Post hole digger

Anonymous-0 · Jun 3, 2010

Hello, I have a 1952 Ferguson TO-30 and want to get a post hole digger for it. I don't know what type or kind to look for, as I guess they come in different categorys. Also I was told it won't work on my tractor as theres no hydraulic for down pressure.Any info would be greatly appricated, Thank you

Bob · Jun 3, 2010

By FAR the greatest majority of tractors with 3-points don't have down pressure. The auger will dig in by it's own weight.

It's GREAT to have live hydraulics for a PHD, though!

ericlb · Jun 3, 2010

any catagory 1 , 3 point hitch post hole digger will work fine on your fergy, as for down pressure, except for a few ihc, and a rare john deere or 2 no ag tractor has down pressure on its 3 point hitch, the reason for that is clear once you picture the tractor with a plow, one of the primary impliments these tractors were designed to use, if you were to have the ability to put down pressure on your plow, as you did, it would take weight off of the tractors rear tires, presto, your plow is stuck in the ground, and your tractor is stuck on top of the ground due to no traction and you in for a misserable day getting it all recovered, i have a post hole digger from farm and fleet for my jubilee [ no down pressure either] currently have drilled an extimated 1500 post holes with it, and only had problems with a couple, [ rock in the hole] get a set of rock teeth for your digger bit and it will drill in and work just fine for you

Anonymous-0 · Jun 3, 2010

It will work ok but remember to ease the digger in the ground just a bit at a time. If you don't it will just screw itself in the ground without digging. Ease it in a bit at a time and let the hole clean out, then ease it in a bit more. I wish someone would have explained that to me the first time I used one years ago. I do have a old farmall C with down presure on the Saginaw Hitch I put on it and I do like it on my digger but you don't have to have downpresure. Like the others said, very few tractors have it. DoubleR

Brad Buchanan · Jun 3, 2010

I fabricated this digger for my 8N form a surplus gearbox and 3"x.25" square tubing. Really works good and the boom alone is mighty handy whe working with fence. Total cost about $450 not counting the auger.

RobertTX · Jun 3, 2010

A post hole digger will work fine on your Ferg. Down pressure is not necessary. Sometimes in very hard dry soil you can pour water in the hole to soften. One thing to watch - as one guy said they can auger in like a corkscrew. This can happen in wet soil or if the auger gets under a root. Most people's response when this happens is to pull up on the lever to raise the three point. If it has a good bite, this will either raise the front of the tractor off the ground or bend the boom of the digger. The correct reaction is to disengage the PTO to stop the auger, then see waht is needed to get out of the hole. Sometimes it is necessary to reverse the PTO shaft with a pipe wrench when you have everything safely out of gear and stable.

buickanddeere · Jun 3, 2010

Around here in clay down pressure is required. We often use the loader bucket to apply down pressure.
If you have ever used a hydrualic driven post hole digger. You will wonder why anybody fools around with a pto driven unit.

IOWA NORTHEAST · Jun 3, 2010

There are indeed lots of folks think you need down pressure, and it is ok no doubt. The problem is every farmer thinks they just have to hock it up and go. Like any tool it must be sharpened from time to time in order to work properly.

I get a chance to FIX lots of them for farmers who think they can add weight. and often ride on them to make them work in the hard clay soil. One guy I know was leaning on it when it caught his sleeve, and now has a shoulder that does not function at all.

Many times on older diggers the cutting edge has wore smaller than the flighting, this will cause issues as well.

A post hold digger works with draft, no different than a plow. If you look at the cutting edge and it is flat on the bottom, it needs sharpening. There should be NO flat spot.

You can purchase them at farm fleet stores etc, for the ocasional use as most diggers are used for. But if you are going to use it for a full time job, spend the extra money, and go to a higher priced unit.

Jerry/MT · Jun 3, 2010

I used my post hole auger on the TO-30 a couple of times and then swithced it to my 4610 Ford with independent pto. I got it stuck once and had to unscrew it from the ground with a bar since to lift, you have to have the pto on and that makes the auger want to go deeper in the ground. It"ll work if you have sandy soils but not well in our clay.

Post hole digger

Anonymous-0

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Bob

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ericlb

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Anonymous-0

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Brad Buchanan

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RobertTX

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buickanddeere

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IOWA NORTHEAST

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Jerry/MT

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