Posthole Digger Vehicle rear end is post hole auger

[Farmerford]

Mousefield:

That looks like a Ford 9" rear axle, which has a straddle mounted pinion and is one of the strongest car/pickup axles made. Ford made millions from the 1950's through the 1980's or later. It will probably take close to 1,000 foot pounds of torque to break it.

You can't hurt anything by running it slow. I run mine at just about idle with the 24inch auger, a bit faster with the 18inch, and at perhaps 250 PTO rpm with the 9 inch.

 

[Mousefield]

Mousefield:

That looks like a Ford 9" rear axle, which has a straddle mounted pinion and is one of the strongest car/pickup axles made. Ford made millions from the 1950's through the 1980's or later. It will probably take close to 1,000 foot pounds of torque to break it.

You can't hurt anything by running it slow. I run mine at just about idle with the 24inch auger, a bit faster with the 18inch, and at perhaps 250 PTO rpm with the 9 inch.

Thanks, :thumbsup: kennyd and Farmford for the response about the PTO RPM. I'm in no rush when drilling. Hate to get hung up on roots which I'm sure I will run into when drilling in the forested area. From reading other threads I do lift the auger frequently, 6-8 inchs, so if I do ever get hung up I will not be way down with the auger.

 

[txhillcountry]

Some friends of mine have a similar setup, which has me interested in building one. It drills like a champ and they've had it for years, but other than using it don't know much about the original build since it came from a long departed neighbor who built it. So, other than visually inspecting it, I don't know much about what all was done to accomplish it.

Thoughts on what modifications to make?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/8111/size/big/cat/823

 

[Mousefield]

Some friends of mine have a similar setup, which has me interested in building one. It drills like a champ and they've had it for years, but other than using it don't know much about the original build since it came from a long departed neighbor who built it. So, other than visually inspecting it, I don't know much about what all was done to accomplish it.

Thoughts on what modifications to make?

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The one in your pic is built a lot differently. Like the hook they have at the top. Don't know that much about mine although I understand it is at least 20 years old but suspect even older than that. Sure worked well. Think you have to look at getting the main part, the rear end, and then build around that. If you like your friends and it works well then follow that pattern. If you like I could take more pics and measurements for you.

 

[inveresk]

You need to run the auger way slower than 540 rpm. The only time I up the revs is to clean out the hole. Revs need to be fairly high for this so you throw the dirt well clear of the hole when you draw the auger out. Too slow and it falls around the auger and back into the hole. There are some useful videos on utube and ehow showing how to use a post hole digger.

 

[Mousefield]

You need to run the auger way slower than 540 rpm. The only time I up the revs is to clean out the hole. Revs need to be fairly high for this so you throw the dirt well clear of the hole when you draw the auger out. Too slow and it falls around the auger and back into the hole. There are some useful videos on utube and ehow showing how to use a post hole digger.

Thanks for the tip on where to look for more info. :thumbsup: Life is about learning so finding the information is great, I'm sure someone else has made the same mistake that I'd probably do.

 

[kgw51gmc]

I think that is awesome. I wonder if it is geared too fast?? 540RPM motor to the input of that differential which then gears it up to (move the truck faster that it came out of). So wouldn't that make it really fast? And what if it was turned to put power IN to the axel side and OUT of the input shaft???

And does your pto-driveshaft on that unit slip into itself to slide longer and shorter as you rasie up and down?

I have never run one of these and just finished rebuilding an 8n tractor and have only driven it for 14 minutes, never used a 3 point hitch before yet with an implement. I want to make one of these for fun project (with safety in mind too of course). kw_y2k@hotmail.com I am really wondering about gearing and the driveshaft from pto to the unit.

 

[Car Doc]

I have seen automotive diffs configured a couple ways for phd depends on the builder I suppose they are very good diggers. The best way is lock the spiders by welding or blocking them and run it thru the ring and pinion carrier like the diff was designed to do. The other way people sometimes do it is lock one axle by welding it to a plate and then turn the other axle with the spiders this is a faster output rotation probably about 2 to 1 vs 3.55 ratio etc and a lot less torque capacity. fwtw

 

[Dead Horse]

Suggestion on reversing mechanism.

Some where on the auger spindle either torch a hole through the center of it, or if solid or not really big enough diameter to handle the hole, weld a horse shoe loop on the shaft, such that a long pike can be inserted such that one could manually back the auger out of the hole. In a pinch you could then even use a come along lashed to the tractor or some other solid object (tree, truck whatever) to assist in backing the auger out.