Sweep Auger Roller Track

Although labor-saving, sweep augers are heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to mount in bins, especially on an uneven grain surface. Kanawha, IA, farmer Harley Nuehring solved that problem with a Sweep Auger Roller Track. He used an 18-foot-long barn door track with rollers to carry the motor end of the sweep auger to the middle of his 30-foot-diameter bin. The track ran 15 feet from the bin’s center to its door then extended 3 feet beyond (see figure). The track was supported at the bin-center end by a rope hung from the roof and at the door by a bracket. A hand winch was fastened to the rollers to raise/lower the auger. When ready to clean the bin, Nuehring rolls the sweep auger along the track into the bin and lowers it so the motor mounts in the pivot hole at the center of the bin. He leaves the track set up until he’s finished cleaning then uses it to remove the auger. Both auger and roller track are loaded onto a small cart for storage.

Cost: $200 for materials (Nuehring will manufacture track on request.)

Impairment Category: Back, Lower extremity, Strength/endurance

Caution: Never enter the bin while a sweep auger is operating. Entanglement in the auger can cause serious injury.