Post Hole Digger
- Thread starter 66vette
- Start date
85Hokie
Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Personally I would go as slow as I could dig - with enough power to dig, and the reason for that is once you bind it on a root,rock, or very hard clay - the backing out part truly sucks!
The trick is, dig a little, lift a lot !!!! Shear pins not withstanding - the best way to go is slow and steady!
As for a rpm - I think the 540 is still the proper setting.
What 85Hokie said! You should not exceed PTO of 300 (so your engine has good torque), but you need to be able to lower the bit with control. If you go to fast you dig deep without clearing the loosened material and you end up stalled. (If necessary slow down the PTO to be safe.)
Then you have to get a big pipe wrench and "unscrew" your auger. This usually happens in heavy clay material.
Then you have to get a big pipe wrench and "unscrew" your auger. This usually happens in heavy clay material.
Last edited:
On my Hyd unit, I think its like 60 RPM. They used to make the PTO type out of truck rear ends, so a 4:1 rear should drop 540 down to to 135 RPM, so that's my guess...
WOW, some of you guys actually put the engine up at well over 2000RPMs to dig a hole? That seems crazy dangerous. I always dig at an idle, never go down more than a foot at a time without raising about 6" to be sure the bit is clear.
So down 12", up 6", down 12" more, up 6". Do that 4 times and you are down 4'. Does not take long and you don't get the auger stuck.
That seems crazy dangerous. I always dig at an idle, never go down more than a foot at a time without raising about 6" to be sure the bit is clear. So down 12", up 6", down 12" more, up 6". Do that 4 times and you are down 4'. Does not take long and you don't get the auger stuck.
North Idaho Wolfman
Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Thanks for all of the replies. I will start out at idle and go from there to keep from stalling out.
Ditto on digging post holes at "idle or very slightly above idle" frequently raising auger up so it doesn't cork-screw into ground
first go around using my post hole digger I got it stuck in the hard pan we have about 3' down. stalled out my tractor. that sucked. got it out without having to dismantle the auger, but I'm a lot more careful on pulling the auger up more often.
I've also tried digging in the middle of summer when the ground is like concrete. The post hole digger picked the back of the tractor up and it tilted over onto one of the back wheels....scared the cr*p out of me.
I've also tried digging in the middle of summer when the ground is like concrete. The post hole digger picked the back of the tractor up and it tilted over onto one of the back wheels....scared the cr*p out of me.
It is possible. Just hook a buried root or rock, and the screw action drives the auger down, and the tractor up...How is this even possible? What type of set up were you using????
I've got a hydraulic downforce kit on my post hole digger. If the auger can get a bite it'll dig into just about anything.
bcbull378
Member
Equipment
GL3830,fel,brush hog,pallet forks,disc,gannon,auger,springtooth,plow,drag,ripper
I run mine just a hair over idel with the heavey Adobe we have here in Ca it works great. Just make sure you raise the auger every 8" to 12" you dig.
So your hyd auger has a telescoping system of some type? How can the auger go down into the ground and yet the tractor raises up. Things operate in 2 separate directions at the same exact time?It is possible. Just hook a buried root or rock, and the screw action drives the auger down, and the tractor up...
Front tires come up, fulcrums on the rear wheels as the auger screws into the ground.So your hyd auger has a telescoping system of some type? How can the auger go down into the ground and yet the tractor raises up. Things operate in 2 separate directions at the same exact time?
This is understandable, I have been referring to post #9
[quote ]I've also tried digging in the middle of summer when the ground is like concrete. The post hole digger picked the back of the tractor up and it tilted over onto one of the back wheels....scared the cr*p out of me."? [/quote]
Come on over this summer when the ground is good and hard, I'll let you try it yourself....cause once was enough for me.
Not my hyd PHD, the op's 3 PH model. I have used both types. I prefer the hyd model, flip a switch, unstick the auger, plus its easier to connect...So your hyd auger has a telescoping system of some type? How can the auger go down into the ground and yet the tractor raises up. Things operate in 2 separate directions at the same exact time?