Video: How to Spec the Right Auger for Your Skid Steer or Compact Track Loader
Machine Heads Goes Deep on Drive Motors, Bits and Bite-Size Buying Mistakes
In the latest episode of Machine Heads, Compact Equipment’s Wayne Grayson drills into the must-know rules for buying a hydraulic auger attachment for your skid steer or compact track loader (CTL). Whether you’re fencing, landscaping or boring foundation footers, this is a must-watch before you drop thousands on the wrong setup. An auger turns your loader into a versatile hole-drilling machine. But mismatching your machine’s specs to your auger can lead to burned-out gearboxes, weak performance and wasted time. To avoid that, start with three key variables:
- Hydraulic flow (controls bit speed)
- Hydraulic pressure (controls torque)
- Soil type and hole diameter
Match these wisely, and you’ll get a setup that tears through tough terrain without stalling or breaking down.
Flow, Pressure and the Hole
Spec your auger to the low end of your machine’s hydraulic flow range. This increases torque by lowering rpm — ideal for clay, rock or wide bits. Need fast, shallow fence-post holes in soft soil? Prioritize rpm. Drilling footings in shale? Torque is everything. Drive motors come in three tiers:
- Entry-level (8 to 16 gpm): Best for light-duty work in sand or loam.
- Mid-tier (15 to 22 gpm): A common contractor sweet spot. Works with 24- to 36-in. bits in moderate soil.
- Heavy-duty (20+ gpm): High-displacement motors with 4,000+ ft-lb torque for rocky or frozen ground.
When in doubt, size up the drive. Under-flowing a bigger motor just slows it down. Over-flowing a small one can destroy it.
Match the Bit to the Ground
Bit selection matters almost as much as the drive:
- Fabricated bits: Budget-friendly and decent for loose dirt.
- Cast-head bits: Push-in teeth that handle compacted clay and rocky mixes.
- Rock bits: Carbide teeth and hard-faced flighting that chew through concrete and shale but need big torque.
- Tree-planting bits: Cone-shaped for root balls, minimal spoil, landscaper favorite.
Double-flighting clears spoil faster and is worth the extra cost.
Dig Deeper with Extensions and Mounts
Most bits reach 4 ft deep. Add bolt-on extensions to go deeper or choose a variable extension for flexible depths without unpinning the setup. Need more reach? Telescoping boom mounts stretch your loader’s horizontal or vertical drilling range. Still running round-shank bits? Hex-to-round adapters keep your old bits in play.
Five Final Auger Rules
- Torque beats speed — every time.
- Match flow to the low end of the drive’s range.
- Relief valves prevent damage during stalls.
- Always carry spare teeth.
- Spend a bit more to future-proof for stronger hydraulics later.
If you run a CTL or skid steer, this 10-minute video could save you hours of downtime and thousands in repairs. Watch it above or surf over to our YouTube channel. Just make sure you subscribe!
Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.
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