Post hole diggers for L35 ?

[heero]

My L35 has a FEL(NOT QA) and T'N'T box behind(So no Backhoe.) I need to dig postholes for about half of mile of fencing in challenging terrain about 100 holes . Soil has alot of clay small rocks and shale.Also every point on the run is to some degree on the slope. Should I be looking for a PTO driven unit ,or an hydraulic one to attach to the loader bucket?
Anybody have experience with a project of this scope using a medium size Kubota ?

 

[Mahana79]

I have a L3400 and use a PTO driven Post hole digger from tractor supply. i have used both 12" and 9" bits with it. i have only had one problem while digging in very dry soil full of clay. When it bits in it really bits in and will dig. it digs so well that it over comes the 3 point hydraulics and will pull the arms down. in really hard soil i really have to take small bits with it to keep from sticking it.

 

[MarkV]

The hydraulic units are great for there ability to be reversed and mounted on a FEL allow you to apply down pressure on the auger. The down side is they are much more expensive and you will have to run extra hydraulics to the loader. Guess it ends up being a budget question.

If this will be a one time project you could most likely get the holes drilled by someone for less than it would cost for the equipment. Fence companies in this area often us a skid steer with tracks to get to difficult places and have a hydraulic auger mounted on the front.

MarkV

 

[Timber]

I grew up on a farm and I was Dads post hole digger threw my childhood. I have miles of post hole digging experience under me. I consider a post hole digger a very important piece of equipment. It is a digger so it is subject to some sever stress. If you going to purchase 1 buy something quality like a woods or a land-pride and they are not cheep. That said if this is a 1 time event rent one. A post drill has many uses such as planting trees and shrub. Animals are pretty tough on fencing especially large breed so there is a lot of fence mending. You want a drill with replaceable tips and blades, I also recommend a drill with 2 blades and not 1. You do not have a tach all on your loader so a fell hydraulic is not an option nor necessary. I would recommend a PTO driven and you will be fine. If you feel you need down pressure there is an attachment for your PHD. Now hear is the real deal regardless of what you buy. The PHD is only 1 tool in post hole digging. You still need bars, tampers, a clam shell and a spade. Some of your holes you can drill and just clean out the bottom and many you going to have to get off your tractor and hook out your stones. That is the real deal. So invest well and spend a grand on a quality digger, $500 on garbage is still garbage and frustration

 

[Fjord]

When we first got our property 10 years ago, I needed 90 holes and didn't have a tractor . I laid out exactly where each hole was to go with a small stake and then hired a guy with a hydraulic unit on a small tractor and he had them all done in less than 4 hours for $4 a hole (late october so clay was really wet and soft). After I got my first tractor (the old IH 300) I bought my own post hole auger.Like Timber says it's handy to have around for making additional paddocks, or repairing fence, adding gates etc. After I lent out(and lost track of) my good tamping bar I made one by welding an old sledgehammer head on to a T-stake. It seems small enough to fit in between the hole and post and heavy enough. My auger is only 9" but it suits the size of posts that I use. If your posts are small don't use a big auger or you'll just have more tamping.If it looks like it's going to be fun do it yourself. If time constraints are going to make it frustrating and stressful hire it out - you'll still have lots of time to play later.

 

[bialecki]

Can a 12" auger with a PHD be used to set Sonotube forms (round concrete forms) sufficiently to a depth of ~42"? Does a 12" auger bore exactly a 12" hole or something a bit less, meaning a 12" auger would bore a hole of a sufficient size for a 9" Sonotube.

Thanks

 

[Mahana79]

Can a 12" auger with a PHD be used to set Sonotube forms (round concrete forms) sufficiently to a depth of ~42"? Does a 12" auger bore exactly a 12" hole or something a bit less, meaning a 12" auger would bore a hole of a sufficient size for a 9" Sonotube.

Thanks

I think that would depend on the soil. Where im at now it is real sandy. my 12" auger ends up making a hole about 13" maybe after all the dirt has fallen in. Depth wise a 48" bit should do 42" i have sanken it to the gearbox and that makes for one heck of a hole

 

[heero]

thanks for all the useful information. I'm still unclear on the slope factor. How Can I get a vertical hole in hilly terrain where the tractor may be not be on the level (side to side) And the slope is also unfavorable. Will the Top and Tilt work for me ? As you can tell, I am new to tractoring !

 

[Timber]

Sure you can get a vertical hole. That has to do with tractor placement. set the tip of the drill and back up or move forward. Set your brake and drop your loader. I personally use a 9 inch auger bit for everything. I would rather have my holes tight and shave them were I need them. Planting trees I just punch holes and dig them out