My Experience with the 8" Jiffy Pro 4 Propane Auger....

[Slipperys]

Just got this a week ago.  I purposely never hooked up propane or tried to start it.  I went to the family cottage and left the auger on the outside porch for the afternoon (high of 10 without wind chill).  I got done with work, grabbed the auger, and finally got out on the ice around 9pm.  Hooked up the propane, gave it 2 pulls and it started.  It was outside the shanty late into the night and for the rest of the weekend when we were fishing.  I did a lot of fishing and this auger started on the 1st or 2nd pull every single time.  We have 18" of ice and it cut through it like butter and cut real well through old holes as well. 

I am happy as hell about the new propane auger--and wasn't sure if it was going to be a good move.

Nathan

[GCD]

So how do you mix the 2 stroke oil with the propane???... is it injected?

[ice dawg]

The auger is a 4 stroke. 

[Slipperys]

Ya, it is a 4 stroke and pretty darn quiet--which is nice... I don't have to scare every fish away for 100 yards.  This is my first power auger so I don't know if it is heavy, but it weighs:  42 pounds.  Not sure if that is on the heavy side?  But it seems to be fine for me.

[FishTank19]

Glad to hear it works good! Thanks for the report. I am planning on buying one after the season when everything goes on sale...

[Slipperys]

Oh, by the way... if you are going to buy this auger or any auger... Check online.  I went to a few stores to buy in person and couldln't find it--all sold out.  I went on google and found it at fishusa.com.  I didn't have to pay tax and only paid 7 bucks for shipping.  I was surprised it was that easy and no tax online.

[shwung79]

So how do you mix the 2 stroke oil with the propane???... is it injected?

They didn't get it.... Makes it even funnier!   

What is the main purpose of owning a propane auger, weed wacker, etc.  What am I missing?

[esox_magnum]

Just an FYI, fish dont hear the motor only hear the blades scraping the ice. Theres a vid on you tube someplace of it on a hydrophone.

[Kevin23]

They didn't get it.... Makes it even funnier!   

What is the main purpose of owning a propane auger, weed wacker, etc.  What am I missing?

On long trips you dont need to haul gasoline, just a bunch of 1lbers.

[shwung79]

I'm still not seeing the benefits guys.  I'm sure the fish here the ice scraping away, like finger nails on a chalk board.  As for the gas I have a 3hp auger that I fill up and can probably get at least 200 holes out of. Without running the numbers I would assume the propane costs more to operate. And since it's under pressure you have the potential fOr it leaking out and not even knowing it.

[Slipperys]

What is the main purpose of owning a propane auger, weed wacker, etc.  What am I missing?
[/quote]

I'm not sure what everyone else likes...  But I always keep propane for a little heater and a lantern and think it is an easy fuel to keep around the shanty.  I used my buddies auger (older one) and I really had a crap ton of old gas/oil smell on me and my hands.  I guess I might have been thinking about it more than it was actually happening.  But a lot of the old guys in my family said that any fuel on fishing line, lures, or bait will kill fishing luck.  I heard of the 4 stroke with propane and thought it sounded good.  

I'm not trying to sell this--just letting anyone that is iffy about the Jiffy Pro 4 that I have had great success so far!

[jimyoumook]

i like mine because i normally carry a heater and lantern with me so having propane around is normal also no gas can to forget about (again) ive drilled 60 plus  holes with mine through 10+ inch ice and im still on the first bottle

[copperjohn]

Thanks for the review.  I would imagine the exhaust wouldn't tink up the perm house as much either when drilling holes.  Also believe in the gas smell-residue = fewer fish.  I use dedicated gloves for drilling and that's a drag.  Hopefully both the weight and price will come down to competive levels soon.

[Tee Tot]

 I did not know that there was a propane model out on the market. If Its not to big a deal, could you post a pic, I would like to see it.

[Uplandhuntr]

North American Fishing Club just had an article on their e-mail newsletter stating the 6 scents that kill fishing success (I know, I know...).

Then one caveat they had in the article was petro based items (gas and oil) had little affect....in THAT study.

Just throwing it out there as an item to discuss.

Personally, I wear my gloves whenever I gas up or cut holes, and never wear gloves when baiting up or changing lures because I can't do it with gloves on, so try to keep a little buffer there anyway.

Here are my thoughts....a drill cutting ice has the same amount of noise under the ice no matter the power source from what I have seen and read, I fill up the night before with different gloves and have never ran out of juice with my Eskimo no matter how many holes I drill in a day of fishing, I don't have to worry about whether or not my gas drill will ice up, proportionally the propane auger is WAY heavier than my current drill, and it costs a lot......

Also, an engine burning propane is a different smell/non-smell than running a heater, but it definately still has a distinct odor.  I haven't been around the new auger, but I have been around fork lifts and pickup trucks that have been converted to run off propane and they definately have an odor when they are running.

I carry an 11 pound tank for heat and food and have found myself in one situation where it was so cold that I couldn't get a pounder to thread as a backup because, I can only figure, the metals on the connectors contracted enough to prevent it.  When you walk out and lose your source of heat, or hole punch, that's the end of the day.....

Good discussion....I would be tickled pink to try one out, just not enough pros compared to cons on my spreadsheet.

It's heavy, expensive, still has an odor when running, and not proven as a product....yet......

Just my opinion....

[gillcommander]

great report...glad your new propane Jiffy is working well for ya!!!

[shwung79]

North American Fishing Club just had an article on their e-mail newsletter stating the 6 scents that kill fishing success (I know, I know...).

Then one caveat they had in the article was petro based items (gas and oil) had little affect....in THAT study.

Just throwing it out there as an item to discuss.

