Tanaka 270 or 350 power head.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Well, I have my nils hand auger, also have the clam plate I can put it on.....I was thinking about selling my Jiffy model 30 with blades and everything and getting a Tanaka power head. That way I don't have to maintain a bunch of different blades and stuff.

So does anyone know what the Tanaka 270 or 350 head cost with the adaptor to the nils auger? Or where a guy could just get the power head & adaptor?

[Fisherman-Andy]

Brand new Tanaka 270 PFDH powerhead $500-$550.   Used ones go for about $250-$350.  I see no use to go to a 350 unless your using a 10" auger.  Plus its heavier and much more spendier.

The only place I know that one can get the powerhead auger adapter is directly from Nils itself.   I run the Tanaka 270 on my 8" Kdrill and 7"  hand lazer.

[OIM]

Eletric drill no need for gas

[lynng]

I love the Tanaka/Nils combo. I have the 350 and last year ordered the 10 inch blade to complement the 8 inch I already have. The 350 has more torque, the 270 is almost twice as fast (41:1 vs 24:1). 270 weighs 12.7 lbs, 350 weighs  17.6 lbs. Since I use 8 inch holes by choice I would get the 270 if I had it to do over again. As with many things in life I assumed that bigger was better, but here not so much.  The 270 costs less and is much faster. A friend of mine has the 270, and when we had them side by side, the speed difference was dramatic.

Specs for 350 can be found here http://www.tanaka-usa.com/main-navigation/products?d=338&p=932  270 is under dills.

I think a 270 will turn a 10 inch just fine. Some discussion and a video in this thread.
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=291187.0

Also the 350 is a good bit taller than the 270, some measurments and a picture here:
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=260995.msg3062173#msg3062173

[lynng]

Red Rock Wildneress Store carries just the Powerheads and Nils adapters.  They show just the 350 in their online store but they sell both if you call.

[bee]

270 pfdh is getting hard to find and very pricy. Around 600 if you find one.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Can't seem to find an online retailer. Anyone know where I can get a used or new?

[Sharp Nils]

 Hitachi discontinued making the Tanaka so if you can find a 270 or 262 new or used you better grab it. 

[Agronomist_at_IA]

So what does nils sell for the power head then? Are they going a different route? I'd like whatever powerhead they would be going to.

[jwetovick]

Did you have any luck finding a tanaka?

[Agronomist_at_IA]

No. I opted to just use my Milwaukee drill and clam plate. To expensive for a back up. If I ever came across a used one for $100-$150 Maybe. At this point though the Milwaukee clam plate has worked so week I see no need to get any kind of backup.

[Baetis62]

Mostly use the Milwaukee/clam/nils 6”.  But I’ll probably never sell my 270 with the 8” Nils.  I got that just before the drill thing came into favor but after playing around with it and figuring out a lean Amsoil mixture that baby rips!

[jwetovick]

I have a Tanaka 270 for about 5 yrs. I don’t use unless I go north but damn I love it. If I ever see a used one I will buy. Run good fuel and that thing will last years. Made in Japan! Wish the still made em. Thing sounds like a swarm of killer bees and f n rips thru ice! I use a laser on mine only cause blades are easy to change compared nils. Although I’d love to try a nils. Like how much shorter later is compared to nils. More compact for ice I see.

[Baetis62]

Its a quality piece of engineering for sure.  I've heard the engine is rated for a 600 hour life vs 200 max for "other" options.  Not throwing rocks but if you've spent time running one of these when its dialed in its pretty apparent.  For me maybe the ultimate endorsement of their build quality is they aren't available for sale in US anymore.

[Drifter_016]

I love the Tanaka/Nils combo. I have the 350 and last year ordered the 10 inch blade to complement the 8 inch I already have. The 350 has more torque, the 270 is almost twice as fast (41:1 vs 24:1). 270 weighs 12.7 lbs, 350 weighs  17.6 lbs. Since I use 8 inch holes by choice I would get the 270 if I had it to do over again. As with many things in life I assumed that bigger was better, but here not so much.  The 270 costs less and is much faster. A friend of mine has the 270, and when we had them side by side, the speed difference was dramatic.

Specs for 350 can be found here http://www.tanaka-usa.com/main-navigation/products?d=338&p=932  270 is under dills.

I think a 270 will turn a 10 inch just fine. Some discussion and a video in this thread.
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=291187.0

Also the 350 is a good bit taller than the 270, some measurments and a picture here:
http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=260995.msg3062173#msg3062173

I turn a 10" drill with this.

[Fishwacker1]

I own both. Paid 90$ used for the 270 and full price for the 350.
350 gets permanent house duty spinning a 10” Eskimo ion bit.
The 270 spins 6” / 8” nils and rigged also for 7.75” kdrill.
I switch from the fuel drill to the Tanaka when ice is about a foot thick.
I’ve got an auger collection problem.
eBay and Craigslist - they pop up
Everything else spoken here is correct. Except for no reason to own a gas auger.

[Fisherman-Andy]

I really see no need to go to a gas powerhead anymore with the drills and electric poweheads available.

The Tanaka 270 has been discontinued for some time now, the 350 might still be floating around.  You may see used ones show up every now and then for sale.  Nils starting using trophy strike powerheads this year to package in with their bit.

My Tanaka 270pfdh had an adapter on it which allowed me to attach a Strikemaster/Eskimo or Nils auger of my choice.   I bought it out of the feeling that I couldn’t let go gas but it ended up sitting for like 3 years in my garage unused until I finally sold it off.

The Tanaka 270 has a gear ratio of 24:1 and probably 11000rpms which matched up well on the Nils.   If you can find one of them new Eskimo F1 Rocket powerheads the performance of that should be close to the Tanaka 270 since it also has similar gear ratio.

[Drifter_016]

I really see no need to go to a gas powerhead anymore with the drills and electric poweheads available.

You would if you lived in a location where this is needed by the new year.   

[Fisherman-Andy]

You would if you lived in a location where this is needed by the new year.   

We were on lake of the woods with the Strikemaster Lazer lithium auger with a 24” extension needed for drilling holes in the wheel house and it had no issues.

I would see gas more beneficial if using it on remote locations where you can’t recharge a battery and or planning on drilling more then 20-30 holes on up to 6ft thick ice on an outing.  It’s a safe bet to say most ice anglers won’t be in such a situation.