Auger Maintenance Matters
Daily Inspections and Proper Operation Can Keep Your Auger Attachment in Action

By Gustavo Valecillos

Labor-saving auger work tools have spared many a sore muscle, making quick work of digging holes for footings, fence posts, trees and anything else that needs to go into the ground. Attached to small, maneuverable machines such as mini hydraulic excavators, these efficient tools can be used by contractors in small enclosures on a variety of jobsites. To keep these durable diggers in top condition, a few simple measures are in order.

Every-Day Inspections
Worn parts can negatively affect productivity. Worn teeth do not penetrate as efficiently, requiring more force and more time (and thereby greater expense) to accomplish a task. The ground conditions in which the auger is digging can also contribute to accelerated wear. Operators working in harsher environments may notice wear sooner than those working in softer ground.

Daily inspections are an important aspect of equipment maintenance, as they often pinpoint wear along with minor repairs. By attending to these small tasks early,
contractors maximize work time by circumventing a potential breakdown. Walk-around inspections for machines and work tools help operators monitor wear and damage to augers and the machines running them. Before conducting an inspection, operators should clean off the machine and work tool, removing any debris.

Inspect the Auger Bit Teeth: Check the auger teeth for any wear or damage. Replace teeth before any damage occurs to the bit, mounting bolt or nut. Rotating the auger teeth after each day of operation from the outside of one side to the inside of the other will help prolong the life of the tool.

Inspect and Lubricate the Bracket Pivot Pin: Check the upper angled plates for bending or damage. Check the holes in the lower angled plates for damage, bending and wear. Apply lubricant to the fitting for the pivot pin of the mounting bracket and drive housing to ensure smooth operation.

Inspect and Replace the Pilot Tooth: Check the pilot tooth for wear and damage. As one of the first points of ground contact, the auger pilot tooth will experience significant friction and, therefore, wear. Replace the tooth when the flutes are completely worn off (before damage oy0ccurs to the auger bit). The pilot tooth can be replaced easily. Remove the bolt securing the worn tooth, replace the new tooth at the same angle as the old one and then replace the bolt to secure it.

Check for Exposed Wires and Damaged Hoses: These pose a safety hazard to the operator and others on the jobsite. Electrical wires and hydraulic hoses on the machine and work tool should be monitored for fraying and wear and they should be replaced before the outer coverings are chafed and cut.

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Safety Tips
Maintenance technicians should ensure that the work tool is properly supported when performing maintenance tasks. Never walk under an unsupported work tool on a machine with its arm raised.

The proper handling of fluids is important for not only the personal safety of operators and maintenance technicians, but also to comply with local regulations for hazardous material disposal. Special care should be taken to avoid spilling fluids during inspection, maintenance, testing and repair of the equipment.

All maintenance technicians and operators should familiarize themselves with the operation and maintenance manual before operating or working on the machine and work tool. These books contain information specific to the machine model and include operating capacities, tips for operating and detailed safety information.

Optimum Operation
Before digging, operators should ensure proper orientation. The auger should be completely away from the mounting bracket. Once the work tool is away from the bracket, the operator may raise the auger and tilt the auger forward until the work tool can swing forward, backward and sideways freely. The auger should be vertically oriented before and remain so during digging. It may be necessary to reposition the machine to maintain this orientation.

If so, the operator should raise the auger from the hole before moving the machine, replacing it afterward to continue digging.

Before digging, operators should check the auxiliary control to ensure clockwise rotation. With the auger tooth piercing the ground about 2 in., the operator should apply enough downward pressure for the work tool to penetrate the ground, but decrease pressure if the auger slows drastically or stalls. Operators should not use the machine to pull up an auger bit that has become stuck. Instead, reverse rotation and slowly raise the work tool from the ground. Once the bit is free, resume digging.

Raise the auger bit from the hole after every 2 ft of digging to remove dirt from the hole. After reaching the desired depth, allow the bit to rotate a few seconds at the bottom of the hole in order to clean the hole, then slowly raise the bit from the hole. Move the bit away from the hole and activate the auxiliary hydraulic control to clear the dirt from the work tool. Do not allow the front of the machine operating the auger to lift off the ground. The resulting decreased ground contact compromises the machine’s stability.

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Preventive Maintenance
In the case of a new auger work tool, the planetary oil should be changed after the initial 50 service hours. After the next 50 service hours, the planetary oil level should be checked, and it should be changed after every 1,000 service hours from then on.

Maintenance contracts are often available through equipment providers like dealers or rental providers such as The Cat Rental Store. These agreements can cover as many or as few machines and work tools to meet a contractor’s individual needs. If a work tool is acquired through a rental agreement, maintenance may be included in the agreement.

Transportation and Storage
When the auger is attached to a machine, operators should carry the work tool approximately 15 in. off the ground when changing location. To keep the tool from swinging, travel at low speeds, avoiding rapid changes of direction and sudden stops.

Auger work tools should be stored off the ground on an appropriate pallet. Tie the hydraulic hoses to the work tool in order to keep them off the ground. Covering the
quick-connect coupler hoses with caps will keep dirt out of the couplings. Alternatively, connect the two quick-connect couplers together.

Always load on a flat, stable area. Remove the work tool from the machine and place the tool on a pallet in order to better protect its components. Use the designated lifting points and tie-down points detailed in the operation and maintenance manual.

Secure the hydraulic lines to the work tool and use protective caps or connect the hose couplings to each other to keep dirt out.

Gustavo Valecillos is a work tool sales consultant for Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill.

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