[hb2u]

Hi Fellas. Got a question for the group....

I got a post hole digger for my tractor and used it for the first tie over the weekend. Worked well, but some of the holes were a bit slanted.

Here's my question - how do you set up to dig a hole? I was backing the tractor into place, and then putting it in neutral, locking the brke, and putting the bucket don before dropping the aurger to dig the hole.

Should I be leaving the tractor in gear, or should I be letting it sit in neutral when I dig.

It appears that the geometry of the auger and it's boom pole cause the auger to slant towards the tractor as the boom is lowered. (top of auger is pushed farther away from tractor so the auger drills toward the tractor.)

I was wondering if leaving it in neutral would allow the tractor to self adjust and keep the holes a bit straighter.

For what it's worth, the tractor is a MF 1205 compact tractor and the Auger was the subcompact model from everything attachments with a 9 inch auger on it.


Thanks for any tips you can provide.

HB
Than

 

[CADplans]

I always have to move the tractor forward during the digging to get a non-slanted hole.

The frame is swinging through an arc and YOU have to keep the auger vertical.

:drunkie:

If the land is sloped, you have to position the tractor so the rear tires are level side to side or start adjusting the lift arms to level.

:fing32:

 

[Loremaster72]

I always start with the auger tilted slightly to compensate for the angular change as it is lowered. It's only a few inches, and it doesn't take too long to get the hang of it.

 

[mulerrich]

I attached a long pipe to the head of the auger that i could reach from the tractor seat. I can keep the auger perpendicular as i lower it, but i also move the tractor forward when needed.

 

[Djdoxie]

I like to tilt the bucket over so cutting edge is on the ground then use the bucket curl to roll tractor forward or backward to keep auger vertical.

 

[MF283]

My old digger has an arm that attaches to the head to adjust the position from the tractor seat.
Most of the time, i'll just back it up with the auger swinging, when it hit's the spot i want to drill in, i ease forward or backward to straighten it up.

Ronnie

 

[CADplans]

My old digger has an arm that attaches to the head to adjust the position from the tractor seat.
Most of the time, i'll just back it up with the auger swinging, when it hit's the spot i want to drill in, i ease forward or backward to straighten it up.

Ronnie

Did the arm look like this!!??

 

[MF283]

Did the arm look like this!!??

It was a straight piece of metal with a rubber grip, roughly the same size as 1/2" PVC pipe, around 5' long, there is a slot on top of the gearbox that the handle slides into.
A friend of mine has it borrowed now, i'd take a pic if it were here, it's an old Servis brand, had it going on 30 years now.
I believe it was mfd in TX, if my memory serves me correctly.

Ronnie

 

[joshc]

That's a great idea Djdoxie.