Post hole auger on a 2N?

[Kirk West]

Anybody have any input on using an 3 point auger on a 2N?
I've got a line on one for $125. Guy says it works.

 

[old]

While probably not the worlds best tractor for one it should handle it just fine. The lack of live hyds and all can make it a bit hared to use and can in turn cause small safety problems

 

[oldtanker]

Your biggest worry is brakes. You gotta bore a hole on a hill side and those brakes have got to hold the tractor. I do use an auger on my 8N.

Rick

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I fenced my 3 acre pasture as well as my neighbors 2 acres w/ a phd on my N's. Success w/ a PHD on an N depends on soil type & trees.

I've got very sandy soil, no rocks & no trees. But, once the ground got rock hard w/ no rain in 6 weeks, no more digging. Remember, 23 hp, hydraulics up, gravity down. And, no reverse on the phd, so when you auger it in, you will learn all the tricks to get it out!

BTW.....I made a jig w/ an 8 foot pole & two plywood squares w/ 3.5" x 3.5" square holes cut in them on either end. I ran my string line w/ the jig under it & sprayed over the holes. That got me a perfectly straight line w/ marks exactly 8 feet on center. Then, I came back w/ a hand phd & dug out 4-6 inches as a pilot hole. I then could straddle the hole w/ the N, drag the auger up to the pilot hole until the tip dropped in, back up to get the auger at 90*, then start digging. I spray painted a red band on the auger at the desired depths.

W/ all that digging, I only buried the auger twice!

75 Tips

 

[WW2N]

No problem I wore out the harden tip on one with my 2N digging post holes and holes to plant scrubs. 2 things dont hang it up in tree roots, and remember it is a big PTO and it would have no mercy if it grabs you.

 

[DGinVT]

Make sure that you have a pipe wrench with a LONG handle in case you stick the auger hard. Also have several spare shear pins handy. I have two on mine 1 thru the auger and output of the gear box and 2, one on the pto where it goes into the gear box. Don't wear loose clothing . It will if it can wrap you right up with no trouble.

 

[Maxwell 99]

Kirk,
I have a greenline 5000 phd for my little Ferguson.

Would be nice to have down pressure on the hydraulics, but poor boys cannot have everything.

It does a good job, just keep all by bystanders away from all rotating parts.

I got mine for $300, so if the one you are looking at is in good shape, buy it!!!

Insure it has good sharpe cutter teeth and that all shear bolts are in place and are soft bolts.

You do not want to hang up and bust a pto shaft or phd gearbox.

One other thing: when your neighbors find out you have a pto driven phd, you will have some new friends you did not know you had. No joke!!!
And when they shear a pin they will install the first and hardest bolt they can find.

 

[Colin King]

I like the sounds of your jig and that is one nice looking fence!

Colin

 

[howdy1960]

Sure wish I could use a phd but have more rocks then dirt. Instead I have plans hand drawn up for a post pounder. SWMBO's 13 Lb hammer gets heavy when we (I) installed the last 50 posts and figure with the changes she wants its gonna be close to another 80 or so posts.

 

[dbNga]

When I got my used phd, there were supposed to be pencil size threads wrapped around the tip to bite the ground. My auger just took forever to make any progress in packed soil. I had to replace the entire auger due to design but with new threads on point it will dig much better. Years ago I saw a phd advertised and it looked like you could replace the lower foot of auger with point and not have to replace entire auger for worn out point. Something to look for in your phd.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Thanks Colin!

 

[Greg 2N (TX)]

I have had good results with a Landpride PD-15.
It's nice and heavy, but still mounted a plate on top of the boom to accept weights.
I have dug (always as slow an rpm as possible) in hard black clay with stopping and scraping off the bits about every foot.
That clay still had some moisture from prior rains though.
I do have to say that my 2N has TOH's live hydraulics and Zane's position control.
Can't live without it!

Take Care,
Greg

 

[Kirk West]

I'll be using it in the Rocky Mountains. They don't call them the Rockies for nothing. I fenced 6 acres by hand last year. For $125 its worth a shot.

 

[Jack in Colo]

been using a 2N for many years to run a auger, not having live hydraulics can be a pain but if you are careful it will get the job done, I run a 12" auger on mine for setting RR ties and it always seems to do the job ok.

$125 for a good auger is a good price around here. I paid $200 for mine used about 20 years ago.