B3300SU and Danuser F8

[havebikewilltravel]

I'm considering buying a vintage Danuser F8 to use with my B3300SU. It's a smaller tractor than Danuser recommends for the F8 (over 40 hp recommended) but I've corresponded with Danuser (didn't tell them what tractor; just that it's 33 hp) and they've indicated probably doable provided there's enough ground clearance. So my question: Does anyone have experience using an F8 with their B3300SU? Concern is not just ground clearance, but whether the B3300SU's 3ph has the functionality to work well with such a PHD. Thanks!

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

what are your soil conditions and auger width/depth are you thinking about?

 

[havebikewilltravel]

what are your soil conditions and auger width/depth are you thinking about?

Clay, which right now with drought conditions is quite hard/tight. Nine-inch auger; maybe 12 max. As for depth...I must admit to not knowing that was a variable; assumed the augers were a standard length on a Danuser.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Clay, which right now with drought conditions is quite hard/tight. Nine-inch auger; maybe 12 max. As for depth...I must admit to not knowing that was a variable; assumed the augers were a standard length on a Danuser.

I think you're good, you just won't be able to use its full capacity. You may need to adjust your 3PH linkage to lift it high enough to clear the ground. And maybe change the drive shaft. Can you install it on your tractor before buying?

Prepare for disappointment drilling into hard ground. 3PH augers don't have down force and don't auger in like I expected. And don't let anyone near it while it's turning - that's a clothes snatcher in action.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I am in sandy soils and a 9" auger to 5' on a 33hp machine doesn't even have to come off idle. easy to do. Thousands and thousands of holes in my lifetime

I am going to guess that 12" auger in clay is going to be a challenge and the use of an after market down force bar might need to be bought or fab'ed up making it a 2 man job.

wrt to length of auger super easy to buy extensions if too short.

If the auger too long and you rely on using the extreme mount hole for top link on tractor AND on the auger drill itself the post holes will not be vertical unless you creep your tractor while drilling or you will be making elongated holes at surface.
No biggy especially with an hst (in sand no biggy but as soils get harder like clay it beomes more of a big deal) just need to remember to creep very slow, clean hole/auger every 6"'s and not bend or jam up your auger. Without a little creep your holes (and therefore your post) will not be vertical.

looks like a nice machine you are choosing. Top shelf I think.

 

[havebikewilltravel]

I think you're good, you just won't be able to use its full capacity. You may need to adjust your 3PH linkage to lift it high enough to clear the ground. And maybe change the drive shaft. Can you install it on your tractor before buying?

Prepare for disappointment drilling into hard ground. 3PH augers don't have down force and don't auger in like I expected. And don't let anyone near it while it's turning - that's a clothes snatcher in action.

Thank you much! From researching this I've only just become aware of loader-mounted PHDs; have no experience with them (vs. having grown up with a Danuser--F2 probably--on a Massey Ferguson 35 (late 50's model). So regarding a loader mount, what does it involve to equip the tractor for that? They appear to be hydraulically-driven?

 

[havebikewilltravel]

...use of an after market down force bar might need to be bought or fab'ed up making it a 2 man job.

Okay, tell me more, please. You appear to be referring to a way to use the 3ph to apply down force. I'm clueless. And if you're saying a 2 man job to dig a post hole, well, that's a non-starter for me. Thanks!

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

Okay, tell me more, please. You appear to be referring to a way to use the 3ph to apply down force. I'm clueless. And if you're saying a 2 man job to dig a post hole, well, that's a non-starter for me. Thanks!

OK.... your tractor most likely does not have a device / is not capable of applying down force to your 3pt implements.

So think of a cork screw going into a cork (or sandy soil) when it starts to twist it grabs and pulls it self down. Soil is soft and screw force pulls it down into the cork or ground.

