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Post Hole Digger

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Rob 9N

10-09-2001 04:40:52

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Has anyone used a post hole digger with an N. I know that some implements are not really suggested to be used with them, and don't want to abuse my tractor. Have lot's of fence mending to do. Rob

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Greg NE

10-09-2001 19:21:05

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

Rob, My Dad and I have used a digger exactly like the one in the pictures Ed posted for years on our 51 8N and like the other posts said you have to be careful not to jam the auger in the ground as it can be fun to get out. We have dug alot of holes in our hard clay and around trees and have never got it stuck yet (maybe lucky!) but we always let it down in the ground real slow and pull it out several times to throw the dirt out and not get it stuck. Good luck and lots easier than by hand Greg NE

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Phil (VA)

10-09-2001 14:15:07

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

Only two comments to add. Unlike NAA, the 8N requires pto engaged to lift so be careful with that aspect of the job. Second, hook the middle bar up first. If you hook the middle bar and then hook the two hydraulic linkages, the PHD will hook up much easier.

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Add Some Weight, It's easy to do

10-09-2001 10:06:13

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

I bought a WorkSaver 9" PhD from Central Tractor this summer, and I used it on My NAA (Jubilee). A few modifications made a huge difference. First, it needed more weight. The gear box of the PhD typically hangs on some kind of pivot pin. On mine, it was a 3/4 in diamter pin, maybe 8 inches long. I took out this pin and replaced it with a 16 inch long piece of 3/4 inch threaded rod. This left about 4 inches of rod sticking out either side of the gearbox. I took weights from a weight set and put them on these extensions. I was easly able to add 180 lbs, and it made a huge difference. I have hard clay soil, and a little water in the hole also makes a huge diference. With these two mods, I banged out 100 holes, 36 inches deep, in one afternoon. Also, think about getting sway bars, because you'll find the PhD is a little loose and sloppy on the 3 point hitch, making it difficult to get the holes in straight. But they work fine, and your N should handle it without complaint.

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Phil R (IL/MT)

10-09-2001 09:44:39

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

I have used one in Montana and they work ok as long as there are not too many rocks. On my place there there are a lot of stream rounded boulders and if it hits on dead on, you don't get very far. The auger can also hang up on a rock on the side of the hole. But as others have said, better than by hand. Sometimes soaking a hole with lots of hard packed clay or a clay pan will help. They can grab a shirt sleeve pretty fast...Good luck..

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Danny in CO

10-09-2001 08:56:38

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

Rob,

I use a post hole digger regularly. I use 6", 9", and 12" augers. The 6" and 9" work great. With the 12" in hard ground, I sometimes have trouble getting the auger back out of the ground. If your hydraulics are marginal, I would stay away from the 12". Also, it depends on the type of ground you are digging into. If it is rocky, you may have problem getting the augers out. You have to disconnect the pto drive shaft and use a big pipe wrench to back the bit out.

Having said all this, it it still MUCH better than digging by hand!

My $.02 worth,
Danny

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TractoRob

10-09-2001 06:52:32

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

I use a 9" on my 8N regularly for fence mending as well, and have also used my PHD on my neighbor's 2N. They work great; saving a LOT of time and effort. But be VERY careful with them. I shudder every time I use it thinking about the possibles that could cause me or someone or something to get caught up in it. That's probably a good thing - makes me pay real close attention to what I'm doing.

Rob

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Ed Gooding (VA)

10-09-2001 05:52:45

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

Hi Rob: a post hole digger (PHD) won't abuse your N, as long as it is used the way it was intended to by the mfg. Ford sold a model, called the Danuser PHD, for the N's. Here's the front and back sides of a 1949 ad brochure for it:

That said, using a PHD on a tractor with live PTO is much more convenient. I'd much prefer to use my 3000 for this type of work. However, if your choices are using your 9N, or doing it manually with a "dirt spoon", then you'll be happy to use your 9N. I would suggest investing in a 4' long pipe wrench to use in case you hang the auger up on some tree roots. You will have to disconnect the auger and manually wrench it out of the hole in reverse direction. If you have a lot of post holes to dig, you'll be glad that you used your 9N, in spite of not having a live PTO tractor to use.

fwiw..... .....Ed
'52 8N475798
'73 3000 C388812

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REDNECKMATT

10-09-2001 19:04:23

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Re: Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Ed Gooding (VA), 10-09-2001 05:52:45

were is anyone going to dig 600 holes in one day other than at the beach???

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Eddie S...question, Ed

10-09-2001 09:57:24

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Re: Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Ed Gooding (VA), 10-09-2001 05:52:45

Hi Ed,

Maybe I don't understand what you mean by live PTO, but how would that help with a post hole digger? When you're digging holes, the tractor would be in neutral anyway, so you have full use of the PTO.

Wouldn't it be much more helpful for this application to have live hydraulics rather than live PTO?

Just wondering...

Thanks,
Eddie S.

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Ed Gooding (VA)

10-10-2001 04:04:32

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Re: Re: Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Eddie S...question, Ed, 10-09-2001 09:57:24

Hi Eddie:

>> Wouldn't it be much more helpful for this application to have live hydraulics rather than live PTO? <<

Yes, it would. Sorry, I brain-f@arted on you. Shouldn't try and answer questions while the coffee is still brewing, instead of waiting for a cup to wake up first (grin). Being able to lift it without a swinging auger spinning is a lot safer. It's more convenient in that you can lift the auger, not spinning, almost out of the hole, and then spin it one time to neatly deposit the dirt from the blades in a neat hump around the mouth of the hole. Makes it convenient to tamp back in after the post hole is set.

Take care..... ..Ed
'52 8N475798

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Rob 9N

10-10-2001 16:48:25

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Ed Gooding (VA), 10-10-2001 04:04:32

Thank you guys for the comments. Now I just have to find one at a reasonable price. Rob

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Johnny - Look at that slope

10-09-2001 07:21:31

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Re: Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Ed Gooding (VA), 10-09-2001 05:52:45

Post hole diggers work great with N's.

Look at the slope the guy in the picture is sitting on. It is a good bit more than I would do aiming exactly perpendicular across a slope. Of course I'm a flatlander and my only slopes are around the tank (which I avoid as much as possible). When it comes to machinery, the listed limit is usually well under the actual physical limit (engineers do that on purpose, just in case). Using that assumption, and considering the picture is out of a Ford ad, it makes me wonder just how much of a slope the N can "really" take safely.

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Mike from Houston

10-09-2001 05:24:40

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Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Rob 9N, 10-09-2001 04:40:52

Rob,
Yes. I have a post hole digger with a 9" auger. I use it on my 8N all the time and it does fine. The only place I can see improvement is being able to turn off the PTO and still have hydraulics but..... By not being able to do so, the turning of the auger on the way out of the hole does tend to knock some of the dirt back into the hole but it is very easily removed with hand post hole diggers since it is lose. Give it a try. I think you'll be pretty impressed how easy cutting post holes can be.

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Old Man

10-09-2001 11:11:17

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Re: Re: Post Hole Digger in reply to Mike from Houston, 10-09-2001 05:24:40

I have an old friend who uses a post hole digger quite a bit. he says the key is to have a good sharp "pilot hole" drill (or what ever it is called) on the bottom of the auger. If it is blunt, and will not make the pilot hole, then you are depending on the first turn of the auger to cut into the soil, which is pretty hard here in North Texas.

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