Hydraulic auger recommendations for my FEL

[In.the.Piñons]

My tractor has a ~18gpm flow rate (not sure on the PSI though). I'll be routing hydraulic lines from the (stock) rear remote up to the FEL to power the Auger, which should allow for continuous flow @ 18gpm.

I've been looking at the Danuser EP1530 which is rated for 15-30gpm. Looks like it can be had for $3K.
Also, any recommendations for a 24" auger bit for hard clay & frangible rock (sandstone in my case)?

Does anyone think I need to be worried about hydraulic loss routing from the rear remotes? I asked AI and it calculated the losses in the 1-2% range depending on the operating PSI of my tractors hydraulics.

Also, do I need a cross port relief valve? Some augers have this feature built in, but not the Danuser. Do I really need it?

 

[bob11x]

I can’t say with any authority but should be fine. I bought a Landpride SA20 for my kubota L3901. There are different motors depending on flow. Mine only has 5-6gpm. The low speed is 6-15, the next one is 10-20gpm
Auger is a bit slow but works good for my fence posts.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

Nice! How do you store it when not it use. Can you just lay it on the ground like a bucket and use the FEL to pick it up when you need to use it again? Or is it like a PTO auger that needs a stand?

 

[RjCorazza]

My Land Pride ssqa auger gets stored on a pallet shelf, with the auger disconnected. I fork the pallet off the shelf, remove the forks, drive into ssqa auger, lift and attach the auger. It can be stored with the auger attached and ready to go, but it takes up a lot of floor space.
WAY easier than my previous 3 point auger!

 

[bob11x]

The auger can be lifted into a catch on the left and right side (when center mounted) for moving about and also can keep it compact for leaving on a pallet or ground. Better to remove auger (1 bolt) for longer storage.

 

[4570Man]

You only need the cross relief port if the attachment has a lot of kinetic energy which the auger does not. My auger doesn’t have one and it’s a non issue. This machine only has like 12 gpm and it augers great so I wouldn’t be worried about the fluid loss.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

So I spoke to a sales guy at Danuser. Super helpful! He told me that despite my 18gpm tractor's flow rate, the real number would be less because of the hydraulic steering. So 15.9 gpm @ 2,888psi is the usable hydraulic capability. And with that in mind, he recommended the EP1020 (10-20gpm) auger over the EP1530 (15-30).

 

[Squirrel's242]

So I spoke to a sales guy at Danuser. Super helpful! He told me that despite my 18gpm tractor's flow rate, the real number would be less because of the hydraulic steering. So 15.9 gpm @ 2,888psi is the usable hydraulic capability. And with that in mind, he recommended the EP1020 (10-20gpm) auger over the EP1530 (15-30).

I think you'll be happy with the performance. I use an EP615 on my tractor's 3rd function and while it is the smallest auger drive unit, it works.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

I think you'll be happy with the performance. I use an EP615 on my tractor's 3rd function and while it is the smallest auger drive unit, it works.

I ended up changing my mind at the last min and bought a MTL auger. They are made by belltec and have a parker motor. It's rated for 15-35gpm, so I'm going to be on minimum end of that. But it's over $1K cheaper than the Dan when factoring in shipping and tax. Also ordered 24" & 9" auger bits + a 2ft extension.

It'll see infrequent use, so I just can't justify $3500+ on the EP1530.

My electric auger sure beats a shovel, but it's not really up to the task with our clay soil. With 3,000+ lb/ft of torque and 4,000lbs of down force, I can't wait to try this thing.

 

[IXLR8]

I ended up changing my mind at the last min and bought a MTL auger. They are made by belltec and have a parker motor. It's rated for 15-35gpm, so I'm going to be on minimum end of that. But it's over $1K cheaper than the Dan when factoring in shipping and tax. Also ordered 24" & 9" auger bits + a 2ft extension.

It'll see infrequent use, so I just can't justify $3500+ on the EP1530.

My electric auger sure beats a shovel, but it's not really up to the task with our clay soil. With 3,000+ lb/ft of torque and 4,000lbs of down force, I can't wait to try this thing.

Looking forward to hearing your review.... I need a PHD and this looks mighty tempting.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

Looking forward to hearing your review.... I need a PHD and this looks mighty tempting.

