Propane Auger? It's coming so says the Rumor Mill.......

[Skipper]

Allot of this comes back to the EPA, they just cant get a cheap engine to run clean enough for future standards. You and I would wear 2 stroke exhaust for colone, the government thinks it is the devil.

[dkfry]

Only 30 holes on a pounder just isn't going to cut it.(Must burn the Liguid LP) I can cut 30 holes with my Tec Jiffy and you have a hard time seeing if the fuel level went down.

The EPA and CARB are out of control no doubt, they are mirroring Europes regs to a T. I never thought about a cat converter on a small 2-stroke, but my Tanaka has a cat on several models. Its only going to get worse I'm afraid, so take care of your old 2-stroke polluters.

[Mainehazmt]

what the heck   just get an icegator!  no fuel issues!

[vermonner]

Gimmick.  15 years from now, someone will turn up with one on the ice, and I'll think 'I remember reading about that on a forum...'

[TIBS]

what the heck   just get an icegator!  no fuel issues!

Fuel issues or battery issues..... which would I rather have....

[esox slayer]

Fuel issues or battery issues..... which would I rather have....

OR broken terminals (but everyone carries a soldering iron on the ice, right??),

OR broken switches, 

OR, having the unit "lock" in reverse....

Seems like those were all "common theme" problems this past winter.

Did I mention the absolute breakdown (or should I say meltdown) in customer service??

[stumper]

Every mechanical device is prone to failure at one point or another. I bet it would be easier to find an elecrician capable of fixing a gator than it would be a small engine mechanic that can work on a propane powered auger

[Mainehazmt]

anybody that has switch issues should contact Greg    They have a perm fix design change

[Skipper]

They need to produce a commercial quality unit with a high quality long lived engine. They can try to band-aid the situation all they want, there is only one answer. Put up or shut up, it is time to build an ice drill that does not look and feel like a Mc Donalds toy.

There is only one gas powered drive on the market today that I would concider, the Nils/Tanaka. Otherwise, I think I would be downgrading from my old Jiffy. Propane ain't gonna impress anyone anymore than their happy meal engine.

[michianafisherman]

I can't stand buying those bottles. I can buy the one gallon of coleman, at 8 dollars, and it doesn't bother me like the bottles do. I never leave an empty one gallon can on the ice, but I have seen lots of those bottles left on the ice from other fisherman. How many more bottles will get left on the ice if an auger runs on them too? I will stick with my Gator even if I have to buy batteries every season, which I don't. 

[duck doctor]

There is nothing better than the smell of 2 stroke in the morning!

[dkfry]

There is only one gas powered drive on the market today that I would concider, the Nils/Tanaka.

Thats the best value out there now IMO. My local dealer wants $599 for the Tanaka powerhead. You can get the Tanka Nils for around $550 and sell the Nils auger portion. If I needed an auger thats what I'd due, unload the Nils drill and put on a Strikemaster. Will have a nice reliable drilling machine for years with fairly inexpensive widely available blades for the drill when you need them.

[sled-in]

They say the husqvarna is worth a look too, more serious ice anglers are using them here

[Skipper]

Last time I priced them, they were nearly $800!

[dkfry]

And the Huskys are hard to come by in the states.

[duck doctor]

First I have ever heard of them but a 1.28hp engine cutting up to a 10" hole........seems a little under powered!

http://www.husqvarna.com/ca/en/landowner/products/ice-augers/husqvarna-ice-augers-for-landowners/

[dkfry]

The gearbox has a 59:1 ratio which is very steep compared to other augers on the market. If anyone has found a parts diagram or pictures of the gearbox setup on the Husky let me know. I'm interested in seeing the guts or the gearbox, very compact.

[sled-in]

First I have ever heard of them but a 1.28hp engine cutting up to a 10" hole........seems a little under powered!

http://www.husqvarna.com/ca/en/landowner/products/ice-augers/husqvarna-ice-augers-for-landowners/

$800. is steep, but like I said its not the weekend warrior ice fishermen (which are still a step above the causal ice fishers) who are using them, its more the pro's. I really don't think that they would use an underpowered auger when they don't even fish every hole they drill, Husqavarna is a good product.

[Sven936]

I just found it.  Powerhead alone is $699, bits are extra.

http://www.lawnmowerhosp.com/ProductDetail.aspx?c=Products_Ice-Augers_326AI25_836

[dkfry]

Found some pricing on the new Propane auger. More $$$ than I thought.

http://www..com/Category/main.taf?cat=4013&pc=406

[jpicks]

$800. is steep, but like I said its not the weekend warrior ice fishermen (which are still a step above the causal ice fishers) who are using them, its more the pro's. I really don't think that they would use an underpowered auger when they don't even fish every hole they drill, Husqavarna is a good product.

Or the people who have other things they need to spend $800 on besides an auger...groceries, milk, mortgage...

And if the pros are using them, they're probably not paying full retail for them (if they're paying at all).

[Layne]

Not too fond of the propane idea other than you wouldnt get gas on your hands. The cost would likely be the big issue, my tecumseh white lightning 8" will drill all day on 1$ of gasoline.

I can honestly say the Husqavarna will be my next auger, I got a chance to hold and use one and I was nothing short of impressed. Starts on the first pull and drills at a nice pace but the weight is what sold me, I bet its only about half the weight of my jiffy and when you have lots of 100 hole days weight has to count for something.

[Jrod0582]

Any pictures of the powerhead at all?

[surflizard]

They are trying to tell guys around here about them and they're not having any success with the propane idea so far ! Bits are sold separately That quite a deal eh ??  Do they offer attractive financing options too ? 

[IcePro]

The Pro 4 Propane comes with a drill assembly, retail $499.95 for 8" unit / $519.95 for 10" unit.

[surflizard]

Thanks for verifiying that IP, something about ( bits not included ) just didn't sound quite right   

[jasond37]

I saw somewhat of a demo of the new Jiffy propane auger today at Thorne Bros.  Sounds like a normal 4-stroke, runs off of 1lb propane tanks.  I didn't get a chance to hang on to it myself, so I'm not sure what the weight is like.  The power unit looks a bit cumbersome.  It has an on/off switch, one pull and it starts.  No need to wait for it to warm up either, you can drill right away.  I didn't get how long one tank will last though. 

[stumper]

If you want it to last ,you better let it warm up.

[oyler]

Jason, you should have introduced yourself, I was at the Cold Snap table. 

[jasond37]

Jason, you should have introduced yourself, I was at the Cold Snap table.  

Huh, I had no clue.  I would've darnit!

If you want it to last ,you better let it warm up.

According to the Jiffy rep that was there, he said no need.  There were two other guys standing there and looked at eachother confused too.