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POST HOLE DIGGING

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thebigron

07-29-2002 19:10:43




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Never laid hands on a post hole digger until today when I picked up a bargin on a Ford 309. Out playing with it could not get it to go down very fast. I have a 135 Massey without down pressure. Thinking about making an attachment that would extend 6 feet straight and directly behind the auger so I could lean on it to apply pressure. It would be removable, very much like an oversized steam or water valve wrench with a hook on the end. Would this not be feasible?

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JMS/MN

07-31-2002 22:50:39




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
What you propose is not a bright idea. Start each hole with a shovel- pour water in it if they don't start easily with the PHD. Tractor mounted phd's were not designed with down pressure- if you need that, rent a skidsteer with a hydraulic unit and they will do the job. Couple years ago did 80 holes for less than $3 per. I have my own phd, but shear pin hassle on a major job is not worth the trouble.

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mj

07-30-2002 14:19:33




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
Look at the cutting surface of the auger and imagine a giant twist drill. Is there relief behind the cutting edge? Does the point have the proper angles on it? I can almost guarantee that it doesn't even if it's new! Mine would drill dry packed adobe but not hardpack or shale the day I bought it new 10 or 12 yrs. ago. Out came the 41/2 inch grinder; after a little "tuning" on the centerpoint and relieving the flighting edges you had to HOLD it BACK with the hydraulics! The ground here can be packed and baked to the point of causing "tire squeal" and the shale comes in at about 20". To cut either one the auger cutting edges must be right or you can pile weight on it until you can't lift it and still not get the job done. These edges do wear so if yours is cutting well and then quits you need to retouch the edges. I had to sharpen my 12'' augers' edges 2 or 3 times in the course of sinking 26 holes to 30" for a new pole barn but the shale was just a'poppin'! Oh, I run the tractor (VAC) just above idle for cutting and a bit more for cleanout.

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Walt

07-30-2002 09:48:38




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I have a post hole digger that has a bracket on top that I can insert the flat part of a digging iron in, I use it to exert down pressure, I can stay about 5-6' away, use the iron to poke a hole so the digger will start easier, if it slows even with down pressure, I raise the auger and poke another hole in the center and resume. I only ever hit a rock once that sheared the safety pins, normally I can pull the auger up and free it, be careful on grades as the auger will tend to jump from side to side when started, this is where poking a hole really helps. Good luck and be careful.

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Walt

07-30-2002 09:44:26




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I have a post hole digger that has a bracket on top that I can insert the flat part of a digging iron in, I use it to exert down pressure, I can stay about 5-6' away, use the iron to poke a hole so the digger will start easier, if it slows even with down pressure, I raise the auger and poke another hole in the center and resume. I only ever hit a rock once that sheared the safety pins, normally I can pull the auger up and free it, be careful on grades as the auger will tend to jump from side to side when started, this is where poking a hole really helps. Good luck and be careful.

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Paul-tx

07-30-2002 09:35:18




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I must say that what you are proposing is quite dangerous. My brother had the same idea you did. He had is girl friend on the tractor...1st mistake and then he decided to climb on the boom of the auger to add and extra 200+ pounds for down pressure. Before my brother knew it, he was naked as a jay bird in the middle of the yard. That is not the worst of it though, it seems that the bolt that connects the u-joint to the gear box on the auger caught his legs after his clothing got riped off and cut him real bad. Had the cut/gash been a 1/2 inch one way or the other, by brother could have bled to death. Seems that there is that real nice big artery on the inside of the leg. Just a little piece of advice....Wet the ground if it is hard and let the machine do the work.

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Paul-tx

07-30-2002 09:35:05




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I must say that what you are proposing is quite dangerous. My brother had the same idea you did. He had is girl friend on the tractor...1st mistake and then he decided to climb on the boom of the auger to add and extra 200+ pounds for down pressure. Before my brother knew it, he was naked as a jay bird in the middle of the yard. That is not the worst of it though, it seems that the bolt that connects the u-joint to the gear box on the auger caught his legs after his clothing got riped off and cut him real bad. Had the cut/gash been a 1/2 inch one way or the other, by brother could have bled to death. Seems that there is that real nice big artery on the inside of the leg. Just a little piece of advice....Wet the ground if it is hard and let the machine do the work.

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Paul-tx

07-30-2002 09:35:04




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I must say that what you are proposing is quite dangerous. My brother had the same idea you did. He had is girl friend on the tractor...1st mistake and then he decided to climb on the boom of the auger to add and extra 200+ pounds for down pressure. Before my brother knew it, he was naked as a jay bird in the middle of the yard. That is not the worst of it though, it seems that the bolt that connects the u-joint to the gear box on the auger caught his legs after his clothing got riped off and cut him real bad. Had the cut/gash been a 1/2 inch one way or the other, by brother could have bled to death. Seems that there is that real nice big artery on the inside of the leg. Just a little piece of advice....Wet the ground if it is hard and let the machine do the work.

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Paul-tx

07-30-2002 09:35:04




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I must say that what you are proposing is quite dangerous. My brother had the same idea you did. He had is girl friend on the tractor...1st mistake and then he decided to climb on the boom of the auger to add and extra 200+ pounds for down pressure. Before my brother knew it, he was naked as a jay bird in the middle of the yard. That is not the worst of it though, it seems that the bolt that connects the u-joint to the gear box on the auger caught his legs after his clothing got riped off and cut him real bad. Had the cut/gash been a 1/2 inch one way or the other, by brother could have bled to death. Seems that there is that real nice big artery on the inside of the leg. Just a little piece of advice....Wet the ground if it is hard and let the machine do the work.

