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General Operation of Earth Drills
Q. I’m only going to be drilling a few holes. Do I need to use the torque tube?
A. Whenever drilling vertical holes, the torque tube must always be attached. The torque tube transfers digging torque from the drill head to the engine carriage, making one-man drilling both safe and efficient. The only time the torque tube is not used is when you use Little Beaver horizontal boring attachments. In those cases, the torque tube is replaced with a horizontal drill key, which bypasses the engine safety kill switch.
Q. I’m not sure if there are underground wires or pipes at my digging or trenching site. What should I do?
A. Call your local “One-Call” center, utility office, or “Digger’s Hotline” at least 72 hours ahead so that they can mark the location of buried electrical lines or other utilities. If you fail to do so, you will subject yourself or others to the possibility of serious harm. You may also be breaking the law. Click the link for a list of One-Call numbers: www.utilitycontractor.com/onecallphonenumbers.htm.
Q. What is the largest diameter auger I can use on my Little Beaver?
A. The answer to this question can vary greatly, depending upon your soil conditions:
For loam, sand, clay, or sandy/clay soils:
• 5 HP mechanical models – 12”
• 8 HP mechanical models – 12”
• 11 HP hydraulic models – 16”
• 11 HP towable model – 16”
For rocky soils (not solid rock, but soil containing stones or rock)
• 5 HP mechanical models – 8”
• 8 HP mechanical models – 10”
• 11 HP hydraulic models – 12”
• 11 HP towable model – 12”
The 16” nursery auger is designed for use with any of the above models when digging in loam or sandy/clay.
Q. How deep can a Little Beaver dig?
A. Digging depth is dependent upon soil conditions and auger diameter. Here are some typical depths achievable in loam or sandy/clay soils.
| Auger Size |
1.5", 2", 3" |
4", 5", 6" |
7", 8" |
9", 10" |
12" |
16" |
| 5HP Models |
9´ |
9´ |
6´ |
6´ |
3´ |
18" |
| 8HP Models |
12´ |
12´ |
9´ |
9´ |
6´ |
18" |
| Hydraulic Towable |
6´ |
6´ |
6´ |
6´ |
6´ |
18" |
| Hydraulic One Man |
12´ |
12´ |
9´ |
9´ |
6´ |
18" |
| Hydraulic Two Man* |
21´ |
24´ |
15´ |
12´ |
12´ |
18" |
* Optional Tripod accessory is recommended for depths greater than 12 feet.
Q. My auger is stuck in the ground. What do I do?
A. In many cases, you can use a pipe wrench on the top of the auger to turn it in a counter-clockwise direction. Disconnect the handle/gearbox first, and be careful not to damage the auger top. We also make a Tee Handle, Part # 9022-T, which can be used to turn the auger out. This situation can be prevented by holding back on the auger when digging in sandy or soft clay soils and allowing the auger to cut its way through.
Q. I’m trying to drill through hard clay and my Little Beaver earth auger just spins and doesn’t dig in. What’s wrong?
A. First, check for foreign matter around the point and remove this material as necessary. Then, check the condition of the point and blade. If they are dull, reverse them or replace them. If the auger still does not dig, replace the point and standard blade with a carbide blade. The carbide blade digs best in hard clay or asphalt. It can also be used in frozen ground.
Q. Do you have an auger that will drill through frozen ground?
A. Yes. The carbide blade, which can be used on the Little Beaver standard snap-on augers, will cut through frozen ground, asphalt, or hard clay soils.
Q. Most of my drilling is done in rocky soil. What type of auger would you recommend?
A. The Little Beaver heavy-duty auger, which use Pengo® style teeth, is designed for digging in rocky soil. A variety of points and blades are available to meet specific digging conditions. You may also want to consider using the Little Beaver Hydraulic Earth Drill. It has greater torque output than the mechanical unit and turns at a lower rpm, resulting in less vibration. It will also have a longer service life when used in these conditions.
Q. Are Little Beaver’s points and blades reversible?
A. Little Beaver bolt-on blades (4”-10”) are reversible to increase their cutting life. The points are not reversible. Be sure to replace your points and blades regularly to ensure best digging performance.
Q. Can I replace the standard point with a carbide point?
A. Yes, if you have the Little Beaver standard snap-on auger. Carbide blades are available in sizes to match the diameter of your auger. When replacing a standard point with a carbide blade, be sure to fasten securely with the included grade 5 mounting bolts and locknuts. Use a framing square laid beside the auger and across the back of the carbide blade to ensure that it is mounted squarely. Also, be sure to remove the side blade, as the side blade is not required when using a carbide blade.
Q. Can I use other brands of augers with the Little Beaver?
A. Yes. Although you will achieve better performance in most soils with Little Beaver augers, Little Beaver does make adaptors allowing you to use General or Ground Hog brand augers with your Little Beaver earth drill. If you use the adapters, always be sure to use the included retaining pin. Using a bolt or other pin which protrudes from the auger may result in serious injury.
Q. How far can I bore a hole using the horizontal boring attachment?
A. The dry-type sidewalk auger drills up to 5’ while the water drilling kits makes horizontal bores up to 50’.
Q. I need to drill holes in very rough terrain. What model would you recommend?
A. For traversing rough terrain and slopes, we recommend the Mechanical Earth Drill with pneumatic tires or the optional Rick Sha kit.
Q. Will the same augers fit on all Little Beaver models (mechanical, hydraulic and towable)?
A. Yes. Every Little Beaver earth drill model uses the same auger connection (1-1/4” square).
Q. How long is the warranty?
A. All models come with a 90 day limited warranty, except for the Towable, which offers a 1 year limited warranty. Engines are warranted by the manufacturer of the engine for 1 or 2 year periods (refer to the engine warranty sheet for details).
Q. Can I use the Big Beaver auger drill rig to perform an ASTM standard penetration test?
A. Yes, when used with the SSK-1 soil sampling kit, 140 lb drop hammer, and split spoon sampler, the Big Beaver auger drill rig can be used to perform the Standard Penetration Test as prescribed by ASTM D 1586.
Q. Do you have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for your equipment?
A. For complete MSDS information on the various greases and oils used in Little Beaver products, please click on the web link below:
• Amalie, Tri-Vis Plus 80W-140
• Exxon, Esso Gear Oil 85W-140 (Product number is 513333-00)
• Pennzoil, Slick 50 Treatment (MSDS number is 15693)
• Lubriplate, GR132 Grease
• Unirex N-32 Grease (Product number is 570309-00)
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