Post Hole Digger

[cbarlandandcattleco]

I have a 1970 Ford 3000 with a Ford Post hole digger attached. Trying to dig holes in sandy clay land and the digger goes down one foot and just set's there and goes around and around and will not go down any more. I even got on top of the digger when it was going around and that did not help. Any suggestions for this Newby trying to re-fence a plot of land that has not had any attention for over 40 years.

 

[john40981]

what condition are the cutting teeth on the bottom of the auger in?? In hard ground it can be very difficult to get it to continue cutting and dig deeper. I have a long steel pole that I put into the frame at the back and put all my weight on it to give more down pressure, works most times. So load it up with weight.
The best is to have a tractor that has 3pl with down pressure or a post hole digger with powered down pressure.
Be very careful of the PTO shaft if you are crawling on top of the digger. Lots of very serious injuries getting tangled up in them, make sure you have a safety guard enclosing the shaft to be safe.

 

[scesnick]

. I have a long steel pole that I put into the frame at the back and put all my weight on it to give more down pressure, works most times. .

I do the exact same thing.

 

[cgood]

My post hole digger has several adjustments for different size/height tractors. If I don't have it adjusted right the depth of the auger doesn't coincide with the full travel of the three point hitch,if that makes sense.

 

[farmall 55a case]

If you have a loader you can put slight down pressure on it. By doing that and raising your front wheel off of the ground it will put more pressure on your three point hitch!

 

[mikehaugen]

If you have a loader you can put slight down pressure on it. By doing that and raising your front wheel off of the ground it will put more pressure on your three point hitch!

How does this work? Mine (and I think most) will not put any downward pressure... you can lift up on the 3 point anytime. If you lift the front of the tractor, the 3pt will also lift, not applying any more downward pressure.

 

[farmall 55a case]

How does this work? Mine (and I think most) will not put any downward pressure... you can lift up on the 3 point anytime. If you lift the front of the tractor, the 3pt will also lift, not applying any more downward pressure.

Not really sure! Ive only done it once! It wouldn't go so I just picked the front up with the loader and it started going in the ground! I understand what your saying tho! Now I'm confused! ??

 

[scesnick]

If you have a lot of fence posts to put in, don't waste your time with a 3pt. post hole auger, go rent a skid steer with the hydraulic auger on the front of the machine.

 

[cbarlandandcattleco]

Thanks Guys for the response. I think I will try a smaller auger and a long pry bar, see if that works. The ground is not too hard, Poor boy can't afford to rent a skid steer. Have 51 acres to fence in. Thought about pouring water in the hole to see if that would help. Thanks again

 

[bcp]

Not really sure! Ive only done it once! It wouldn't go so I just picked the front up with the loader and it started going in the ground! I understand what your saying tho! Now I'm confused! ??

Probably changed the auger angle a bit so it was cutting on only part of the hole bottom and it got a better bite.

Bruce

 

[buickanddeere]

If you have a loader you can put slight down pressure on it. By doing that and raising your front wheel off of the ground it will put more pressure on your three point hitch!

You Drunk ?

 

[buickanddeere]

I have a 1970 Ford 3000 with a Ford Post hole digger attached. Trying to dig holes in sandy clay land and the digger goes down one foot and just set's there and goes around and around and will not go down any more. I even got on top of the digger when it was going around and that did not help. Any suggestions for this Newby trying to re-fence a plot of land that has not had any attention for over 40 years.

Don't need to worry about a post hole digger with limbs ripped off or dead.

 

[kg7il]

Some general comments on this thread.
I bought a PHD because a rental has a time limit and I don't work as fast as I used to.
I have some area with clay and the teeth need to be cleaned regularly. Drill Clean Drill Clean. just the way it is.
I have a lever/arm but with my shutoff switch, I have to stay in the saddle. Most of the holes have been drilled by my lonesome.

 

[Soggy Bottom Outdoors]

I changed my center screw shaped bit to a "whale tailed" or "fish-tailed" shaped. That helped. Replaced teeth. I can only get 200-300 holes out of a set of teeth. I also added a bracket were I can add "suit case" front tractor weights to it. Safer than the pry bar or standing on the digger. My Case 830 does have "down pressure" and it really helps. I have used the "Pull up and Back Up" method to help the auger "get a bite" it helps to but does egg shape the hole. Be safe.

 

[trktrman]

You Drunk ?

HAHA! I was wondering the same exact thing.

 

[Ken45101]

Are you hitting a buried rock? What you describe is exactly what happens when the PHD hits a rock. At that point, you can try another spot and hope, or clean out the hole and start digging with a spud bar I have one fence post in that took me four hours to get the hole dug

Most 3pt PHDs are not designed for rock infested holes. The skid steer augers can be bought with rock tips.

The other alternative is a post driver. Not cheap but less costly than a skid steer combo. It has the big advantage of putting in a solid post that doesn't need all the backfill work. I've watched a contractor put in posts that way for a neighbor. Geesh, how nice!