Hyd. Auger - Direct Drive/Chain Drive/Gear Drive?

[Mo Mentum]

I am getting closer to pulling the trigger on a new hyd. auger, but need to decide if I should be concerned about the drive system. Gear models claim they're the best, but I wonder if that is because they can use a smaller motor. Direct drive seems like a good choice since no gears to go bad. I heard chain drive is not the best choice.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Queenslander]

I guess it depends on what size holes you are digging.
We have run augers up to 18” with our planetary drive, I can’t imagine doing that with a direct drive motor, at least not on a machine the size of yours.
As a matter of interest, how does the Digga drive stack up price wise?

 

[Mo Mentum]

Thanks for the reply. So a direct drive does not have the power/torque capacity of a gear drive unit?

I have a price for the Skid Pro auger and Eterra. auger Both are about the same price. I got a price for the Bore Pig from Quick Attach and it is about $400 more. I am still waiting for the Digga price.

 

[Queenslander]

The only experience I have with direct drive is with a 6” pilot auger on a post driver.
The gear drives have much more torque but also turn slower.
If you had a lot of small holes, say, up to 10” to dig in good going you may be quicker with direct drive.
But in tough digging or in any amount of rock I think you would be better off with a planetary drive.

 

[Mo Mentum]

Appreciate the help. I have what some call "rippable rock". It is a porous rock that is full of druzy quartz. My excavator can dig through it - sometimes. But many are too hard to break up. So I need a lot of torque. Sounds like the gear drive model is for me. Now I just have to figure out which brand to purchase.

[How's the weather down there? Looks like you are pretty close to the equator. Do you get much seasonal variation?]

 

[Queenslander]

We’re more Capricornian than Equatorial, so winter temps. usually get down to 0c and summer up to around 45c.
Our biggest weather variable is rainfall.
We can go from prolonged drought to flooding rain from one year to the next.