Harbor Freight Earth Auger - FULL Review and Used in TOUGH Terrain

[@heppylifestyle]

1 step to assemble; starts easily; used to install 550' of fencing around TONS of big trees but it's a bed of river rocks that slowed me down. discover i have a 12-24" bed of river rock about 16" below ground. get the extension if you're doing fence posts. the 6" bit sorta creates an 8" hole. all 7 lessons are below -- check the chapter description!! ;)

[@bjen2005]

Excellent review and tips. Greatly appreciate you taking the time to post it.

[@heppylifestyle]

GLAD is helped and thank you for the feedback!

[@chuckhunter5184]

Good information, going to get one in the morning. Have holes to repair my fences .I'm retired and can't get any one to work. I have a air compresses that is over 20 years from harbor freight.

[@heppylifestyle]

@chuckhunter5184 yes, most HF products work great and a few are less-than ... ideal :) and yup, it's very hard to find good help. I can completely identify :/. thanks for the feedback, and for stopping by.

[@itdontmatter8906]

8:27 happened to me last weekend..i know have a broken wrist..when that happens its pretty violent

[@heppylifestyle]

i'm sorry to hear that. a hang-up can be bad. i happened to film one of the worst. hope you get better soon!

[@yousefalassad6985]

awesome review .. thanks

[@bonholio0o]

hello, I have the same model. Just replaced the entire carburetor, fuel line, filter, and spark plug (amazon kit) and it's now easily start immediately after 1 crank. However, it's no longer putting out the same torque as before where it would toss me around like rag doll. It's just slowly turning ...very very slow. It's running excellent though, no hesitation, smooth ride minus terrible torque when digging. Please help, any tips to to fix my issue? Anyone?

[@larsrodbok1285]

Aviation fuel may be ethanol free, but it contains LEAD! That is a no-no. From CDPH: “Aviation gas (also known as 'avgas') is a fuel commonly used by small piston-engine (propeller or rotary) aircraft and is the most widely used transportation fuel containing lead in the U.S..”

[@jesusroque989]

You don't need an Airplane full for that auger.

[@heppylifestyle]

@jesusroque989 correct. apologies if i wan not clear. any non-ethanol fuel is what i recommend. it's that the airport was close and fuel much cheaper than buying non-ethanol fuel from a big box store :) thanks for stopping by! 🐞

[@theclaybeartravels3596]

Why do you say airplane fuel?

[@heppylifestyle]

@theclaybeartravels3596 well, that's were i was going until they closed. ethanol-free gas is what i recommend; believe it or not, the local small engine shopped helped me learn. boat launches, very few gas stations (in my region) and big box stores offer it too. ethanol-free gas. thanks for stopping by!

[@backtothebasics3193]

🫡🤴🏻

[@Chalz108]

I noticed you used the orange bottle of stihl oil to mix with your gas. They sell a gray bottle that's the same thing but smokeless. It makes a big difference in the amount of exhaust smoke

[@heppylifestyle]

i'll look for it! thank you.

[@djtaylorutube]

Smokeless two stroke oil? Who knew?! I finished my task yesterday in cloud of smoke. 😅

[@bunnylow5753]

Can you mix the stihl oil with 50 to 1 or would you have to mix the oil with frickin jet fuel

[@Chalz108]

@@bunnylow5753 50:1 non ethanol 87 octane

[@heppylifestyle]

@@djtaylorutube 😝😇

[@pigwerks]

I bought a 3" auger for mine. Extra work since you have to go back and clean up holes with 6" auger. But in hard ground the 3" auger digs so much easier.

[@cameron8253]

I bought one today. we will see how it goes.

[@heppylifestyle]

@cameron8253 + stinky (helps if work u work with it in a breeze; it's not the fuel mix, it's the plastic or something); + keep wrists loose; and + i did a bad job explaining how that small Auger Drill Bit, 2” wide x 32” long (on cordless drill) helped me determine if rocks or fat roots where in the path. amzn.to/3AnscYz otherwise, it cuts like butter.

[@Wolf6151]

Harbor Freight offers an 8 inch bit for this auger, and I'm wondering if you ever tried it and/or if you think this auger had enough power for an 8 inch bit? Thanks.

