Hydraulics Needed for Planting Auger?

[Haoleguy]

Hydraulics are an area where I can use some ideas and feedback. I'm strongly considering purchasing an auger for planting grapevines in a vineyard where the trellis system already exists. That means I can't drive the tractor over the row where the hole is to be bored. Instead I need to maneuver alongside where the hole goes and have the ability to offset the auger. One that fits the bill pretty well is this front end German auger which uses hydraulics to offset(X-Y plane), go vertical(Z plane), and turn(forwards and reverse). Here's a video of the unit in action .......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VzAd-tcA7A&list=UUa15ZBC1jvk7IKP0a7sV_dg&index=1

From the video I'm trying to understand how they control the unit so that one can easily setup and bore the hole and then move on. It seems one hydraulic circuit runs the offset(X-Y plane) and then another to go through a 2-spool joystick which would control up and down(Z plane) and auger rotation. If that's the case how can I best set up my Landini Mistral 50 with 3 SCVs to work efficiently with this auger unit? Any ideas are welcome.............Thank you, Gary

 

[J_J]

Why not copy the same setup.

If your system is open center hyd, a three spool valve would work.

Valve GPM should match pump flow.

 

[boggen]

*rubbing chin* i would then a "mini ex" mini excavator would be more ideal choice. being about to replace bucket with a post hole digger. that way you could swing it side to side regardless of machine and get it angled just like you want it.

if you have a backhoe you could do same thing.

the 4 rods that extend out to the auger... not sure if you will like or not. while yes it keeps the auger "level" up and down. but as soon as your tractor gets on a slight incline. so does the auger.

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1 controls (left right)
1 controls (up/down)
1 controls auger (direction / speed)

i can understand reason for wanting something like this. it is "low profile" so you can get under your wire between posts. vs pushing the wire clear over trying to get something in there to drill a hole.

you might look into a 1 man or 2 man post hole digger. basically a weed eater / weed whacker engine on it. with an auger bit. with a clutch so if auger gets tangled in a root the handles will not wipe around and harm you. if it does gets tangled up you will have to remove a pin / bolt and manual back out auger bit via a wrench most likely. you can most likely rent one of these at some local "machinery rental store" near you. due to DIY'er putting in fence with them. with you not needing really deep holes or large diameter holes it might be just right.

 

[Haoleguy]

Boggen - The number of holes I need to make is ~6K and the width between trellis wires in each row is slightly under 7ft. The lowest wire is 30 inches. Each hole needs to be 10-12 inches in diameter and 18-24 inches deep. A mini-ex might do if it can reach under the lowest wire. I have been thinking a mini tracksteer with a short auger might do as well.

 

[boggen]

Boggen - The number of holes I need to make is ~6K and the width between trellis wires in each row is slightly under 7ft. The lowest wire is 30 inches. Each hole needs to be 10-12 inches in diameter and 18-24 inches deep. A mini-ex might do if it can reach under the lowest wire. I have been thinking a mini tracksteer with a short auger might do as well.

sounds like you are going to kiss the lower wire good bye.... more than likely you will end up pushing on it enough that it will stretch and pull off of some posts. and i doubt you will find anything that will keep you out of the lower wire. i mean 6K holes... you are bound to hit that lower wire enough times...

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have you even consider removing the posts and wires... and then using a "transplanter"? it drops down into the dirt and ya drag it alone behind tractor, opening up a hole, were a person on a seat drops a plant or small sappling tree for example down in, and then a couple discs and wheels come along right behind it, to close up the grove and packs the dirt back down.

you are talking about a huge amount of work...going down each row both sides of it, after the 6K holes / plants. and pushing dirt back down around the plant. 6K holes is like 6K fence posts. pulling that dirt back into the holes. and just a light tamping / compaction of dirt is a lot of work!

i could see if you had a large area, and you were just going in and redoing some old bad areas that were killed off for what ever reason. and machine you linked would be awesome... but how many actual posts, and strands of wire removed. and posts pulled, planted, and then putting the posts back in with wire back on them? both are large jobs.

 

[Haoleguy]

Boggen - 1500 metal line posts and 50 rolls of 4000 ft wire. I have time to get the holes done this Fall before Spring planting.

 

[Haoleguy]

JJ - Can you give a better idea about what your suggesting....Thank you, Gary

 

[J_J]

Weld up a set of parallel bars like in the video with a swing pivot point.

Install a hyd motor and control the motor with one spool of the three spool valve.

One of the other spools will control the up down, and the other spool will control the swing.

Two hyd cyl. 2 in bore 1 in shaft.

2 in tubing 1/4 in thick.

How much hyd GPM do you have and relief pressure.

You could also install a gimbal mount, so the motor can pivot so it would dig vertical on hills.