If you want something that will last more than 100 holes in clay- don't buy this.
I was digging the last hole for the donkey shelter when I caught that heavy clay again, so I hooked the chain between the ROPS and the power head as usual. Then revved up the tractor, (it's a little 30 horse LS) and turned on the PTO which spun the bit and dug it in farther....bogging down the engine until I turned the PTO off and on again...........with no power loss. I watched the PTO shaft spinning for all it was worth.
Oh and it was buried to the U-joint.
CRAP! I sheared that bolt on the shaft.
So I pulled out handsfull of dirt until I could get to the bolt heads that were still firmly attached.
Double CRAP.
Today I shelled out $130 for a 4 hour mini-ex rental so if I couldn't get it fixed, I could at least get it out of the hole.
Something is broke inside the gearbox.
AND, as long as I had something, I'll get water to the shelter.
You can never dig a trench without the inspectors giving their once-over.
ETA-(since I can't comment on my own blog)
B- as soon as the bit starts digging this clay that hasn't seen water since Noah's flood, it starts grabbing. It's like it's one stage away from being sandstone.
That's pretty much ALL post hole diggers of that type. Same issue. I Pre-weaken the shear bolt with a file cut around the edges so it will snap more easily.
ReplyDeleteIf you are needing to chain it up, you are using it too hard.
I find keeping a pipe wrench (like a 24", or a 12 with a piece of pipe) handy to make sure I can reverse the auger out of the ground if I catch something is a good thing.
Might try taking smaller bites and lifting the auger often so it can clear itself. That often is the only way I can dig in hard/heavy clay.