Strike Master Strike Lite Auger.......Question?

[Fridge]

I bought this auger last year and am pretty happy with it.  My only complaint is that the guard (or slush remover) around the blades continually packs solid with ice and freezes up.  It happens in the middle of drilling holes and the auger blades wont grab.....wont cut.  I have to take my skimmer handle and clean it our before I can continue to drill.  It's a real pain in the butt.  Has anyone else had this problem with their power auger? Can you remove this guard from the strike lite?

[Pike Paralyzer]

Touching anything near your auger blades is the worst thing you can do, the slightest knick in those blades can be a nightmare. After drilling try not to set the auger in the snow.

[600RevX]

Fridge- you need to kill the power on the auger after you bust through the bottom of the ice and before you bring it out of the hole- had the same problem, what strikemaster recommended- sounds goofy, but works perfect- if your drilling two hole close together (vex and jig hole) you can get away with it- it keeps the slush from freezing in that one spot and clogging the auger up- had one for two years now, best auger I have ever owned- 

[Fridge]

I try and be as careful as possible about keeeping the blades clear of ice and snow.  Frustrating thing is it jamms up while in use???

[Fridge]

Fridge- you need to kill the power on the auger after you bust through the bottom of the ice and before you bring it out of the hole- had the same problem, what strikemaster recommended- sounds goofy, but works perfect- if your drilling two hole close together (vex and jig hole) you can get away with it- it keeps the slush from freezing in that one spot and clogging the auger up- had one for two years now, best auger I have ever owned- 

Really??? So when I am done drilling the hole and I have broken through I need to kill the power before I pull the auger out?

[arb]

Really??? So when I am done drilling the hole and I have broken through I need to kill the power before I pull the auger out?

I have the strike master 4 stroke and the same issue.  I carry a tool in my pocket to clear the ice jam but it has been disappointing to say the least.  I have not come up with a fix at this point so let me know how you make out.

[Fridge]

Mine is the 4 stroke too.  Sounds like you need to stop the auger from spinning before you pull it out of the water.  That's a pretty poor design if that's the case.  I'll let you know.

[kchamp]

I had that problem the other day I think it just the snow on the ice doing it. I just drilled a hole and ran the blade below the ice for a little while then put it up and I didn`t have the problem again

[bigfish_1556]

Good advice, RevX. The ice jams are my only complaint with my 4stroke. Other than that, it's so frigging easy to start (1st pull every time) it's really not a big deal to kill it in the hole prior to moving on to the next spot. A small "green" step too for the icefisherman, save ya gas over the course of the season not running between holes

[600RevX]

lol Thanks- I know it sounds weird, but it does work- If I let someone I'm fishing with use it, half the time they don't listen to me and I end up trying to bust up the ice out of the end of it    considering the shut off switch is right there by your thumb, its pretty easy, and just a small tug its starts right up- when its clear of ice it cuts fantastic and it weighs next to nothing!!

[Fridge]

Do you need to kill it?  Can you just wait till the auger stops spinning to remove it?

[dakota man]

I have the Strike Master Express and have never had that problem. I think it's easier to get out of the hole under power. When done drilling I half drill another hole and leave the auger in it upright.

[oletimer]

My friends does the same thing. I use it when we go out together, he has a real ruff time keeping it clear.
I don't have as much as I run the bit up and down the hole a couple times, after it breaks through and let off the gas to stop the auger turning. Flushes the slush out. But have noticed the Jiffy or the Eskimo doesn't have as much of this problem, as the holes to feed chips up the auger are larger. I wondered if they could be enlarged on the strikemaster.

[Chainsaw]

Try spraying it with Pam or other spray cooking oil.

I don't seem to have the problem with mine but my Son-in-Law does and he sprays it with veggie oil used in cooking. The ice just flakes off when he starts another hole.

I don't know why his freezes up so bad and mine doesn't. I think I'll pay more attention to our different techniques next time out.

[Fridge]

I'll give that a try.......

[Fridge]

Sprayed the auger down with Rem-oil lubricant.  Also stopped auger from turning before I removed it from the water.  Seemed to solve the problem.....never iced up once .   Thanks for all of the advise guys....I appreciate it.