Posthole Digger Post Hole Digger - slow

[Rookie2320]

Hey TBN, all of you guys have been an incredible help to me in buying my new tractor. I got a Deere 2320 about three weeks ago. Its been great - always wanted one.
My question to you is, I have a post hole digger with a 16" auger. I'm building a pole barn (gotta take care of the Deere). The PHD is slower than I would expect and I busted a shear pin today. I'm hitting some rocks, but nothing bigger than a fist. I thought this thing would simply chew threw all of that and give me a nice clean hole. Am I missing something or are there any techniques I need to know? I'm simply lowering the 3pth and letting it chew threw what it can. My first hole was only about 8" deep! I need to go to 24". Any ideas or advice is welcome. I'm new to the tractor world, but couldn't be happier to be here. Thanks.

 

[zzvyb6]

Start the hole. Then put a garden hose in it for a few minutes. Make sure the digger teeth are in good shape and installed correctly. Digger should self feed if it was working properly. Add some downforce. Make sure the 3 pt has full down release.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Hi,

Welcome to TBN.

You are having problems getting the PHD to dig in & you or a friend may be tempted to try & push it.

Do not stand near or let anyone else be near a PHD when it is running.

It may not look dangerous but people have died having been grabbed by & drawn into these slow turning machines.

OK, I've said my bit

The Bush Hog site has a PHD operator's manual in PDF file that you can download for free & may help.

http://www.bushhog.com/pdf-files/PHDC_Post_Hole_Digger.pdf

Good luck & stay safe.

 

[MikePA]

You are having problems getting the PHD to dig in & you or a friend may be tempted to try & push it.

This is also known as "adding some downforce". I agree with DPD, don't do it.

My experience is it doesn't work anyway. A sharp auger should pull itself into the hole. And get a box of shear bolts, you'll need 'em.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Some post hole diggers have a down pressure kit you can add if you have problems similar to this. Is this auger new? If not I would check the teeth and make sure they are not worn off.

 

[darkviper]

These things will turn slow for the torque that they need. a few things. Never let more than about 6" be in the ground full of soil. You will bind it up and the joys of removing one once this happens is less then missery unless you have a backhoe to dig it out. Also as some one stated stay clear of it. Never run it much above an idle. One to keep the shear load down and to give you enough time to respond if it takes a good bite all of a sudden. As far as a rock the size of your fist shearing a bolt, i have seen reall hard ground do the same. do not be alarmed. And finaly, if you are in rocky soil you can get a rock kit for most PHDs. Instead of the flat blade that you typically see on PHDs, these have teeth simmilar to that of a backhoe bucket only smaller. They are designed to help get the rocks up better. Hopes this helps.
BEFCO - Products - Mole Post hole diggers. look at the auges for these PHDs and you can see what i am talking about. Now if you have real big rocks well may the force be with you

 

[Rookie2320]

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the advice on staying clear - safety is critical, so I'll keep my distance.
I went to my dealer this morning to get some more shear pins - can you believe they did not have any! Of all things to keep in stock, you'd think they'd have a ton of them around...oh well, off to Tractor Supply this afternoon to see if I can find some.
I like the hose idea, the ground in my area is super dry right now, so that may really help.
Thanks everyone - I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[RonMar]

16" is a pretty good size auger bit for 20+ PTO HP. As mentioned above, Sharpen those teeth and lift it frequently while digging lest you pick up too much compacted soil and exceed the lift weight of your 3PH. If it is digging, lower it VERY slowly to allow it time to break up the soil, if not, ever see those screw in tent and tarp anchors? Get the right conditions and that thing will screw itself into the ground like a drywall screw. I usually guard the clutch with my foot so I can disengage the PTO quickly. Do you own a REALLY big pipe wrench? You get that auger in under the edge of a rock or root and you will need it. I have a two footer and I sometimes need a cheater bar on it to unscrew the thing(usually large roots), and it only has a 9" auger. That is the real advantage of a hydraulic auger, they typically have reverse...

 

[texasjohn]

All I can say is.... read and believe what everybody else has already said... be careful.

I think 16" is too big... suggest getting a smaller bit.. and a ROCK bit at that... check it out, there are 3 different kinds of bits. One for pure dirt/sand, one for tough dirt/roots, and one with finger kinds of pointy things for rocks... smaller diameter auger and rock tips is going to be the best, I think, for you if you have very many holes to drill.

Just to make it clear... a high school boy around here got his manhood tangled up in a PHD a few years ago... it can happen

I attach a bunch of weights, maybe 400 lbs) to my PHD using welded on brackets when I hit rock and need more pressure.

 

[bindian]

Hey TBN, all of you guys have been an incredible help to me in buying my new tractor. I got a Deere 2320 about three weeks ago. Its been great - always wanted one.
My question to you is, I have a post hole digger with a 16" auger. I'm building a pole barn (gotta take care of the Deere). The PHD is slower than I would expect and I busted a shear pin today. I'm hitting some rocks, but nothing bigger than a fist. I thought this thing would simply chew threw all of that and give me a nice clean hole. Am I missing something or are there any techniques I need to know? I'm simply lowering the 3pth and letting it chew threw what it can. My first hole was only about 8" deep! I need to go to 24". Any ideas or advice is welcome. I'm new to the tractor world, but couldn't be happier to be here. Thanks.

Rookie2320,
Do you have access to a front end loader? If so, have the bucket put down pressure on your PHD. I have heard that helps.
I also built my own pole barn. I rented a 3PH PHD for my tractor. The digger's teeth were wore out and just spun on my hard clay. Soaking helped, but I also had to use my manual post hole digger. Also, all the pole barn plans I looked at called for poles be sunk down 4 feet. Attached is a photo of my new hydraulic PHD on my backhoe. Yes, reverse is great also. I will never use a 3PH PHD again.
hugs, Brandi