cruxthedog
New User
Looking for some advice on what size user will work best with an 8n. Any thoughts on auger diameter sizes and horse rating?
- Thread starter cruxthedog
- Start date
Tony in SD
Well-known Member
Short answer: none.
Long answer: With the 3 pt hydraulics dependent on the PTO being engaged it is difficult to control the corkscrew action of the auger in wet soil. Dont ask me how I know. Once that happens you will not be able to unscrew since there is no reverse PTO. That requires manual unscrewing help. Dont ask how I know. The 8N has no down pressure, so in hard, dry soil it wont dig. Dont ask how I know. In the event of hitting a rock and stopping the PTO, remember, no PTO equals no hydraulics. Dont ask me how I know. Once you start drilling you do not have the ability to make small vertical adjustments to keep the auger plumb as you drill.
Best advice I can give, is to rent a skid steer with a PHA. Much easier to control, on the fly vertical (plumb) adjustments, down pressure if needed, much more up pressure when needed, work is in front of you. One man can dig more, cleaner, straighter holes faster with a skid PHA than a 2 man crew with a 3pt PHA any day. Ive used both. While I would never sell my 8N, Id never use it for digging post holes.
Long answer: With the 3 pt hydraulics dependent on the PTO being engaged it is difficult to control the corkscrew action of the auger in wet soil. Dont ask me how I know. Once that happens you will not be able to unscrew since there is no reverse PTO. That requires manual unscrewing help. Dont ask how I know. The 8N has no down pressure, so in hard, dry soil it wont dig. Dont ask how I know. In the event of hitting a rock and stopping the PTO, remember, no PTO equals no hydraulics. Dont ask me how I know. Once you start drilling you do not have the ability to make small vertical adjustments to keep the auger plumb as you drill.
Best advice I can give, is to rent a skid steer with a PHA. Much easier to control, on the fly vertical (plumb) adjustments, down pressure if needed, much more up pressure when needed, work is in front of you. One man can dig more, cleaner, straighter holes faster with a skid PHA than a 2 man crew with a 3pt PHA any day. Ive used both. While I would never sell my 8N, Id never use it for digging post holes.
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
If I had a choice I would look at using a tractor with live PTO and hydraulic. Like Tony said. No lift with no pto.
Richard G.
Well-known Member
I drilled many thousands of hole when I was younger with an 8N and a Danuser post hole digger.
It had about a 10 inch auger on it.
Where we live, we have hard clay under the topsoil, lots of rocks, some nasty wet mucky soils, and about everything else you can imagine.
I went all over the area digging holes for 10 cents each for farmers putting up pasture fences.
When you were going down the road, you unhooked the PTO shaft and tied it up.
Got it done though.
Still have the 8N, but traded the digger to a friend years ago.
Richard in NW SC
It had about a 10 inch auger on it.
Where we live, we have hard clay under the topsoil, lots of rocks, some nasty wet mucky soils, and about everything else you can imagine.
I went all over the area digging holes for 10 cents each for farmers putting up pasture fences.
When you were going down the road, you unhooked the PTO shaft and tied it up.
Got it done though.
Still have the 8N, but traded the digger to a friend years ago.
Richard in NW SC
Tom in TN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern Middle Tennessee
I have one for use on my Ford 2000, 3 cylinder. As Tony mentioned, my three point has no down pressure, so it doesn't work at all well throughout the summer months when the soil is dry and hard. There is a long rod sticking off the top the transmission that enables a second person guide the auger to get it started and to put some down pressure on it. I seldom, if ever, have a second person to help me, so basically, I only use it in the early spring.
Tom in TN
Tom in TN
RobCons
Well-known Member
- Location
- Central Alabama
Tom I also use mine by myself most of the time. I welded a short piece of 2 inch pipe on top of my auger's frame to hold weight. I stack about 100 lbs on it and it digs through most stuff. I use olympic style exercise weights. Its not like I use them for exercise anyway.
Works well... but you need to control how deep it digs, and periodically raise it, to clean the hole. Slowly lower it and never fully drop the lever... Do not let it run away and bury itself in the ground... Drilled about a million holes with an 8n. Yes there are better and easier, but common sense and they work fine. That said, I will not own one any more as I have newer tractors with live hydraulic and live ptos, but more importantly, power steering!!!! The 8n had a wagner loader on it and was a bear to steer. We always ran it with the heaviest impliment we had... on the rear to help the steering... when clearing brush and other front end loader work.
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy