Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Discussion Forum

3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Mark

08-16-2000 21:48:55




Report to Moderator

I've got about 200 holes to drill next year to fence in a horse pasture. I figured that I'd buy a post hole digger that runs off the 3 pt hitch/power takeoff system on my 51 Ferguson. A friend told me that this set-up is great for drilling the hole, but that getting the auger back out is very difficult, and that using a hand operated post hole digger would be easier. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Mike

05-22-2002 09:58:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
Elcho Fab & Machine has a new invention out that attatches a hand held auger to a fourwheeler. If your interested call us at ph: 715-275-3667 or e-mail for more info. Thanks, Mike EFM LLC



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Rocky

04-01-2001 12:38:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
Has anyone heard of a Comer 3 pt. hitch post hole digger? It is an Italian company.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ray Peterson

08-17-2000 19:39:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
Rented one of those "two-man" units with a 5.5hp engine, and a 12" auger. They are actually "4-man" units - they will kill two guys - especially short guys, as you are lifting the thing to above shoulder level, loaded with dirt. Also don't even attempt this in rocky soil. A PTO unit will work much better. Go slow, drop the auger only a foot or so and come back up to discharge the dirt, then back in the hole -repeat till desired depth is reached. Your second man -and yes you need a second man will still take a beating. As above, he needs to stand on the correct side of the control handle, and watch for rocks!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
MarkB

08-17-2000 18:02:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
Your friend did mean a hand operated power post hole digger didn't he? If not, I don't think he's ever dug a post hole.

Actually, I've rented a hand operated power post hole digger that worked very well. I think that the brand was "Little Beaver" or something like that. It's different than most in that the motor is not mounted on top of the auger; instead, the motor is on cart and is connected to the auger by a flexible drive shaft. A solid bar also connects the auger to the motor so that all of the torque gets transferred back to the cart. This particular post hole digger is fairly easy to use. You can use it in spots that you could never get your tractor into.

Found their web site:

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RonMC

08-26-2000 23:07:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to MarkB, 08-17-2000 18:02:37  
Mark, I've rented one of those too, we have so many roots here in SW B.C. that it almost killed 2 of us. Every time it would find a 1" root, it would screw itself into the ground real fast. I did find the solution - 2 husky high school boys who did the pound-in posts on a per-post basis. I went to my job in the morning and they were all in when I came home. That's my favourite way to fence !



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Kermit

08-17-2000 16:06:04




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
Mark, is one of your legs longer than the other because I think your friend has been pulling it. As was said before live hydraulics are a real help. I've used a tractor mounted PTO post hole digger for years and never had any trouble. It will save you A LOT of work. I wouldn't even consider digging 200 post holes by hand! Go for it, buy the digger.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Steve W

08-17-2000 12:00:17




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
Your buddy probably never used one before. They work fine. Live hydraulics are better, but if you get it stuck, get a big pipe wrench, give it about a half turn backwards (hook the wrench to the top of the auger) and then put your hydraulic control all the way up, and engage the PTO. On my 2N, that's enough to get the auger coming back up.

About the only time you'll have trouble, is with rocks bigger than softballs, directly in your path. A big pipe helps for prying out those suckers.

And while we're on the subgect, I've never been successful with doing accurate holes by myself. It's a two-man job, one to guide the post hole digger, and one to run the tractor. Be carefull. I think there's a lot of guys with the nickname "stumpy" who got on the wrong side of a post hole digger.

Good Luck
Steve

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Don

08-17-2000 09:22:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
Good advice from Burrhead. I use my 9-n to drill holes, go slow, pick up the auger every 2 ft or so to clean out the dirt you will do just fine.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jon

08-17-2000 09:12:02




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
They are only hard to get out if you shear a pin while its down in the ground.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Burrhead

08-16-2000 22:06:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: 3 pt hitch mounted post hole diggers in reply to Mark, 08-16-2000 21:48:55  
I believe I would watch that friend, he might lie about important stuff too.

The pto auger is hard to get back out if you sink it too fast and it hangs. If you ease it down slowly and let it spin the dirt loose so that it does'nt pull down and hang you'll do fine.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
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. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 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