3 point post auger question
 

Can a post auger be used with a 3 point without down pressure?

Hi,
We have one, and it works pretty well.

Once in a while it will hit a hard layer of clay, and the weight of the auger and drive is not enough to push it through.
Sometimes pooring some water in the hole, and letting it sit overnight softens the clay up enough to let the auger go through.

Gary

Yes but you might want to have a bit of extra weight in dry conditions. We had a Belarus tractor and they all have down pressure, it would drive the auger in but you knew you needed to be careful or you'd do the auger damage. Its better to let them dig in the same as you let a saw cut, don't force either.

My biggest problem is rocks. Post holes around here usually end up 3' in diameter.........LOL
What is a good price? I found an ad for one for $500. That seems spendy.

My tractor has no down pressure and my auger works pretty good. Occasionally it hits a hard spot and it will take awhile to get thru it. Do NOT even think about getting around that auger to help add some weight to it. If you or your clothes get tangled up in it, it can be disaster. I will admit, I've been occasionally tempted to hang on the pole to give it some added weight, but luckily so far I've always come to my senses. $500 isn't a bad price. Is that a new one? It has to be a pretty light duty model for that price. But that's probably all you'll need for a few fence poles. When you start getting into the heavy duty units, the augers are also heavier duty which means $$$ go up. With rocks or tree roots, you'll be going thru some augers.

They are used all of the time on tractors with no down pressure, the tractor only lifts. the only time I've seen downpressure used is when the auger with a Bobcat.

What Boonieman said: I bet more people are killed, mamed, and lose hands, arms, and other body parts using a post hole digger than just about any other farm implement.

Cornpickers is my bet!
Chas

When I lived in Upstate New York a woman was killed when her auger became entangled in tree roots and spun the tractor, throwing her and crushing her. She would likely have survived if someone had been there to get help. As it was, she lay there for the better part of a day before she was found. Moral- Never work alone with this and many other tools.

Doug

I think diggers NOW also
 

Usta be, most farmers had a corn picker, but hardly any had post hole digers, Then I would have said the picker is the killer, But now , hardly any farmers have pickers, and almost everybody out here has a digger, so Id imagine its the other way round

....................Best 3 point auger I found , that was somewhat affordable was the danuser , F8 digger . I gave like 1900 for mine new and , the 9 inch and 12 inch diggers were both hard steel tipped and ran around 900 for both . The cutting teeth were removeable and rebuildable . Danuser also makes a hydraulic down force kit that works off the pump on your tractor , it has a 700 psi bypass valve that prevents excess force from being applied too the auger and allows all psi above 700 to be routed back into the tractor via the return line .
....................Were I considering the purchasing of a digger for a conventional tractor , Now , I'd seriously look into a frontend loader type mount powered by an add on , high volume pump with a quick disconnect . I'd never go back too a digger mounted on the backend of a tractor , just too inconvenient having to always look back . The ultimate hydraulic diggers are mounted on a bobcat type frontend loader and are extremely powerful due too the high volume pump hooked directly to the engine . fordy... :)

Forage harvesters or combines will kill and maim more than post hole augers but its a great tip, they are dangerous too! TMR mixers and liquid manure tankers are taking their toll.

I wouldn't sell my Danauser for $500 and I have a front mount hydraulic auger too, (which needs to be repaired before I try it) I likely still won't get rid of the rear auger, but they are a bit awkward.

I would want to know who replaced the shear bolt with a higher grade bolt. I have locked my auger down and all that happens is the shear bolt snaps, there's 2 of them, one on the PTO shaft and one on the auger bit. I can't imagine enough force to spin a tractor around!

As for getting tangled in an auger just ask Charlie Daniels. I always liked the picture on the international warning label on the PTO shft.

pto s
 

A neighbor used the draw bar of his J.D. as a step to get on the tractor when the spinning pto caught his levis.There he was,still on his feet buck naked with one boot still on and lots of bruises :nono:
Chas

Beeman- You make an excellent point about the shear pin and I don't know the answer. Seems to prove that a "quick fix" can kill you.

chas- I thought Levis were built better than that. I guess he's glad they're not.

Doug

Many times these weird accidents have a cause rooted in a poor repair job. I've snapped shear bolts and had the tractor dealer tell me to just use a grade 5 bolt because them bolts break way too easy. I used one once in a pinch because it was all I had and then spent hours repairing my auger.

I had one and sold it right quick after I got the bobcat and the auger set up for it. I was young and indestructable and have hung off of that three point many a time to get it to dig... never again... I love the down pressure the bobcat gives. If you have the ability to NEVER do the dangerous that 3pt PH digger can be a godsend verses a hand unit but if I ever need a bunch of holes drilled I'd rent a bobcat first :) but thats just me bein spoiled. I think that just like any other power equipment if ya have to think if its a good idea ya already know the answer and if ya listen to that inner voice you'll be fine.

The best augers will cost some real money. They mount on a loader to get down pressure, and have a hydraulic drive for protection from damage.

You get what you pay for.

The 3pt models work fine in normal conditions, most have bolt on teeth and you will have to maintain good sharp teeth for difficult condtions. Only safe way to operate them is 1 person, stays in the driver seat. They will grab clothes, keep any helpers far away. Down pressure on them is typically death to them, not built tougfh enough. Some of the higher-priced 3pt diggers have hyd down pressure options, they are built for it.

You won't get the best digger for the least money, have to pick one or the other depending on your conditions.

--->Paul

I just bought a used Linebaugh 7200 for right at 300. I never could find one cheaper.

they can be bought new for around 500.

I backed off bidding for an old John Deere auger at 350 not long ago. I wish I'd have gone higher. They are built heavy and strong.
That Linebaugh weighs plenty. I have to work hard to move it around.

Rockin B:

I agree with you about wrestling around those post hole diggers. It was the orneriest piece of equipment I had to hook up. A friend of mine offered me a tip and now it's a piece of cake. I have a Linebaugh, and I take the big pin out of the gearbox head and disconnect it from the support pole. Without the gearbox it's a snap to handle. Hook up your three points, then re-install the pin on the gearbox head. Maybe I'm the only one on the planet that didnt know this! :)

another simple way to hook up a Three point post hole digger is let the digger dig down about 2 foot, and then leave it, (if your worried about rusting fill the hole with sand and oil), any way the auger stays up right, and is easy to hook up then start the PTO and lift the auger out of the hole,

heres a pic I posted in the singletree section already of my posthole auger unit if ya haven't already seen it...

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...tmig100205.jpg

..............That jet looks like a Russian Mig 15 , that was flown by Chinese pilots against our pilots during the Korean war . fordy... :)

I realize that most of the people here use post hole diggers. Why do so few people use a post driver?

For a driver you better make sure you have really straight sturdy posts or you'll shatter them... but with a digger you can set whatever in the ground.

Actually its a LIM-6 Polish-build Mig-17 ... I was defending the american way that day ;)

I believe the drivers tend to cost more too... and are not as versatle. A posthole auger can be used for footers and longer posts,less durable posts etc...
the drivers are pretty task specific.

You're not the only one..... :help:

Thanks for the tip!!!

Similar tip for post drivers, drive a post into the ground, then chain the driver to the post and unhook.

That explains it. I thought you had one with wings.