Maintaining Your Hydraulic Earth Drill

Like most things in life, to ensure long-lasting use of an item, it is important to properly use or maintain it. If not, the item is likely to become severely damaged or stop working entirely. Your hydraulic earth drill is no different. Though these machines are built tough, their workload of drilling through dense dirt can lead to extreme wear and tear if not properly looked after. To ensure your hydraulic earth drill keeps working as it should, we have listed some common parts that frequently need maintenance that should be done regularly to keep your machine in working order.

Replace Worn Out Points & Blades On Auger

We know wanting to get as much use out of an item as possible, but using a dull point of the blade on an auger not only leads to an ineffective dig but can also lead to damage to your drill. When a worn-out point or blade is used, your machine must work overtime to compensate for faulty hardware. The extra effort can easily burn out your earth drill or damage the rest of your auger. Worst-case scenario, the point or blade snaps off during use resulting in serious damage and possible injury to the user.

Frequently Check Torque Tube

The torque tube is an important safety measure for all earth drills. This tube even distributes the impact of the drill between the motor and the handlebars. This is important for times when rocky or dense earth is struck that the force of the impact does not fully be sent to the user. Regularly check your torque tube for dents and cracks. If damaged, immediately replace it before your next dig to prevent injury.

Check For Leaky Control Valve

Before starting a dig, it is important that the operator turns on the machine and lets it run for a few minutes. During this time, check to see if the control valve is leaking any hydraulic oil. If so, immediately shut down the drill and relieve the hydraulic pressure. It might be that something is loose, so be sure to go through and tighten all fittings. If the leak persists, the house or seal kit might need to be replaced.

Ensure All Fluids Are Properly Filled

Always check that all fluids are full and fasteners are tight before starting a job. Low hydraulic fluid and oil, as well as loose fasteners, can greatly affect your earth drill and lead to damage. After the first 15 hours of use, your drill’s hydraulic oil and filter will need to be changed. Long-term maintenance of your oil and filter will consist of changing them every three months or after 100 hours of use.

Clean Hoses

After each use, it is imperative that your earth drill be cleaned. Build-up or dirt and debris within the engine and hoses can quickly deteriorate the function of your drill. To prevent dirt from entering your drill’s hydraulic system, we recommend that the disconnect for the hydraulic output be placed on the input coupler and the same with the other hose. Always check your hoses and other engine parts for signs of deterioration and replace them if noticed.

We hope these maintenance tips help to ensure the long-lasting use of your Little Beaver hydraulic drill. If you have other maintenance questions or need insight on what parts might need to be replaced on your drill, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our helpful sales representatives.