Post Hole Digger

aggc · Jan 22, 2007

Ok, I'm sold. I'm glad I'm hearing what I'm hearing because the other half of my two man auger team would have been my lovely albeit petite wife.

Next question: has anyone had any experience with the Leinbach post hole diggers? I've seen a number of them selling on eBay. They seem pretty inexpensive though and I know that is not always a good thing especially when safety is an issue.

RC51Boomer · Jan 22, 2007

sorry, got to post this. A PHD is great, when you have good dirt. I'm alittle north of you, so I have either rock or clay. And let me tell you the PHD just sits and spins on the clay. Alot of getting off the tractor with a digging bar. If I had to do it again, I'll just keep my money.

jk96 · Jan 22, 2007

Good point RC. I ran into some heavy/hard clay when putting in columns for my deck and had the same problem, even with clean cutting edges. I had to start the hole about 6" deep with a manual turn type phd and then used my tractor. Worked fine once I had a small hole to start in. A tractor with down pressure on the 3 pt would have come in handy in this situation.

Sully2 · Jan 22, 2007

RC51Boomer said:
sorry, got to post this. A PHD is great, when you have good dirt. I'm alittle north of you, so I have either rock or clay. And let me tell you the PHD just sits and spins on the clay. Alot of getting off the tractor with a digging bar. If I had to do it again, I'll just keep my money.

If the cutting "teeth" on the auger aren't good and sharp...thats all they will do is just sit on top and spin.

WayneEdgeworth · Jan 22, 2007

"Next question: has anyone had any experience with the Leinbach post hole diggers? I've seen a number of them selling on eBay. They seem pretty inexpensive though and I know that is not always a good thing especially when safety is an issue."

I bought a Leinbach digger last summer and used it behind my BX24. It worked great in the georgia clay. I did hit a few rocks with no pin shearing. I drilled probably 60 holes with no problems. You just don't get off the tractor when its operating and you'll be ok. One of the best implements I've ever bought. I did go and look at the digger before buying off ebay. Very well made.

Timber · Jan 22, 2007

Well right off the bat most quality equipment have drive shaft shields. Cutters are what makes a PHD work. Some PHDs have 1 cutter, some have 2, some have no tips or tips in any combination of blades above. A PHD is operated at low RPMs (idle speed) from the drivers seat. Now my tractor stops the auger rotation with a clutch as well but not all tractors are set up that way. Mild steal bits will dull and reduce the ability to dig. If you do not have the capability to replace the cutters and tip you will have to replace the auger. It doesn't matter were you live some holes your going to have to get off the tractor and use a bar and clam shell now and then. live in New England, It doesn't get any worse than this hear with stone and clay. Ultimately the choice is yours, They are a great tool and a must have for me. I would never be without one

jk96 · Jan 22, 2007

If the cutting "teeth" on the auger aren't good and sharp...thats all they will do is just sit on top and spin.

Two replaceable cutting edges and tip, all sharp. The type of clay I ran into was just extremely packed and solid. They used a road grader to build up almost 6' of fill dirt on this end of my building. So lots of trips and compaction. The ground is packed so hard in this area I was digging you cant even hardly get a spade shovel into the ground more than an inch at a time. No choice but to start it by hand, regardless of edge shaprness unless maybee I would have added more weight to the 3pt arms.

RC51Boomer · Jan 23, 2007

My PHD is a brand new frontier. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I don't think so. I use a shovel to take the grass off then lower into the hole, tractor never gets above idle. Goes good about 4 inches, then nothing. Raise up PHD to see a nice shine'y red clay plate. I've only done about 6 holes so I know the teeth are still sharp.

Just throwing out there "unless you have good dirt, its not an easly solution". Just wish I'd kept my money and bought another good digging bar.

Wayne what size auger you using?

WayneEdgeworth · Jan 23, 2007

I'm using a 9" auger.

ihookem · Jan 23, 2007

My phd is awsome, the only problem is when I hit clay it tends to go in like a screw and then the pto doesn't have the power to pull it out of the ground and no reverse.