[@heppylifestyle]

I did not try the 8". Great question about power. The six inch drove into the ground very easily; i'm guessing it has plenty of power for an 8" BUT if there's too many stones or roots, then you'll be getting caught-up on them. Good luck!

[@hermandnanner]

I have the 8” auger and it works great

[@dkat1108]

Any post hole digging even with an auger you need a 6ft breaker bar and a hand post hole digger for help breaking up soil and rocks and a sawzall for roots.. Thanks for the honest review it does help folks like me decide if I want to purchase one.

[@heppylifestyle]

ur welcome; i never used one before and that was a 100% candid review of what i learned. yes, breaker bar and a sawzall for roots will have u looking good. the hand post hole digger is though -- for sure. glad the vid helped!

[@nasarazam]

How would you use Sawzall deep into the hole?

[@dkat1108]

@@nasarazam Sawzall has blades that are 15 inches long I also have a 18 inch electric Chainsaw that I have used in holes all the way 2+ ft deep, I have put in a lot of fence post over 60 years and still going LOL

[@mmiller1188]

I noticed mine had a weird plasticy smell when I was using it. I have probably dug over 100 holes with mine and it keeps going. Would like to change the oil / grease in the gearbox.

[@heppylifestyle]

that smell is terrible; folks mentioned a smokeless oil mix but it's the plastic around the engine's housing! 100 holes! you got space for fencing!

[@causeforchrist4730]

Excellent video! Thanks so much for making this. I've been very nervous about the set up and start up process for this auger, and your video went into excellent demonstration of both these processes. I also found your precautions very helpful!

[@heppylifestyle]

Thank you!

[@IFBBProGeorgeDorsey]

That's not Georgia clay!! That GA clay is like cement.

[@heppylifestyle]

use them damn muscles 🤣. that's tough soil. watch ur grip! stay well and thanks for stopping by!

[@wildpigremovalinc.executio8028]

I bought a HF auger about 5 years ago but it's still in the box. I planed on using it to put in a fence but when I wanted to start the work I found out my entire property has river rock. My small rocks AR the size of a baseball and average size is a bowling ball. When I watched your video I was wondering if the small auger bit 3-4 inches would help. By drilling a hole with a smaller bit first to make it easier for the larger bit cut the hole to the required size. Have you tried that? Nice video. Have a nice day.

[@heppylifestyle]

well, i had to 'pre-drill' AND use that solid steel stake in areas with river rock. BUT that vid showed that they were a little bigger than a ping pong ball; drilling was really hard on the wrists (have a loose grip!). my rocks were in a layer close to the topsoil; once i got 18" down, I was good to go. You may want to see if you've got a similar layer. rocks the size of bowling balls -- i don't envy you :/

[@bugware7313]

A few weeks without rain, clay was too hard for this auger.... it just spun. Instructions say don't push, but if you don't you'll never get through hard clay. I ended up going back to manual post hole diggers, regret this purchase. Yes, stinks like crazy, mine was even smoking, thought it was going to catch on fire. Price is right if you have soft soil.

[@heppylifestyle]

i'm sorry to hear that! that is crazy-hard clay soil. here & there i had to smash my way forward by loosening the spot, using a steel rod and blacksmith's hammer. very grueling -- i get it. hope things work out....

[@cameron8253]

@@bugware7313 are you in texas too? I tried mine out yesterday and the clay really did not let much happen.

[@bugware7313]

@@cameron8253 No, I'm in Western NC mountains, lots of clay. The auger works OK if the clay is not dried up hard, or if it's regular soil.

[@countryshooter3743]

I just bought mine today. Works good so far the only problem is the plastic they put around the motor. Starts melting from the heat and giving off the toxic plastic smell you were talking about. I took the plastic off the motor so that should solve it. They should have put metal covers instead of plastic 🤦‍♂️

[@heppylifestyle]

100% agree; so strong are the fumes coming off that thing that i commented on the fumes coming off it weeks later. i'd work that device on a windy day, if possible. good news: it keeps starting and works just fine (1 yr later). good luck with your work!

