Hydraulic Post Hole Digger Project

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

I started this conversation on Implements & Attachments to get some ideas and am no ready to finalize my design and start building this. My plan is to build a poor-man's equivalent of a Landpride SA-10. I'm going to cannibalize a gas powered PHD I bought at auction for this project. I was asked why I don't restore the PHD as-is and here's why:

1. Don't know what it would cost to get the original unit up & running - am not a mechanic, so motor would go to a repair shop (probably $100+ to get it running/tuned up) - recoil spring is about dead (more $). Also both tires are beat and flat - probably another $75+ and the 2 way hydraulic valve on the handle looked leaky ... you get my point. So I weighed repair costs (factoring in unknowns) against buying 4 ft. of rectangular steel tubing and the welding (by a shop) for my slide on.

2. Don't want to maintain yet another engine - the PHD will get very intermittent use - maybe once or twice a year in a normal year.

3. Don't want to have to tow it around and then bull it into place - am getting too old for that. It will be less work to slide the PHD onto the forks than swap regular drawbar for the one with trailer hitch on it.

4. Can store the new unit with augers on a single pallet - will take up less space

Have attached brochure photo of the PHD model. Will add to this thread is a proceed.

 

[MOOTS]

This is a great idea.
Following to see what attachment you come up with.
Quick google found pump specs. 6gpm at 3600 rpm on the Honda. Your tractor is 5gpm, should work nicely.

 

[Kennyd4110]

Cool project!

 

[McMXi]

Cool project!

For sure! Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

PHDs have become very expensive along with everything else, so this is certainly a cost-effective approach. I bought a lightly used LP HD25 PHD (SSQA) a few years ago which is rated at 5-12gpm, so optimal for the MX or M6060. I paid $1,750 for it but it came with two augers, a 9" and 12". I don't know how much a new one costs today but I bet it's close to twice what I paid.

I might order a rock auger this spring which will cost close to what I paid for the HD25.

 

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

Did my cannibalizing - will be using hydraulic motor, mounting frame, 4 augers & and some leftover angle iron from a previous project.

Have rest of PHD parts on a pallet to sell - Honda GX270 9HP engine (won't start just pulling, but not frozen) with 6gpm hydraulic pump mounted on it, hydraulic reservoir on 2 wheels and 2 way hydraulic valve. What do you think I should ask for the discard parts?

Will visit welder for fab estimate and hydraulic shop for hose adapters so I can fire up the hydraulic motor.

 

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

Visited my local welding shop yesterday and he gave me a scrap 36" piece of rectangular tube (3/16" wall = 36" length - all I need for this project) to try on my forks for size. Perfect fit, so today I dropped off all the pieces and my drawings (attached).

Also visited the hydraulic shop - have hoses and fittings connected to the hydraulic motor. Will test it later today or tomorrow.

 

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

Had just enough time this afternoon to connect the hydraulic drive hoses to the 3rd function and with the motor sitting on the floor. Was elated to see it run in both directions and no hydraulic oil geysers either! Sorry no photo or video. I'll have more to post with photos once the fork mount fab comes home from the welding ship

 

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

Picked up PHD frame from the welding shop. Need to grind the sharp edges - I think the loop handle will hit the forks where it sticks out (toward top of photo) - may cut the top part off below the tab and put a bike handle on the end of it. Barn isn't heated, so Kubota orange will have to wait until it's warm outside. Have a few indoor projects to wrap up and then hopefully, I'll get it put together over the weekend.

 

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

Build complete!! Finished the project today - ground sharp frame edges, mounted hydraulic motor and even though it was wet (torn up turf will become gravel drive this year), I just had to bore a few test holes. Works just fine - took a video, but don't know how to upload it to OTT. Originally, I thought that I'd just put the FEL in float for downward pressure, but on additional test holes it worked better controlling the downward travel with the FEL (not float). This spring or summer I may give it a coat of Kubota orange.

 

[McMXi]

Build complete!! Finished the project today - ground sharp frame edges, mounted hydraulic motor and even though it was wet (torn up turf will become gravel drive this year), I just had to bore a few test holes. Works just fine - took a video, but don't know how to upload it to OTT. Originally, I thought that I'd just put the FEL in float for downward pressure, but on additional test holes it worked better controlling the downward travel with the FEL (not float). This spring or summer I may give it a coat of Kubota orange.

Cool build. Upload the video to YouTube ... that might be the best way to share it. I'm interested in seeing it.

 

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

Here's a video of the test drive - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HbrCDBFmjJ0

 

[McMXi]

Here's a video of the test drive - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HbrCDBFmjJ0

Nice! Looks like it works well. Did you try reversing the direction with the 3rd function controls?

 

[PHPaul]

Nice! I'm out of the posthole business after having dug 100's with a 3PH/PTO unit, but sure wish I'd have had something like that!

 

[retiree-urgency abandoned]

Thanks PHPaul - with our pressure treated fence posts, it's a given that they'll eventually need to be replaced due to age or accident. I'm not going get rid of my 2-handled digger yet, but this should be a lot less wear and tear on me.

McMXi - you're right - it does operate in both directions from the 3rd functions. I wanted bi-directional to make it easier to rescue an auger if it gets stuck. Based on my test drive and shown in the video, taking it slow and easy, a little at a time should keep me out of trouble with it.

Now I just need to unload the 9hp Honda engine, hydraulic tank & 2 way valve (leftovers from the cannibalization) and I'm done.

We got about 5" of snow last night in So. Indiana, so I"ll wait for the fence repair until conditions are favorable.

 

[Kennyd4110]

Nice job, I really like that!

 

[Chanceywd]

Nice project, from your concept start to a working finish!

Bill

 

[Lencho]

Here's a video of the test drive - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HbrCDBFmjJ0

Really nice! How many gpm do you have flowing through it?

 

[Flintknapper]

Here's a video of the test drive - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HbrCDBFmjJ0

nice

 

[John T]

Really nice! How many gpm do you have flowing through it?

5GPM

 

[McMXi]

Thinking more about this PHD, the only thing I'm wondering about is the distance that the auger is from the end of the loader. Typically the gear box, motor and auger are as close to the SSQA plate as possible, and that's how my HD25 is.

Not saying that this will be an issue, but the further away it is the greater the stress on the loader connection points, and the lower the available downforce from the loader. If the auger binds up on a rock, root or similar, it's going to apply more stress to the loader. Just a thought and not trying to take anything away from this solution. Where I live, rocks are a constant challenge, but for many the ground is like sand.