Common Signs That Your Auger Needs Replacement

If you’re noticing that your auger is looking worn along the edges, with tapered or bent tips, or just isn’t performing as optimally as it should, then there’s a chance that it needs to be repaired or replaced. Knowing when it’s time to get a replacement auger or when to get it repaired can prevent a significant amount of downtime and improve your productivity. Here are some of the signs that it’s time to replace your auger or replace your flighting. 

Tapered or Bent Tips

One of the most obvious signs that your auger has experienced significant wear and tear is if the flight has tapered or bent tips. This typically occurs at the discharge end of the auger and can present in loss of throughput. Once flighting tips are bent, they cannot efficiently discharge material. When this happens, the auger needs to be repaired or replaced to return it to its normal productivity. 

Minimized Throughput and Plugging

Have you noticed that the throughput of your auger–the amount of material that passes through a system or process–has been less, or even stopped? This is typically a sign that the auger has been damaged or has experienced enough significant wear that material is starting to get stuck within the system. Sometimes these damages can be repaired quickly, but other times a replacement auger is necessary, depending on the extent of the damage.

Decreased Flighting Diameter

Augers typically experience more wear along the edges, which causes the flighting to slowly decrease in diameter over time. Replacements are necessary when the edges have been worn down so much that the thickness of the spiral has changed significantly. As wear increases, the efficiency of the auger decreases, and so does the efficiency of your system. This is seen primarily in the clearance between the outside of the spiral and the inside of the auger barrel. A small clearance in this area is necessary for proper auger operation, but as this clearance increases due to wear, more material (especially fine material) begins to fall between the spiral and the barrel or the trough.

Looking for an auger manufacturer?

Falcon Industries Inc. doesn’t just manufacture new augers and auger flighting–we also provide repair and replacement services for augers that are worn down or damaged, including replacement auger. Check out our website to learn more about our services!