Auger for christmas

[ladyfishcatcher]

I ordered a new power auger for my husband for christmas, our old one was getting pretty tired. I did a lot of research, mostly on this board. I ordered the Eskimo Shark Z51. As much as I love strikmaster, the prices lately deterred me. Now I am worrying as  am reaing the Shark has recoil problems. Has anyhone tried these newer models? How are they? Should  have went with Jiffy or strikemaser instead? Thanks for any help!

[dkfry]

You and your husband should be happy with the Eskimo auger. When starting the auger don't overpull the recoil rope. (pulling all the rope out) You can remove the spark plug and pull the starting rope all the way out to see where it stops and make a mark on the rope with a permanent marker around 6" or so before your out of rope. That will give you a reference when starting the auger. All augers can have recoil problems if you treat them rough.

[USMarine2001]

I have an eskimo, prolly about 5 years old. I, myself would not buy another one.... had problems trying to keep in running two year ago, cause was a cracked elbow piece that ran from gas tank to carb ( wasn't getting enough fuel) luckily it was only a 3 dollar fix. Second problem is I cannot find new blades for it anyplace.... so I would order a couple sets now!!!

[dkfry]

I have an eskimo, prolly about 5 years old. I, myself would not buy another one.... had problems trying to keep in running two year ago, cause was a cracked elbow piece that ran from gas tank to carb ( wasn't getting enough fuel) luckily it was only a 3 dollar fix. Second problem is I cannot find new blades for it anyplace.... so I would order a couple sets now!!!

What model drill assembly is it? There are several online places that sell Eskimo replacement blades.

[smitty0312]

I bought a stingray last year, so far......very happy. Smitty

[USMarine2001]

What model drill assembly is it? There are several online places that sell Eskimo replacement blades.

its the barracuda, i will have to go out and check numbers and stuff again.

[holedriller]

starting my 11th season with an eskimo it is the only brand i will ever buy

[CrappieGuy]

Wish I would of saw that you were looking for an auger, I found a great web site to buy from  http://www.glensoutdoors.com    best prices I could find, they have free shipping to some states and no tax except to MN.

I was looking at the Shark Z51 also it was $313 shipped which I thought was a great price.   I ended up buying the Strikemaster lazer mag 2.5 hp 8" for $379 shipped

[Gambler]

I have a 2000 eskimo shark with the quantum blades and I have never had an issue with it. And I have found replacement blades everywhere online. I would buy another eskimo auger.

[dkfry]

its the barracuda, i will have to go out and check numbers and stuff again.

The Barracuda is a hand auger (unless they had a Barracuda gas auger years ago) and it takes the Turbocut blades.
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-Barracuda-Hand-Ice-Augers_p.html
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-TurboCut-Hand-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html

Currently Eskimo has the Shark, Mako and Stingray gas augers and they use either the Turbocut power auger blades or the Quantum power auger blades.
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-TurboCut-Power-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-Quantum-Power-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html
http://www.fishusa.com/MiscellaneousSupplies-IceFishingSupplies-Augers-EskimoIceAugers_c.html

[USMarine2001]

well here is what i got  model number is 8900b s/n is 15111

[bobbyfish64]

 I wouldn't worry to much if my girl bought me a new auger for Christmas id be giddy as a 10 year old with a new xbox.

[Gambler]

USMarine, It looks like you have the quantum blades. What size are they?

http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-Quantum-Power-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html

[USMarine2001]

Not sure, I know its a 10 in bit, the width of the blades looked about 1 in wide. I ran out in my shorts to take the pics just to show. It has been downgraded to my back-up auger, I picked up a strikemaster 8 1/4  at a garage sale  in an un-opened box brand spankin new for 60 bucks at a garage sale this year. it still cuts but i want the extra blades

[pikeking]

The Barracuda is a hand auger (unless they had a Barracuda gas auger years ago) and it takes the Turbocut blades.
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-Barracuda-Hand-Ice-Augers_p.html
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-TurboCut-Hand-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html

Currently Eskimo has the Shark, Mako and Stingray gas augers and they use either the Turbocut power auger blades or the Quantum power auger blades.
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-TurboCut-Power-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html
http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-Quantum-Power-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html
http://www.fishusa.com/MiscellaneousSupplies-IceFishingSupplies-Augers-EskimoIceAugers_c.html

I have a Barricuda plus 10" 3hp. I have had a few problems with it. Nothing big. Short quick pulls and it starts right up.

[bighof]

I had the 10" Mako for two seasons, sold it at the end of last year due to things breaking constantly. recoil spring first, then the gas tank started leaking where the nuts are inlaid in the plastic... few other minor problems as well.  That being said though the Customer Service at Ardisam was awesome about getting parts out asap.  I am going back to Strikemaster.  Have never had an issue with the Strikemaster my buddy has that we alway took as well. 

[Gambler]

I forget when eskimo started making their own engines (2 or 3 years ago) but up until that point they were Tecumseh engines just like all of the other mfg's used. Years ago they used an Italian engine (Emak) on their shark model only. But I have heard mainly good things about their newer engines.

[dcso3009]

My friend has a Eskimo Shark 10".  It is a really great auger.  The only problem with it that I know was the choke lever broke off it last year.  It was hard to start it without the choke, but it did start.  He has never had a recoil issue.  The blades are still good and that thing has drilled LOTS of holes.  I'd guess 5000 that I know of.

[Lobes]

I would be real happy with any power auger someone else bought me. If I was to buy one it would be an Icegator. No gas, no recoil problems, and it hooks up to all of my hand augers so I could chooses from five different hole sizes.

                                         
NBG

[dkfry]

USMarine, It looks like you have the quantum blades. What size are they?

http://www.fishusa.com/Eskimo-Quantum-Power-Auger-Replacement-Blades_p.html

X2 look like Quantum blades.

Well here is what i got model number is 8900b s/n is 15111.

Thanks for the pics. They changed all the names around now probably since they switched over to ardisam motors. Looks like you got a 2hp Tecumseh.

[caddy084]

I run a Strikemaster Lazer Mag, but my buddy runs a Eskimo(not sure what model) which I have tried a few times and I think they are also awesome augers, and besides that anybody getting a new ice auger for Christmas could not be disappointed........

[ladyfishcatcher]

Thanks for all the input!. Originally I was going to order the Eskimo but the store was all out of them until lte february. Then after read more posts I decided to get the Jiffy, and found out its on backorder till after christmas. So what I found was a Strikemaster 2.5 hp lazer mag, a bit more pricey than what I was after but he does hang all my tree stands for me  . I like the idea of the 2 cutting blades and the electronic ignition, but the handles are plastic, which wasn't much of a turn on. A soon as we have decent ice I'll let you know how it goes!