€1,480
Auger drive first run: running-in, first oil change and service
A new AWA or GORE auger drive has a short running-in and a first oil change that the warranty asks for. Everything here is from the auger drive manual. The manual is e-mailed from the "Download manual" button on the product page. Page numbers refer to it.
Updated 2026-10-18
Short answer
Run the drive at 30% of rated pressure for 20 minutes in each direction before full load. Change the gear oil after the first 100 hours or six months, whichever comes first, and again every 12 months or 500 hours. Lubricate the hitch and drive pivot pins weekly.
Before the first job
- Connect and check the hoses as in how to connect hydraulic hoses. The oil supply must stay inside the flow and pressure limits of your drive, and a case drain must be connected where one is fitted.
- Assess the site: slope, risk of subsidence, embankments and earlier excavation. Note the soil so you can pick suitable teeth and pilot.
- Avoid underground hazards such as water, gas, electricity and communication lines. If in doubt, use detection equipment and professional advice before you start.
- Keep everyone, including animals, at least 6 metres from the work area. Wear head and eye protection, safety boots and gloves.
Running-in
To get the full life from the hydraulic motor (manual page 20):
- Suspend the drive in its vertical working position.
- Make sure nobody can come within 6 metres.
- Run the motor at 30% of rated pressure for 20 minutes in each direction.
- Only then apply full load.
Drilling
- Set the auger vertical. Drilling rotation must be clockwise.
- Lower the machine arm gradually to apply down force. Harder ground needs more.
- Do not stall the drive again and again with too much down force. It overheats the oil and can damage the machine.
- Keep the auger vertical. Excavator: adjust dipper and boom. Skid steer: adjust the arms, the mounting frame and the machine position.
- Lift the auger out of the ground regularly to clear it.
- Never drill deeper than the auger is long. Never leave the auger hanging; park with it on the ground.
- Remove the auger and drive before you drive on a public road.
Service schedule
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Daily, units from 20 000 up | Oil level: with the drive vertical and secure, the sight glass should be full. If it is partly full, top up at the oil fill/level point with the correct grade. In our range this applies to A25000 and G25000. |
| Weekly | Lubricate the hitch and drive unit pivot pins. |
| After the first 100 hours or 6 months | Drain and replace the gear oil, whichever comes first. The manual asks that proof of this first oil change is recorded (page 24). |
| Every 12 months or 500 hours | Drain and replace the gear oil, whichever comes first. |
All units leave us with viscosity 320 oil (EP320) unless ordered otherwise. For very cold or very hot working conditions the manual lists other viscosities (150 and 460); the temperature limits, the oil grade and the quantity for your model are on page 25 of the manual, so we do not repeat them here. Warranty terms are on the warranty page. Cover starts when you have registered the product.
If it will not work properly
| Fault | What the manual says to check |
|---|---|
| Shaft does not turn | Quick-release couplers engaged, machine hydraulics working and oil level right, pressure relief valve set to the machine specification, auger not jammed in the ground. A seized drive goes to a service workshop. |
| Slow turning or slow digging | Enough oil flow from the machine, a drive that suits the machine, an auger that is not too large for the drive, and teeth and pilot that suit the ground and are not worn. |
| Stalls during work | Relief valve, restricted flow (damaged or wrong hoses), blocked filter, too much down force, too little machine pressure for the drive. |
Current range
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Frequently asked
Why does the first oil change matter?
The manual asks for it after the first 100 hours or six months to maximise life and maintain the warranty, and asks that proof of it is recorded (page 24).
Which gear oil do I use?
Units are supplied with viscosity 320 oil (EP320). For very cold or very hot conditions the manual lists 150 and 460 instead; the temperature limits, grade and quantity for each model are on page 25 of the manual.
Can I reverse the drive?
The gearboxes are reversible, but the machine needs a two-way auxiliary circuit. Ask your machine dealer.
When does the daily oil sight-glass check apply?
The manual writes it for models from 20 000 up. In our range that is A25000 and G25000.
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