I'll report back when I get it up and running. But it probably won't be for 2-4 weeks as I'm still waiting on my WR Long remotes / 3rd function kit. They are having to make it up custom for me and it's already been about a month and it's yet to ship.

Waiting is killing me! I ordered a MTL grapple at the same time I ordered the WR kit. Now the grapple is sitting in my barn, collecting dust until I get my 3rd function.

 

[IXLR8]

I'll report back when I get it up and running. But it probably won't be for 2-4 weeks as I'm still waiting on my WR Long remotes / 3rd function kit. They are having to make it up custom for me and it's already been about a month and it's yet to ship.

Waiting is killing me! I ordered a MTL grapple at the same time I ordered the WR kit. Now the grapple is sitting in my barn, collecting dust until I get my 3rd function.

I bought a MTL grapple and I am controlling it off one of my rear remotes... seems to work great. Although hoses cost what I thought was a small fortune.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

I bought a MTL grapple and I am controlling it off one of my rear remotes... seems to work great. Although hoses cost what I thought was a small fortune.

My rear remote controls are positioned such that they are not readily accessible when I'm using the loader joystick.

The setup I'm getting from WR Long will still use one of their rear remotes (the kit I'm buying adds four to the existing two) to operate the grapple, but it's activated by a button on a replacement joystick. I went in this direction because they told me that their true 3rd function kit does not support continuous flow. While that doesn't matter for a grapple, it does matter for an auger. But still, their remotes don't flow at the same GPM as my tractors existing rear remotes (18 vs 12gpm), so I will still have to plug into a factory rear remote to operate/power the auger.

 

[IXLR8]

My rear remote controls are positioned such that they are not readily accessible when I'm using the loader joystick.

The setup I'm getting from WR Long will still use one of their rear remotes (the kit I'm buying adds four to the existing two) to operate the grapple, but it's activated by a button on a replacement joystick. I went in this direction because they told me that their true 3rd function kit does not support continuous flow. While that doesn't matter for a grapple, it does matter for an auger. But still, their remotes don't flow at the same GPM as my tractors existing rear remotes (18 vs 12gpm), so I will still have to plug into a factory rear remote to operate/power the auger.

Ahh, my rear remote controls are very handy and easy to use/access.

 

[IXLR8]

Except for the $$$$$, are there any downsides to a hydraulic FEL PHD?

 

[workinonit]

I just bought a China one off the local farm equipment auction. 1200 bucks with 3 augers. I did have to buy a skid steer adapter plate for the global FEL hookup. I never worry about flow rates on those augers. It just turns slower. Mine works fine. Used it to install 50 or so 6x6 posts.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

Except for the $$$$$, are there any downsides to a hydraulic FEL PHD?

I would say the only caution would be most compact tractors don't have the GPM's to power the skid steer auger motors. But they do make motors that are rated down to 10gpm.

Here's a vid of a guy with the extreme example of a big auger motor on a little tractor. It got the job done, but man does that auger turn slow.

With a PTO auger, you have much more power available, but it kind of goes to waste because there's no down force.

 

[In.the.Piñons]

BTW my auger arrived, but it's useless without the WR Long hydraulics I order about 6 weeks ago (which still hasn't shipped).

The auger motor arrived pretty rough looking. They just strapped down the 24" auger on top of the motor. Of course the straps broke during transport and so the auger bit scratched up the motor.

Not sure it's worth complaining about as just about everything I've ordered new, has arrived with gouges and paint missing, looking more like used refurbished/b-stock.

 

[RjCorazza]

Compared to a pto auger, my hydraulic ssqa auger spins slow at around 100 rpm. It took a while to get used to the speed difference.
That video looked painfully slow, but it got the job done.

 

[IXLR8]

BTW my auger arrived, but it's useless without the WR Long hydraulics I order about 6 weeks ago (which still hasn't shipped).

The auger motor arrived pretty rough looking. They just strapped down the 24" auger on top of the motor. Of course the straps broke during transport and so the auger bit scratched up the motor.

Not sure it's worth complaining about as just about everything I've ordered new, has arrived with gouges and paint missing, looking more like used refurbished/b-stock.

Sorry to hear your auger motor came in rough looking. My MTL grapple came in a bit busted up, at least the pallet was. The original straps and pallet were broken and the shipping company ended up putting another pallet under the original and then restrapped it.