Mini Excavator Auger

[HogValleyFarm]

Hi all I am attaching a post hole digger for the 3 point hitch of a tractor to my mini excavator. I already have the motor I need. I am in the processes of building the bracket for this now and I wanted to get some other people's input on it. First off the hydraulic motor I got has has a 1 1/4 in keyed shaft, the input shaft on the auger is also 1 1/4 in but it is not keyed it just has a hole drilled through the shaft for a shear pin. My idea is to use the a standard 1 1/4 in rigid coupler with a key slot which will fit over the both shafts and drill a hole straight through the end of the coupler that will go onto the input shaft of the auger so I can put a shear bolt thought it since it will not be using a key to lock the coupler to the shaft. Can anyone thing of any reason that would be a bad idea?

Also the bracket I am making to mount the motor to the auger gear box I am planning to bolt it down on the top using 2 bolts that are halfway out you can see above the input shaft. Any reason anyone can think of that I should not bold it down to there. So basically the motor bracket will bolt on using those 2 bolts and the shafts will be connected using the rigid coupler.

The link to the coupler I am using is here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005L69NJ2/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

 

[Txhayseed]

Been my experience that round auger shafts with sheer bolts do just that shear. Almost everything now is hex for a reason except for the compact tractor market and that is to save your driveline/pto from damage if you get the auger lodged. Will it work sure, seen lots of the converted over the years. Never used one myself but after seeing lots of belltecs twisted and destroyed i would be sceptical of long term heavy duty use. Of course it depends on soil conditions and what your expecting from it. If thats what you got no harm in trying. As far as the mount goes for the pump and bracket both are going to take their share of abuse from starts, stops and twisting from the rotation of the auger doing its thing. Id try to get as much steel as you can and catch all the bolt holes you can to mount it. But thats the great thing about building you own stuff. If it breaks you just go damn that sucks and try something different until it works or it blows up or you just through your hands up and hit up Craigslist for another auger