Hydraulic Post Hole Auger bad for Kubota?

[ultrarunner]

Looking to buy a Hydraulic Post Hole Digger... mainly because I like having the added ability to reverse direction and also having the option of a loader or backhoe mount.

The Kubota Service Tech cautioned me saying hydraulic Post Hole Augers can develop tremendous heat and there have been issues with damaged O-rings and seals...

Has anyone else found this to be a problem?

Better yet, if the problem is heat... what about adding a supplemental cooler and/or temp gauge?

 

[medicshawn]

What are you running it on. The issue as I understand it is wether there is enough flow to run it. I don't think tractors generally put out as much hydraulic flow as skid steers. I jnow some of the guys are running them on their M59s.

 

[ultrarunner]

What are you running it on. The issue as I understand it is wether there is enough flow to run it. I don't think tractors generally put out as much hydraulic flow as skid steers. I jnow some of the guys are running them on their M59s.

Worksaver 714H unit is rated for 5 to 10 GPM and the Kubota B26 with thumb option has about 7 GPM available...

 

[DraftHorse]

Running a Bobcat 15c Hyd auger on a L5740. Have drilled over 30 24" holes for tree planting. Works quite well. Only issue I have is seeing the actual drilling due to the long hood. I will have this issue resolved soon. Putting a camera on the QA plate with a monitor in the cab.

3rd function valve is rated at 9.5 gpm.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I set one up on a B3030 once. It works okay with a 12" bit.. a 24" was really too much. It was very slow and did not have the power it should have, but it was right at the lower end of the flow specs.

 

[slowzuki]

I think the remote connections at the rear have too small of tubing to run continuously under high load. Note you can't buy a kickout detent valve on the L30 series.

 

[DraftHorse]

I set one up on a B3030 once. It works okay with a 12" bit.. a 24" was really too much. It was very slow and did not have the power it should have, but it was right at the lower end of the flow specs.

I agree that it is a little on the slow side as compared to a 3pt pto auger. As for the power, I have been able to pull fair size rocks out of the hole. It has on some rare occasions stalled out, but with a little patience, it works out.

I use the 24" mainly for digging tree wells around the property and for putting dry sumps for water drainage around the horse pens.

Usally I use either my 9" or 12" for my fencing duties.

Since I got my 5740HSTC with TNT, putting on the pto auger was a bear. The simplicity of the QA and 3rd function made it a no brainer for me.

Digging holes by hand in 100+ weather was not an option for me. Sitting in AC and taking a few more minutes to drill a hole is worth it.

 

[Aquaman]

I have a Belltec auger that I use on my BX24 and it's just not a very good match. For one thing, it's so heavy that it's hard to move around on rough terrain without it tipping over. Also, I have to have the boom all the way up and locked in position with the pin, and use the dip stick to raise and lower it because the boom isn't able to raise it when fully extended. If you do decide to get one, get it from a reputable dealer like messick's to be sure it is a good match. I bought mine over the phone from equipmentland.com and the set-up they sold me isn't really what I should have. I was in the middle of a construction job and needed it ASAP and didn't have time to do the homework I should have done. The BX24 is just too small and light to handle it.

 

[skipro3]

When you think about it, it makes sense that a hydraulic post hole digger will heat up the fluid. Compared to running any other hydraulic attachment, a FEL, thumb, etc, that post hole digger will be running that pump almost constantly. Maybe see if there's some way to add a hydraulic fluid radiator or something to cool it down a little. It's the duty cycle of the pump that's going to get your fluid hot.

 

[ultrarunner]

When you think about it, it makes sense that a hydraulic post hole digger will heat up the fluid. Compared to running any other hydraulic attachment, a FEL, thumb, etc, that post hole digger will be running that pump almost constantly. Maybe see if there's some way to add a hydraulic fluid radiator or something to cool it down a little. It's the duty cycle of the pump that's going to get your fluid hot.

I was even thinking of adding a temp gauge for the Hydraulic Fluid.

I think I read somewhere the Kubotas sold in Europe have this feature.