[@countryshooter3743]

Good to hear. I run non ethanol and synthetic oil in mine. This is the first outdoor gas powered engine I have seen that has plastic over the motor and muffler

[@heppylifestyle]

@@countryshooter3743 the plastic cover explains it; i was making real-world, live comments about how that damn thing stinks! But is A LOT better than a post hole digger! yup, non ethanol. i learned that the hard way (replaced a few carbs ....). good luck -- work when windy!

[@countryshooter3743]

Yep, better than post hole diggers

[@247tx3]

Yesterday brought it home worked great then today it won't go down? Seems like every time I put it away the next day I have problems this is my 3rd one

[@love4horses2015]

Am I the only one that can’t pull the starter chord. I’ve been trying to get mine to start for an hour. By time I get the chord moving good it still doesn’t start after watching 5 tutorials AND reading the instructions

[@594bolt]

Mine pulls very hard ,too. I removed the recoil and start it with an impact gun.

[@sweed3269]

Yup- same issue and actually sprained my wrist on it today trying to get it started. Shure isn't a Stihl....

[@causeforchrist4730]

I have one question... after you put the switch to "Start" and get the auger started, do you immediately change the switch to "Run"? Or, do you allow the auger to warm up for a minute or so and then change it to run?

[@heppylifestyle]

I turn the choke to (I think it's) Run immediately after it starts. Choke to start it, then UNchoke to have it idle. Hope that helped, and thanks for stopping by! Please subscribe ;)

[@causeforchrist4730]

Yes, very helpful! Thanks again! Your review is the best one that I have found so far on KZbin. It really helps to cover the basics because there are laypersons like me who are not mechanically inclined and have never used an auger. @@heppylifestyle

[@heppylifestyle]

​ @causeforchrist4730 filming my first experiences was beneficial; i'm so glad the vid helped you (thanks again). dont leave gas in the device when soring (allow the motor to run out of fuel on it's own) and have a loose grip / quick wrists when auguring ;) . 🐞

[@jamsessionrecordshop8872]

Great info!

[@paulmvn5431]

Are you using leaded gasoline?

[@heppylifestyle]

Ethanol free gas. FEW gas stations have it (in MD), airports, boat launches and big box stores have it. Hoped that helped and plz subscribe!

[@nasarazam]

That Kickback can break my wrist !

[@heppylifestyle]

@@nasarazam you're right -- it's a REALLY hard kickback when ya hit something. Hang in there! 👨‍🌾

[@nasarazam]

@@heppylifestyle I will use a drill with clutch. True it won’t dig efficiently like proper auger. But at 67 , running anything without a clutch is asking for trouble. Even using a drill without a clutch can break your wrist. There is just too much risk using this machine…

[@heppylifestyle]

@@nasarazam making adjustments (using clutch) is just plain smart. technically, i'm not aware of a clutch on the HF device BUT to your point, the clutch reduces efficiency and reduces risk. reducing risk is better ;). thanks for stopping by!

[@JuanitoYugom]

Ho much one unit

[@heppylifestyle]

About $200 in sale

[@joeharvie8362]

I have never uses one. At 68 I don't need to snap a wrist. Good to have the heads up that it does not have a clutch and you had better let go of the beast and not fit it! Thank you!

[@heppylifestyle]

Very rough on wrists, particularly if using it around tree roots any sort of rocky soil ... like, Earth ;) Glad the vid helped.

[@Brandon_Lee83]

Is anyone else having trouble getting their auger started? I primed the fuel, and pulled on the ripcord multiple times. For some reason she still won't start. 🤔

[@johncampanaro9204]

did you put the choke on make sure it's on the on position😊

[@Brandon_Lee83]

@@johncampanaro9204 hello good morning and thank you for responding, yes sir we sure did, the company is called b i l t t o u g h and it's a new earth auger that we purchased from Amazon. Gas powered with the appropriate gasoline mixture. We finally got it started, for some reason the device does not want to start as soon as you start pulling on the cord, for some reason it would rather you keep the cord pulled out and continuously tugging at it to get it started. Unlike a lawn mower where you just pull on it a couple of times and then it starts. The device is a pain in the grass. 🙄