Now think of a screw gun trying to screw into hardwood (or in your case clay) you need to apply down force (ie: push down)

So your little tractor w/o down force ON CLAY means your auger bit will likely spin, not bite into the ground, and therefore not dig a hole UNLESS you can help it bite and shave the clay by applying down force. You could add a hydraulic down force kit to your tractor but will guess you may find this expensive and/or confusing after you make the research.... or you get a long pole attached to your post hole auger usually out the back which you can either put weights on it like those used in gyms or get someone else to pull on the post down exerting down ward pressure on the auger so it cuts/bites into you clay.

So down force to get auger to bite into hard ground just like having to push down on ice augers when ice fishing or drills when drilling into steel or hard woods. If ground soft this is not a concern but as you mentioned clay you should consider.

cheers

 

[havebikewilltravel]

or you get a long pole attached to your post hole auger usually out the back which you can either put weights on it like those used in gyms or get someone else to pull on the post down exerting down ward pressure on the auger so it cuts/bites into you clay.

Okay, that's the part I wasn't understanding. But with that explanation, I get it. Thank you! And it reminds me of...above I mentioned the small tractor/Danuser Digger we had on the farm when I was growing up in the early 60s...now don't cringe at this as it doesn't pass the eye test by today's safety standards...but occasionally my Dad would have me get on top of the PHD to help it bite. That Danuser F2 didn't have the arched boom attached above gear box, so it made for a "good" place to sit, when needed. I know; I know. Wouldn't do that today. And even then Dad always admonished me sternly to keep my hands and feet clear.

I suspect there are threads out there showing how people have added those bars to their diggers.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

Thank you much! From researching this I've only just become aware of loader-mounted PHDs; have no experience with them (vs. having grown up with a Danuser--F2 probably--on a Massey Ferguson 35 (late 50's model). So regarding a loader mount, what does it involve to equip the tractor for that? They appear to be hydraulically-driven?

Yes, they're hydraulically driven. You'd need a third function of at least a rear remote. Like most compact tractors, yours doesn't have an abundance of flow (~6.5 GPM) so it won't spin an auger like a PTO but may be more productive. Definitely the way to go if you have a bunch to do. One nice thing is you can reverse it if necessary.

Somebody on here has done a bunch, I think he uses a B model. I'll try to find his thread.

Edit: Try this

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ummmm, on a B3300SU you don't have 33HP you have 25HP, so your closer to half of what the PHD is looking for to properly run it.
Forget any down force, as that will surely stall you out.

 

[jyoutz]

OK.... your tractor most likely does not have a device / is not capable of applying down force to your 3pt implements.

So think of a cork screw going into a cork (or sandy soil) when it starts to twist it grabs and pulls it self down. Soil is soft and screw force pulls it down into the cork or ground.

Now think of a screw gun trying to screw into hardwood (or in your case clay) you need to apply down force (ie: push down)

So your little tractor w/o down force ON CLAY means your auger bit will likely spin, not bite into the ground, and therefore not dig a hole UNLESS you can help it bite and shave the clay by applying down force. You could add a hydraulic down force kit to your tractor but will guess you may find this expensive and/or confusing after you make the research.... or you get a long pole attached to your post hole auger usually out the back which you can either put weights on it like those used in gyms or get someone else to pull on the post down exerting down ward pressure on the auger so it cuts/bites into you clay.

So down force to get auger to bite into hard ground just like having to push down on ice augers when ice fishing or drills when drilling into steel or hard woods. If ground soft this is not a concern but as you mentioned clay you should consider.

cheers

A 6 foot digging bar works well for that purpose.

 

[havebikewilltravel]

One nice thing is you can reverse it if necessary.

Wow. Didn't realize modern PTOs don't have reverse capability. (Haven't needed that since I bought the tractor a few years back.) Again, my past tractor experience was an old Ferguson 35, which had a lever down below the seat to reverse the auger; we used it a LOT! Dug hundreds of holes and never stuck it; only recall shearing the pin once, in rocky ground.

Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge!