knew I was going to have front hydraulics set up, and a great need for the PHD, I might have considered it up front. I just didn't know any better then. Nevertheless, it's a lot of money altogether though. Since I already have one, it would take a lot to get another hydraulic one now.

About running the PHD, I find slower rpm to be better and safer. The pipe wrench is a good alternative if you are not in the business of installing post holes. I also try to ease the auger in to keep it from getting stuck. Going slow helps, but generally it's too late. I end up snapping the shear bolt before I realize it's getting stuck, even at slow speeds. Back to the thread question ... I wonder if I can build or buy a reversing tranny that hooks on to the tractor PTO? If it costs me $500 bucks, I'd be money ahead. I could buy all the posts and wire with the $2,000 bucks I've saved?
...Just a thought?

 

[The Gardener]

Thank You for the McMillen link. No doubt, you have made a GREAT selection for your PHD. Now that I understand the attachment better, there is no question that a "reverse direction" is a major plus. I would most certainly opt for the Hydraulic version.

Again, Thanks!
The Gardener

 

[Charlesaf3]

Expensive, true. But comparing it to a woods or such PHD it isn't as bad - much worse than leinbach or TSC though. But I decided the down pressure, reversing, fewer sheer pins sheered, greater power/torque, and having it on the front all made it worth it.

The ideal would be to rent it as needed, of course, but no one around me rents low flow bobcat stuff.

I'll post a review of it after I've used it for a while.

 

[sparky2terra]

I'm a newbie to compact tractors and have been lurking in TBN for a while ... trying to determine my implement requirements which will ultimately translate to requirements for a new tractor purchase. This thread caught my eye.

I plan to install a fence on land with rock, clay, and generally hard soil. I've determined that I'll need a hydraulic PHD for the reversable capability, and am interested in ensuring enough down-pressure. I've been tracking the FEL-attached hydraulic PHD idea, and know it'll work well. However, my concern is visibilty. How much visibilty do you really have with the PHD mounted to a FEL when the tractor-engine is in the way? If a tractor has a backhoe (hydraulics already available), I'd think the visibilty and placement-capability would be much much better with a BH-mounted hyrdaulic PHD. So, now this raises the issue of loss-of down-pressure.

Does anyone have any thoughts on pros/cons of FEL vs BH mounted hydraulic PHD attachments?

 

[AlanB]

Just a thought for you guys,

Most folks on here have a "BIG" project to do with a PHD, then numerous smaller one's to do.

For our money, I would reccomend that you just get a fairly cheap, standard 3ph model to do the day in day out jobs.

When you have that "big" project, such as that long fenceline through hard terrain that you are going to jump on and start working straight through. Go rent a Bobcat with the hydraulic auger attachment.

I have seen several of the hydraulic units mounted to the side of the bucket on a standard tractor, This was done I am sure to address the visibility issue.

I would not want to sideload my loader that much constantly.

In the FWIW this is one of the things that a bobcat really shines at and man can you move putting in post holes with a bob and hyd auger.

 

[Raddad]

Visability is why they mount them on the side of the bucket. To side load the bucket with that kind of stress you need a very strong tractor. I am not aware of a CUT with the hydraulic capacity to handel a hydraulic driven post hole digger. 5gal/min spins them at 20 RPM. Too solw for me unless it's a huge augger. Look at the specs. from the manufacturer. They specify 15 to 20 gal/min. They are intended for very big tractors and skid loaders.

 

[JerryG]

Danuser is a very good brand of auger. I have a post driver that is a Danuser and know several people that own their augers and they are top notch. They offer a hydraulic auger that requires as little as 5 gpm. If it is anything like the driver that I have it would be a very good unit.Model 8300 Specifications