How do you get retaining ring to fit in the groove of auger shaft for Clam Plate 2nd Gen?

[MidCoast]

I have been trying to get the retaining ring to fit in the groove of auger shaft for my 2nd Gen Clam Plate and can't get it to fit.  Any ideas?

Also any thoughts on the 1st Generation Clam Plate with chuck removal required vs 2nd Gen Clam Plate?

With the 2nd Gen Clam Plate, it worries me that my drill bit  can fall into the lake if the bit falls off from my hand drill or loosens from it.  Thoughts?

[Jim Uran]

Interesting, what kind of drill do you have??  I've been looking into buying one of these drill plates, but I'm interested to see the answer to your predicament. 

[Scott O.]

While I can't help you with the retaining ring issue, I can give you my thoughts on the 2nd gen. plate.  I have had no issues with my drill or drill bit coming loose all season long and I've been using it 90% of the time this season.  Occasionally the screw connecting the auger blade to the plate starts to get loose, but I simply just check it once in a while and tighten as needed.  But the drill itself has remained tight all season long and it's been the best piece of equipment I've purchased in years.  Some guys have said the drill is more secure with the 1st gen. style of taking the chuck off, but I haven't seen any real difference other than my peace of mind that I won't damage my DeWalt 990 model by trying to horse the chuck off.  I'm not the most mechanically inclined person.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

12 hours ago, MidCoast said:

I have been trying to get the retaining ring to fit in the groove of auger shaft for my 2nd Gen Clam Plate and can't get it to fit.  Any ideas?

Also any thoughts on the 1st Generation Clam Plate with chuck removal required vs 2nd Gen Clam Plate?

With the 2nd Gen Clam Plate, it worries me that my drill bit  can fall into the lake if the bit falls off from my hand drill or loosens from it.  Thoughts?

Are you talking about the snap ring that you put on the shaft in the groove? 

When I put my buddies together I didn't have the spreader tool so I just gripped the back of the ring with a pliers and pushed the ring on to the shaft where the groove was.

 

I have the first gen clam plate and two buddies have the 2nd gen clam plate. I have no clue how the auger could come off either of the setups. Both setups have a shaft the auger is bolted to & both shafts are secured to the plate in a way that they can slip out of the plate. The only way the auger could slip out down the hole would be if the bolt fell out of the auger which secures it to the shaft.

If I remember both plates correctly the 1st get plate has some small set screws on the bearing that you tighten down on the shaft to hold it in place. Also the shaft is screwed onto the drill and a bolt goes through the shaft to bolt it onto the drill through the tip.

If I remember the 2nd gen plate correctly I believe the shaft goes through the bearing on the plate and then has a snap ring on the shaft that sits above the bearing. That should prevent the shaft from ever being able to slip through the bearing. Then I think some set screws are used to tighten the bearing to the shaft.

 

So on either model the shaft of the clam plate should never be able to slide out of the clam plate. Only way to loose an auger down the hole would be if the bolt holding the auger to the shaft fell out. Which would be the case with any auger.

[fisherman-andy]

Just an FYI.

There is actually 4 versions of the clam plate.  Yes as hard to swallow but the clam plate has been out for some time now.

Generation 4 clam plate is the version where you don't have to remove the chuck.

As far as getting the ring to slide onto the shaft adapter just pound it in with a hammer or mallet.

Issus plaguing Gen 4 clam plate is chuck slippage and stripping of the hex shaft adapter where the drill chuck connects to on the plate.

Edited March 3, 2016 by fisherman-andy

[WillieMN]

I just took the end of a screw driver and kind of beat the retainer on. and there is 2 U-bolts holding the drill onto the plate. as mentioned above, the chuck does come loose, but you just have to tighten it from time to time. you cant loose the drill/set up down the hole.

 

ive been running my drill/clam plate set up for 2 months and it has worked flawlessly.

[monstermoose78]

Best money I have spent In a long time was on the new drill plate. Everyone that sees it wants one. Pliers to hold clip at the end allowed me to push it on