Topic: Strikemaster Auger Problem! Interesting!!!!!

[Barleydog]

Gary,
Actually I was on your side from the get-go!  Fat Boy's correct, I was attempting to help you not hinder.  Perhaps it was the context of my presentation in backing you, and your problem that confused you?  Try not to read into anyone's reply to deep and never let them offend you, (I think Izzyfender was probably burnt once by a SM product.)   I understand pride of ownership, however, customer service comes first in my eyes!  I was merely backing your judgment on SM and their customer service.  I STILL sense by your recent replies, that your still a little steamed?    I wouldn't hire incompetence at my company even if it were my mother or daughter.  Holding a company to the highest standard was and is your right!  Good on you.
I had questions concerning SM products for some time.  I don't care if Tecumseh or anyone makes the engines, it still has SM's name on it!   Placing a cheesy plastic choke lever on my auger that broke 120 miles from home ticks me off!  What further perturbs me is that it happened twice to me and my fishing bud.  The throttle is made of "tinny" plastic, (also broke a lonnnnggggg  ways from home.)  My gas tank separated and split open at -30, (close to home.)  All these problems are unacceptable living in rural Alaska!  I depend on products that will last.  I had problems with my auger and therefore am not pleased with the company one bit.  I have several friends who have SM augers.  One of them (ironically) had problems with SM's Customer Service Dept, coincidence eh? but I actually feel for you because of his fiasco!  All in all, I hope your not reading in depth?  Heck, I hadn't a clue whether you were down an auger and needed a quick fix!  That's why I referenced the hot solder gun trick.   Glad your problems are resolved, no bad feelings.  -Barleydog

Fatboy, your reference to the company taking note of IS's topics are dead on!  Those that have problems with their units, should sound off to the company!  The Shanty is a great reference for SM or any other "Product Pimp" to understand what's going on in the fishing community.  Heck it can at least wake or shake them up!  Show them how peeved some folks are with their product, or even pleased with it!  It's great to give recognition to those companies that deserve a pat on the back.

[nhtroutfreak]

Wow, what a thread!!!  I too own an SM 2000.  I've had it for 6 years now.  During the second season the plastic throttle lever split on the seam, releasing the cable.  I just couldn't bring myself to order the replacement part for $9 and then pay $9 more for shipping!!!  I ended up rigging my own replacement which doesn't work that well.  Anyway looks like this year I'll have to break down an order the part.  Why not just make it right to begin with??  I'd feel better if the replacement was better quality than the original.  Then I would know that SM at least realized there was a problem with the original if they decided to upgrade.  Nope, looks like I'm stuck with the overpriced cheesy plastic one again!  Just my 2 cents.

[Gamalot]

Thanks for clearing my head Barleydog, Must be I did read too deep!

At any rate, I am learning a thing or two here and one is that although SM or Jiffy or Echo or Nills puts their name on an auger, they don't make the integral parts of it.
This is a function of the engine manufacturer and in many cases that is Tecumseh.
I do agree before any company hangs their reputation on a product they should be absolutely certain it is of good quality.
Apparently there are issues with many augers and the parts used to keep them running. I seriously doubt any one of them are with out issues such as mentioned in this thread.

I woke up CS at SM and the ball is rolling to get this fixed. I do feel a bit bad because the problem is more in Tecumseh's lap then it is a SM problem. Same with the throttle cable problems. Tecumseh made it and provides the parts.
We are a bit too quick at slamming SM or Jiffy when in fact Tecumseh is the maker and should be held accountable no matter who's name goes on it.
A quick look around in your garden shed will probably show many items of various make with Tecumseh engines and the same cheap parts and mechanisms.
I agree that Strike Master or Jiffy are responsible in the end but am still not willing to lay all the blame on their door step.
I will certainly be paying a great deal more attention the next time I buy a auger, chainsaw, lawn mower, weed wacker, leaf blower, generator or about any other item that has an engine. If Tecumseh does not care to make quality products then they have no place in my home and I don't care if it says Sears, John Deere, Strike Master, Jiffy or any other name brand on them.
I bought a Ford Explorer and it had Firestone tires that were deadly. I have since bought other Fords but have been steadfast about never owning a Firestone tire again. If the dealer refused to provide a vehicle with another brand of tire, I did not and will not buy it.
It was Tecumseh who was fully aware of this misfit tank problem and told me how to properly streatch the tab over the stud knowing very well that it is not right.
It will be Tecumseh who I will hold accountable to fix this BS.

