westfield augers

does anyone have an opinion on westfield versus others. I need a 13 inch , 100 foot long auger and my dealer has two 2008 models. But both have a bend or a bow in the tube. Otherwise very good condition. Just seems odd they both have the same look. Wondering if there is a flaw.Thanks

A bend is a lot different than a bow, you can straighten a bow with the cables can't you?

They have trusses instead of cables but still can be adjusted. No kinks or bends but a distintive angle change at the point where two flanges bolt together for seperate tube sections. The previous owner even put silicone in between flanges to stop grain leak. Flange bolts are tight but flanges seem to be stretched. Both augers have same problem leaving me to think it is a weak point or design flaw.

I have seen this before and have determined to my satisfaction that it is a design fault. You would think that any potential failure would be limited seeing as that they had been used prior to your interest in them. Would it be posible to make a repair band about 8' long to put on where the two tubes join to sort of clamp them together?

There should be shims available to compensate for the flanges not welded perpendicular to the length of the tube. It the bend is too severe, the flighting will wear thru the tube.

I had a Westfield 13X72 blow over from a bin that was probably 30 feet to the peak, and the only damage to it was the standups that hold the cables were bent sideways a little. I got it set back up and went back to using it. I pulled out the four bolts that hold the trucks to the auger, rolled the auger tube over and picked it up with the loader using one chain wrapped around one spot on the auger about 2/3 the way back. When I picked it up from that one spot the auger didn't bow a bit. That was three years ago and it's augered maybe 200,000 bushels since then trouble-free. The dealer said the 13" augers are built pretty stout. The ones you are looking at are 30 feet longer so that might make a difference. Neighbors I work with have a 13X110 Westfield that they run with a 4630 Deere and I have the feeling they wouldn't want anything smaller twisting the tail in wet corn. Jim

why would you take a chance on one of them look for a farm king brand they bought out Fetral and now make them under the farm king name at Salem S D

i have assembled bunch of those units for dealer in my area. couple years back the company had some big issues with tube flanges and flighting. last season 2010 they seem to have gotten alot of them solved. if they go south I call it it will always be because the flange pulled when welded to the tube,simply put did not get welded on straight,or when it was assembled they did not pull the side torque cables evenly. these can be fixed. so far as other brands you have to remember they are all doing the same thing and designed welded pretty much the same,it all depends on the quality control at the factory as to who has the BEST auger. also if those side truss cables were not installed correctly you can make it go south also without having a flange issue. If it has caulking in it are you sure the owner did that or the assembly party. I know one who assemble westfield augers and that was their way of covering up the issue. caulk the h!!l out of it and let it go.let me know if I can help cause I know they can be fixed,whats the dealer say. If he wants to sell them he should be willing to solve the issue after all he obviously took them in on trade and knew of the problem. you assemble new machinery for while and you really find the flaws no matter what it is or what color it is. I asemble blue planters,green tillage,planter stuff,yellow stuff etc etc. trust me they all have some problems sometime along cause they all still come out of plants where workers are just ther for the pay and to get it OUT the door fast. when corn went to four dollars alot of companys items went DOWNHILL.