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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

How to dig a straight hole ?

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tgillesp

10-11-2004 11:26:59

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A friend bought a new 3 point post hole digger last week so we attached it to my Ford 1900 and proceeded to dig post holes. Neither of us have used one before. Well we couldn't get it to dig straight. I was on the tractor while my friend was behind the auger trying to keep the bit striaght using the handle that is attached to the gearbox. We start out with the bit straight, but when I lower the boom, the angle of the bit changes because the end of the boom gets farther away from the tractor as I lower it.
Am I suppose to move the tractor forward as the bit is lowered ? Seems to me that these things should have another connection rod from the gearbox to the hitch that keeps the bit striaght as it is lowered.
It is from Tractor Supply.

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homer

10-13-2004 06:29:41

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

If you don't have live power pto It can be diffacult getting tractor in and out of gear to move forward or backward depending if tractor headed down hill or up If you can postion tractor down hill and let it coast foreward sighty as auger goes deeper and watch it don't get stuck under a rock or tree rutt it takes a LONG TIME to dig out with shovel Take it back and trade for T-post and driver GET HER DONE !!

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VADAVE

10-13-2004 10:27:44

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to homer, 10-13-2004 06:29:41

You need at least a 15 inch pipe wrench and a cheater pipe.

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richard in texas

10-12-2004 14:34:51

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

The way I do it is put the tip of the bit on the ground, make sure the auger is perpendicular to the ground. Start boring, I set my Engine/PTO for less than 900 rpm. The slower the better. I bore about half of the bit then move the tractor forward to get the auger perp to the ground again.(Leave the auger in the hole)

It may not be the safest thing to do but, I pull up on the three point a bit with the auger spinning in the hole. Jump off the tractor and clear around the auger with a shovel so the dirt doesn't fall in the hole when pulling the auger up.

Good luck.

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Dave H (MI)

10-12-2004 07:06:01

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

Have you read the manual? It amazes me that people will buy a potentially dangerous piece of equipment and not look in the manual. The manual for my digger tells me how to set it up to dig straight. I would imagine yours does too.

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tgillesp

10-12-2004 11:33:07

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to Dave H (MI), 10-12-2004 07:06:01

Yes, I looked for the manual, but like most implements at Tractor Supply, it didn't come with one. Maybe I can find the manufacturer's instructions online...

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billyiron

10-12-2004 06:30:35

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

try to dig a crooked one,,,billyiron

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Bob

10-11-2004 21:42:23

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

Use a big enough auger, so the hole is big enough that the post can be set straight, and the dirt tamped around it, even if the hole is a bit skewed.

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Rick (NV.)

10-11-2004 22:55:49

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to Bob, 10-11-2004 21:42:23

Lower the boom and place the auger bit down on the center of the hole,then pull the tractor FORWARD 6-12"+or-. You will have to experiment some to find the sweet spot,but this should provide you with the correction that you are looking for to bore the hole plumb. On the subject of safety; I will not let anyone within 15'of the auger when the PTO is engaged. No one,including the operator touches the powerhead/auger with the tractor engine running.If anyone is working on the powerhead ect.,the ignition key is removed to the toolbox."Safety Saves", we all know the horror stories.

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Steve(OR)

10-12-2004 04:15:13

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to Rick (NV.), 10-11-2004 22:55:49

You're saying start the hole a bit skewed and let the arc of the 3point lift correct the angle?

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Al L. in Wisc.

10-11-2004 19:07:23

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

I don"t bother digging them. Simply go back to Tractor Supply and ask to speak to the "newest" employee and tell them you would like a pickup load of post holes! Sorry, couldn"t help myself.

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hay

10-12-2004 02:23:24

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to Al L. in Wisc., 10-11-2004 19:07:23

i'll just bet they would go look for them too.

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Txsprigger

10-12-2004 12:48:25

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to hay, 10-12-2004 02:23:24

The only job in the world where you start out on top and work your way down

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hay

10-12-2004 02:23:05

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to Al L. in Wisc., 10-11-2004 19:07:23

i'll just bet they would go look for them too.

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Chris Brown

10-11-2004 17:32:59

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

I start the digger with the bottom of the auger about a foot closer to the tractor than it needs to be that way when it digs down it is nearly straight . Yea ,I have dug alot of leaners as my wife calls them.

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JoeKnows

10-12-2004 09:50:00

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to Chris Brown, 10-11-2004 17:32:59

I think that is bass ackwards.

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farmerjohn

10-11-2004 16:05:39

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

I agree on telling the helper to BE CAREFUL!! A guy I know got caught by the sweatshirt hoodstrings and it tore his arm off up to including the shoulder blade. Luckily he lived but had an artificial arm.

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Ryan

10-11-2004 14:27:34

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

When you get the auger started enough it can't jump out of the hole you will have to pull forward, your helper should indicate when the auger is vertical as it is sometimes hard to do from the tractor. When digging four feet we pulled up once, sometimes twice.

Ryan

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paul

10-11-2004 13:05:14

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

3pt hitch swings in an arc, so there is nothing 'they' can do when building it - that is affordable anyhow.

You just need to move the tractor a little as you dig. Do so slowly, as a big move will bend the auger.

Not to be the safety police, but a lot of folks get hurt being the 'helper' on a post hole digger. Hope your friend is well informed & all shields are in place. Too many people get wrapped up in phd's every year.... I never let anyone within falling distance of mine when I'm working. They can sure help with the posts & backfill & all kinds of things, but stay the heck away when the auger is running....

--->Paul

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ChrisL

10-11-2004 11:49:47

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to tgillesp, 10-11-2004 11:26:59

we always just go forward or back as the hole is going down to keep it straight

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txblu

10-11-2004 12:20:31

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Re: How to dig a straight hole ? in reply to ChrisL, 10-11-2004 11:49:47

Geometry of it says that is won't be straight as the distances are different from the tractor to the hole.

When the hole starts, the boom is up in the air and the distance to the tractor, from the hole is short(er). When it is almost completed, the boom is straight out and the distance to the hole (from the tractor) is longer.

Gotta make an adjustment somewhere. "Enter LIVE PTO".

Nuf said.

Mark

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