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Paul-tx

07-30-2002 09:34:04




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I must say that what you are proposing is quite dangerous. My brother had the same idea you did. He had is girl friend on the tractor...1st mistake and then he decided to climb on the boom of the auger to add and extra 200+ pounds for down pressure. Before my brother knew it, he was naked as a jay bird in the middle of the yard. That is not the worst of it though, it seems that the bolt that connects the u-joint to the gear box on the auger caught his legs after his clothing got riped off and cut him real bad. Had the cut/gash been a 1/2 inch one way or the other, by brother could have bled to death. Seems that there is that real nice big artery on the inside of the leg. Just a little piece of advice....Wet the ground if it is hard and let the machine do the work.

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Paul-tx

07-30-2002 09:33:56




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
I must say that what you are proposing is quite dangerous. My brother had the same idea you did. He had is girl friend on the tractor...1st mistake and then he decided to climb on the boom of the auger to add and extra 200+ pounds for down pressure. Before my brother knew it, he was naked as a jay bird in the middle of the yard. That is not the worst of it though, it seems that the bolt that connects the u-joint to the gear box on the auger caught his legs after his clothing got riped off and cut him real bad. Had the cut/gash been a 1/2 inch one way or the other, by brother could have bled to death. Seems that there is that real nice big artery on the inside of the leg. Just a little piece of advice....Wet the ground if it is hard and let the machine do the work.

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westhjsn

07-30-2002 08:18:05




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
You've gotten the warnings and advice what to check now check the archives on fence building acouple of good posts that will help you in the use of a PHD.Finnally in real dry weather pour some water on the spot you plan to dig and let it sit for few mins. the diferance is amazing.That is one reason why alot of fencing is done in the spring and fall.Good luck.



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paul

07-30-2002 05:22:40




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
Well, obviously you would need a second peorson to do that. You are putting them in a lot of danger as others have said. Post hole diggers are a lot more dangerous than one would imagine. Along with all the spinning parts that can grab clothing, what happens if you hit a rock or root & the thing jerks down/ sideways/ wherever? It is best to dig post holes with just the person on the tractor, everyone else out of the way.

Sounds like most parts of the country are dry this year. PHD go slow in dry ground, esp dry clay.

Worn teeth make them go slow.

Misaligned makes them go slow.

I really wouldn't want the responsibility of hanging a live person off the back of a phd. That's a lot of risk.

--->Paul

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Idjunker

07-30-2002 05:00:07




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
Try addind weights but not yours. Made a bracket to hing tracktor weights from.



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JoeinTX

07-29-2002 22:36:23




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
What the other fellas said is pretty well the story. I can't even begin to imagine how many post holes I've dug over the past 20-odd years and I still have the same problems as you. Check the cutting edge. The tractor mounted diggers don't work like the big industrial types so unless the ground is fairly damp or soft it will take you a while to dig any hole. Using extra down pressure, like you mentioned with the extension, will work and I have done it at times but it can help push the digger to one side or the other causing it to bind up like was said in another post. What kind of RPM are you using this thing at? I have found that a post driver is much better for most of my work..... ..

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Rick from Paso

07-29-2002 22:35:22




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
Charlie Daniels (the country western singer) got his glove caught on the auger bit and it sucked his arm down into the hole up to the shoulder, crushing his arm and hand. Be careful with it!



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Mike in Houston

07-29-2002 20:19:46




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
Other comment is a good one. First, be careful. A turning PTO shaft will get you before you know it. Believe me, I know about turning objects. Had a hay baler chain grab me when I was a kid. Luckily, just pulled my shoulder out of place and lost some skin on my hand and arm.
Do check the digging edges to see if they are worn. I have a "cheapie" from Tractor Supply that does more than good when it has good cutting edges on it and some pretty soft ground. When it gets very dry ground where I live, you may as well be trying to cut through concrete. I mean this stuff gets hard. Is it dry where you are? This will make a difference believe me. Also make sure your digger stands straight when turning. I dug two holes yesterday to finish up my wife's dog pen and didn't adjust the sway chains so the auger automatically tried to "lean" to the side due to the twist on the ground. Upon doing so, I've noticed it won't cut hot butter like that. Mine has to be standing straight before it will get a bite and dig.
Good luck.

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Keith

07-30-2002 12:32:45




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 Re: Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to Mike in Houston, 07-29-2002 20:19:46  
Mike,
I know about that hard ground. I live in black gumbo soil in N Texas and you can't keep it off an auger if it is too wet and dynamite won't move it if it is too dry. You have to catch it just right. As for the PTO getting you, it can in a heartbeat!



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thurlow

07-29-2002 19:47:45




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 Re: POST HOLE DIGGING in reply to thebigron, 07-29-2002 19:10:43  
Check your teeth; if they're very worn, i.e. smaller in diameter than the diameter of your flighting, it's gonna be a slow go. What you're proposing would work, but if digger is in good shape, shouldn't need to do that. Any piece of PTO driven equipment is VERY DANGEROUS. If you get a piece of clothing wrapped up in the PTO shaft, you'll probably lose an extremity (of one kind or another)or your life.

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