Patent ID: 7753140

Claim:
An auger boring machine comprising: an auger boring machine frame having front and rear opposed ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction; a drive motor having a rotational output adapted for rotating an auger and soil-cutting head mounted thereon; wherein the drive motor is mounted on and movable relative to the auger boring machine frame in the longitudinal direction with the rotational output mounted to rotate about a longitudinally extending axis; an auger operating space adjacent the rotational output for receiving the auger when mounted on the rotational output; and a pilot tube drive assembly adapted for driving a pilot tube to form in earth a pilot hole for guiding the cutting head and auger; wherein the drive assembly is movable between a first position within the auger operating space for driving the pilot tube and a second position out of the auger operating space; and wherein in the first position, the pilot tube drive assembly and the drive motor are mounted on the auger boring machine frame.