Gary

[Coastie]

Customer service has to deal with angry customers it's their job and they know if a customer isn't getting what they need than they will get an earfull. If SM was a good Company they would look closely at this situation and get it corrected. It sounds like Customer service just passes the buck forcing you to do all the leg work for them. They stink! Getting paid to pass the buck!! **censored**! I can understand this is an expensive investment at least for my paycheck but I would sell that junk, let them know and take chances with another brand. Just my two cents who cares if you hurt someones feelings on the phone you still can't use your auger!

[Coastie]

It's SM's responsibility to deal with the engine manufacturer not your's. It's still SM's product. Firestone corrected the problem because Ford put the heat on them!

[Gamalot]

It's SM's responsibility to deal with the engine manufacturer not your's. It's still SM's product. Firestone corrected the problem because Ford put the heat on them!

NOT TRUE! Firestone refused to do anything at all until the government and law suits started rolling in when the trucks started rolling over.

[ice dawg]

I wonder. does Tecumseh produce the throttle cable for SM and the linkage for Jiffy or do SM and Jiffy produce their own? I also wonder why they use different fuel tanks on the same engine. Perhaps this is also specified by the auger manufacturer. I'm sure someone on here has this info.

[Coastie]

You're correct Gamlot, It still isn't the responsibility of the consumer. In a whole the product is a Strikemaster they need to back the product. If I purchase A Ford and the engine is made by Mazda and I go to the Ford dealer for a part or a warranty item they better not tell me it's not there responsibility and that I have to go deal with Mazda. Just doesn't work that way Still a Ford. Its a Strikemaster.

[Gamalot]

Believe me when I tell you, Strike Master is on the case!
I have been in constant contact all week long and it is the Customer Service lady contacting me.
As much as I do agree this problem should be handled by SM, I do have to consider the timing here and give CS a break. Holidays, short weeks and the start of the season and no doubt they are busy and probably swamped.
I do have faith in my contact at SM and I am sure she will make this right if she can.
We still have to remember, the engine, tank, and alot of the other parts are Tecumseh and if they don't have or will not make correct tanks to fit the products they produce and sell to SM then it might take some doing to get this corrected.
We shall see, I have another auger and I have this tank rigged so I can use this auger so I am in no rush as long as things are happening.
My original anger was the result of not being able to get thru on the phone to someone who could and would help. I now know they are in the very top of their bussiest season and we have all been there. Like one of those great days on the ice when all five flags pop at nearly the same time-some fish just have to wait.

You can be sure I will post the results and also that SM has not let me down at all except for being spread a bit to thin and not getting right back to me.
Guess I deserve some of the blame too because I knew I needed a tank way back in July but procrastinated about ordering it sooner.

Gary

[Gamalot]

Bean decided to move this generating it to be sent to me.
Actually it just brings up a sore subject for sure.

After spending much time on the phone with SM and on the phone with the head guy in manufacturing at Tecumseh I was told a fix would soon be found for this problem. The new tanks are made by a new vendor and they simply don't fit the models that are only a few years old.

Well, this was early last winter and here it is August and Strike Master and Tecumseh have totally BLOWN ME AND ALL OF US OFF.

Imagine any company like these telling the consumer the tab is too short so heat the GAS TANK and streatch it over the lug to make it fit.

I won't be buying another thing made by Strike Master or Tecumseh because they do not stand behind what they make!!!!!


Gary

[Icenutter]

That really stinks Gary that you couldn't get any reliable service.  Owning my own business I know that my best advertising is by word of mouth and that you should always strive to please the customer even if it may cost a few more bucks in the end to resolve the issue.  Keeping customers coming back and keeping them happy is the number one goal.

[Zee]

Interesting, i justr read through this whole thread.

I bought an Eskimo mako last March, mainly because they are the only ones not using Tecumseh Engines. Yes the Barracuda has Tecumseh, but everything else uses a High Performance Ardisam engine.

I also read on here how no one has had issues with Ardisam customer service. It is important for a company to stand behind their product. Strikemaster appears to have a problem doing this, and if the root of the problem is Tecumseh, then that does not bode well for anyone with a Tecumseh powered auger.

[bushbunny]

That is why I have a Tanaka(Nils)!!!!!

[Icemanjim]

This is interesting and I'm glad I read it.  I have a Strike Master and had it for 8 years.  It has a vibration in it now an dthe gas tank is cracking but not leaking so I will get a new one this year.  I had two problems with the SM and that was the gas cap vent leaking and the throttle not working correctly.  Of course gas caps cost $17 or more and I could not fix the throttle problem.  After reading this I will get a Jiffy or Eskimo but haven't decided which one.

[dkfry]

This is interesting and I'm glad I read it.  I have a Strike Master and had it for 8 years.  It has a vibration in it now an dthe gas tank is cracking but not leaking so I will get a new one this year.  I had two problems with the SM and that was the gas cap vent leaking and the throttle not working correctly.  Of course gas caps cost $17 or more and I could not fix the throttle problem.  After reading this I will get a Jiffy or Eskimo but haven't decided which one.

