Deep Rock Hydra Drill

[mitchash]

I recently purchased a used Hydra Drill portable water well drill. I got a good deal on it so I won't be out much if it doesn't work. I do need a few things for it before I get started. I want to put a well in where are camp is. The first thing I need is a owners manual. I contacted the factory but haven't heard anything back yet. Has anyone have any experience with one of these? Anyone have a manual they could copy for me? Thanks

 

[Larry Caldwell]

It will work OK as long as the rock is soft shale and you don't have to go very deep. For drilling hard rock you need a professional well drilling rig.

 

[kc5dlo]

I have one that I purchased back in 1999. What all did you get with your purchase? I started out with 150' of drill stem, 2",4", and 6" bits. I bought a trash pump locally. I gathered a few pipe wrenches, A couple of large vise grips to hold the drill stem while adding or removing drill stem. I went down the whole 150' through mostly clay and shale with the occasional rock.

Do you know how far you expect to have to drill to get water and what you will be drilling through?

I am in Texas and there are few or none of the building codes and other codes and restrictions in a rural area. Water wells however have become very regulated and restricted however. Depending on what its like in your area, you might have to fly under the radar.

 

[mitchash]

I got the machine, 80' of drill stem, two 2"" drill bits ones is brand new carbide, the other is used and looks more like a reamer. I also got a 8" auger and a few pipe wrenches. The spot I want to drill is on a side hill and there are springs near by. I also dowsed the spot.

 

[mitchash]

Do you have the manual for the Hydra Drill?

 

[kc5dlo]

I dont think I still have a manual for it.

I I recall correctly, There was 2 different 2" bits in my kit. One had two straight flutes with carbide on it. The other was for clay or sand only and the flutes were curved and had no carbide on them.

The motor head I have is a 4 stroke Tecumseh. They also had a 2 stroke model that could be used to bore more or less horizontally.

There was a board with a hole in it that spanned across 2 of the uprights. It was used to keep the drill stem centered and was the vice grips were placed to hold the stem while adding or subtracting. It was a pretty important piece to keep from dropping the drill stem.

 

[mitchash]

I don't have the wood piece. Could that be made? I have the 2 stroke Tecumseh.

 

[kc5dlo]

Yes the board is easily made. In fact I had to make a second one as the first one broke. I would use a piece of a 2x6 with a notch on each end to slip between the 2 uprights on either side of the bore hole. Drill a hole just a little larger than the couplers on the drill stem. Oh, and use anti-seize on the threads of the couplers. The joints can and will get very tight after drilling.

 

[kc5dlo]

Well Drilling Hydra-Drill 29 Black Hawk Ranch - YouTube

I found this video that shows a couple of people starting on a well with on of the deep Rock units.

 

[kc5dlo]

Here is a link to deep rock. About half way down the page is some links to assembly instructions. You are looking for the #1 thru #4 pages for your unit.

Hydra-Drill - Deep Rock Manufacturing