Personally, I wear my gloves whenever I gas up or cut holes, and never wear gloves when baiting up or changing lures because I can't do it with gloves on, so try to keep a little buffer




there anyway.

Here are my thoughts....a drill cutting ice has the same amount of noise under the ice no matter the power source from what I have seen and read, I fill up the night before with different gloves and have never ran out of juice with my Eskimo no matter how many holes I drill in a day of fishing, I don't have to worry about whether or not my gas drill will ice up, proportionally the propane auger is WAY heavier than my current drill, and it costs a lot......

Also, an engine burning propane is a different smell/non-smell than running a heater, but it definately still has a distinct odor.  I haven't been around the new auger, but I have been around fork lifts and pickup trucks that have been converted to run off propane and they definately have an odor when they are running.

I carry an 11 pound tank for heat and food and have found myself in one situation where it was so cold that I couldn't get a pounder to thread as a backup because, I can only figure, the metals on the connectors contracted enough to prevent it.  When you walk out and lose your source of heat, or hole punch, that's the end of the day.....

Good discussion....I would be tickled pink to try one out, just not enough pros compared to cons on my spreadsheet.

It's heavy, expensive, still has an odor when running, and not proven as a product....yet......

Just my opinion....

Thank you.  I was thinking it was just me. I guess its important enough to some people because they are making them.... 

[BIGCREW]

I have heard alot of good reviews on the pro 4 and plan on buying 1 as soon as I sell my other auger a jiffy stelth stx ,I dont think there will be any end of season sale on these but I want 1, I hate haveing to mess with the gas and carrying a gas jug around,haveing someone use your auger and not close the vent and gas leaks out all over your stuff in the bottom of the sled been there done that,propane is the way to go for me

[Hippie]

WOW 42 lbs. I thought my icegator was heavy at 27 lbs. Guess I am getting old  that's why I rather just push a button.
Plus when I seen the propane auger in the store  the other day it had a warning about laying it down a certain way to avoid breaking the spark plug. 

[Celt6]

42lbs my for10 inch, 38 for 8, I LOVE MY PRO4, bought it because I hate gas smell, and I could afford it, if it does not work I get a Nils. Got my at Fish307 also locally, cant be happier, all you need to remember is to lay it down with the plug up. before the ice I had it in my walk in Freezer at work for a weekend at minus 10, fired up on the 3 rd pull ready to go. Thats just me, I dont plan on fishing in Minus 20 degrees so I really dont care about what happens. If you plan on running and gunning with 50 holes a day it might not be economical for you, I bought was was right for me, 20 holes max, 2 feet of ice max, - 10 is my cutoff temp. Works for me.

[Roccus]

 thank you for the time taken to post this... I've been a mechanic for over 40 years, in my experience, propane and cold dont play well together.. i was very curious on how the two would mix...

My feelings are that this was developed for the shanty crowd, because the porpane is nearly oderless ( the reason they run propane in ware house fork trucks) and has lower levels of carbon monoxide it will be interesting to see how these work as time goes on...

what brand is the motor... the picture looked like a Briggs and Stratton?

[jimyoumook]

proof they work http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=115888881817946

[W4lleye]

thank you for the time taken to post this... I've been a mechanic for over 40 years, in my experience, propane and cold dont play well together.. i was very curious on how the two would mix...

My feelings are that this was developed for the shanty crowd, because the porpane is nearly oderless ( the reason they run propane in ware house fork trucks) and has lower levels of carbon monoxide it will be interesting to see how these work as time goes on...

what brand is the motor... the picture looked like a Briggs and Stratton?

As far as i know, it is an in house design, built in China. 

[Slipperys]

As far as i know, it is an in house design, built in China. 

Jiffy engineered the engine--but it is built in China.  I called Jiffy about this before I made the purchase.  They say that every auger engine is built in China--even the engines that say Germany are designed and made in Germany but assembled in China.  I called Eskimo and StrikeMaster and they said the same thing. 

The warranty and repairs are all handled out of the plant in Sheboygan Falls, WI.

[killitandgrillit]

I dunno. That's a lot of coin to drop for a 42 pound auger. I believe the Nils Master power auger is in the low 20's for weight. I sure wouldnt want to lug that thing around all day.

[Roccus]

As far as i know, it is an in house design, built in China. 

so much for their built in USA slogan if thatis the case...

[shwung79]

so much for their built in USA slogan if thatis the case...

If packaged here they can put that sticker all over the packaging, ie; hanes

[W4lleye]

so much for their built in USA slogan if that is the case...

Which would apply to all the makers.  The powerhead can be made elsewhere and shipped and and still qualify for made in the USA.  Example?  Ford, Dodge, or Chevrolet.   25% American parts 75% ROTW.

Anyways......

I just mentioned China, i didnt mean anything by it.  Not everything out of China is junk, and i am well aware of this.   

Thread is going to go the way of the Dodo quickly.  I happens every time i see someone buy one and review it.  You say why you love it and 50 tards stop off to say why they dont......as if anyone cares.  Why i would not own one has absolutely ZERO bearing on your ownership so ill spare you reading my viewpoint of an auger i have never run, and dont intend to, on your review thread.

Thanks for the review btw.  Its just like the many other i have read thus far.....which is....its a very good auger.

[JIGGIN-]

Not everything is made in China.......Chinese fortune cookies are made in the USA. Check out the package next time you go for some Chinese food.

I say give the Chinese back their damn cookies and give us back our jobs! Let's get back to quality.

JIGGIN.

[mattg]

so much for their built in USA slogan if thatis the case...

Also the slogan is U.S engineered for ultimate performance.  So engineered in the U.S yes, built no.  As far as I'm concerned its not that big of a deal.  All auger engines are chinese made and they all get the job done, good enough for me