A Jiffy gas cap should fit your tank, I belive they cost around $10 for a new one. It may be worth just putting a few bucks into your auger to get it running better. Do a compression check, rebuild and adjust the carb, new plug and possibly new rings if the compression is low, drain the gas and add a fuel filter. There is a screen in the carb that acts as a feu filter this may clog over the years due to the fact there is not a inline fuel filter on from factory. I put new fuel line as well as an inline fuel filter (Used for Gasoline R/C Boats) that is cleanable to stop dirt from entering the carb, thus not having to tear it apart and clean the screen. The tecumseh motor will last a long time if taken care of properly. I have talked to guys on the ice that had there tecumseh for over 15 years and it still works good. Always run stabil and good oil at a ratio close to recommended. The ethanol that has been put into gas for years now is hard on the diaphrams in the carb and ethanol is hydroscopic, (absorbs water) so if let sit over time gas may collect moisture thus making your motor run poorly.

[rockysolid]

After 20 years of wishing, I finally got my first auger two years as a X-mas gift. The wife bought me a Strikemaster, and I had nothing but horror stories with it the first month. Had to bring the first one back and get a replacement, which promptly crashed and burned the very next day on the ice. Walked in and put it on the counter and bought the biggest, baddest Jiffy they had and I've been in heaven ever since. There was WAY to much plastic on the SM, and it hated the cold. I'm sure there are a bunch of you that have them and are happy with them, but that.......Is just MHO.

[ice dawg]

After 20 years of wishing, I finally got my first auger two years as a X-mas gift. The wife bought me a Strikemaster, and I had nothing but horror stories with it the first month. Had to bring the first one back and get a replacement, which promptly crashed and burned the very next day on the ice. Walked in and put it on the counter and bought the biggest, baddest Jiffy they had and I've been in heaven ever since. There was WAY to much plastic on the SM, and it hated the cold. I'm sure there are a bunch of you that have them and are happy with them, but that.......Is just MHO.

My first new auger was an Eskimo. A corner blew out of the crank case on about the tenth hole I drilled with it. I took it to an authorized repair shop and they put a new engine on it. That was a month of using the old hand auger. When I got it back, I took it outside and made sure that it ran and took it to the bait shop and put it on the floor with a for sale sign on it. The first person to look at it bought it and I bought a Jiffy 3 hp 8". I used it for about 12 years and now I am on  about my 4th year with a 2 hp 8" stealth. I really can't bad mouth the Eskimo, because the guy is still using it and he drills more holes than I do. I just haven't seen a need for anything but a Jiffy since then.

[rockysolid]

In fairness I should add that DSG in Worcester & Millbury were awesome with this issue. I'm not much on boxstores, but this one has treated me well.

 

"Walked in and put it on the counter and bought the biggest, baddest Jiffy they had and I've been in heaven ever since."

[FishwithBob]

How to fix a Strikemaster ice auger plastic choke lever. Takes about 1/2 hour. You need to be a little handy to do this.
First remove the gas tank and gas line. Either drain the tank or place a plug on the gas line exit on the tank so you can work on it. Remember, you are working on a gas tank with gas near by so be careful with your tools - no sparks! You can usually use the choke lever that broke. Many are a red plastic lever and they break off easy if you are not careful, or make a new one out of a piece of metal. All you would do is cut and bend a small piece of metal to make the choke lever. You will need to remove any red plastic around the D shaped peg that remains sticking out of the gas tank itself. Many of the pegs are blue in color and D shaped. I used a dremel tool with a small grinding bit to remove the remainder of the red plastic that was attached to it when the lever broke off. If there is a fiber washer remove it also. Be careful not to damage the D shaped peg that comes out of the tank. If you have the choke lever that broke off you likely can reuse it. Here's how. Remove the small burr on the side of it (if it has one) making it flat on the side that will lay against the gas tank. Drill a hole in the center of the choke lever close to where it broke off, use a very small drill bit. Smaller than the D shaped peg that remains in the gas tank. I used the same dremel tool to make the D shape in the plastic. A very small drill bit would also work. Keep in mind you are carving in the D shape. Take your time and be careful not to make it to big as you want a snug fit. After you have it fitted place a very small screw or bolt with a very small washer on it in the center of the D shaped peg that the lever is now secured to. You want a very small screw or bolt that is snug but not one that will damage the D shaped peg. The peg was hollow in the center of the one I worked on, I just had to clean it out with a small pick and put a small screw in it with a small washer to make sure the choke lever would stay on. Now your ready to reinstall the gas tank and your good to go fishing.