Auger recommendations

[esox_magnum]

If a Nils is out of the question go with a Strikemaster.

[slammin slabs]

If a Nils is out of the question go with a Strikemaster.

nils wasnt a option so i got the strike master lazermag 8" tonight

[esox_magnum]

Strikemasters are good, make sure that you clean the recoil on that Solo before you start it if it hasn't been done. Thers the wrong grease in some that causes the recoil to freeze up and breaks the rope or recoil. Clean it good with WD-40 to remove the grease and you'll be fine.

 Should have gone for a Nils, one sweet ice eating machine. And no plastic to break.

[Rehtnug185vx]

thats why my buddies broke

[doonan]

Strikemasters are good, make sure that you clean the recoil on that Solo before you start it if it hasn't been done. Thers the wrong grease in some that causes the recoil to freeze up and breaks the rope or recoil. Clean it good with WD-40 to remove the grease and you'll be fine.

 Should have gone for a Nils, one sweet ice eating machine. And no plastic to break.

Im gonna have to see this Nils in action, cause i have been awfully impressed with the solo.

[tla100]

Im gonna have to see this Nils in action, cause i have been awfully impressed with the solo.

Yea me too, been real curious about them nils. Hope to get up to Spirit this weekend. U be up there esox? Dunno if its atv drivable but will bring anyway.

[esox_magnum]

I won't be around other than early Sat morn and late Sunday, late postponed X Mas at Dads in Jefferson. Be interested also in seeing the Solo, not going to switch but still like to see one in action.

[slammin slabs]

Strikemasters are good, make sure that you clean the recoil on that Solo before you start it if it hasn't been done. Thers the wrong grease in some that causes the recoil to freeze up and breaks the rope or recoil. Clean it good with WD-40 to remove the grease and you'll be fine.

 Should have gone for a Nils, one sweet ice eating machine. And no plastic to break.

would have liked to see the nils to compare them .  but the price is out of my range i broke the bank on the lazer mag.  im not real crazy about the plastic handles either but also wasnt real crazy about a single chipper blade on the jiffy.  between the jiffy and the  strikemaster i had to go with the strikemaster it has a better gear ratio than the jiffy also.

[esox_magnum]

A Nils only runs something like a 1.7HP motor to. Never yet had it bog on me no matter the ice conditions. Did get it stuck once but that was my fault, locking transmision is great for backing it out when it's stuck. By the time I'm finishing my 5th hole you hear it kick in to high gear, then she really gets going.

[cdt80]

I was one of the ones also who had some problems with the recoil on the Strikemaster but I am pleased the company stood behind their product 100%.  I have been fishing a couple of times in this cold weather and so far no more than three pulls on the Solo to get it fired up.  Warmup is quick and the power is amazing.   No complaints.

[Fishnhard]

I got the new Strikemaster for X-mas, and did the quick fix with the recoil before even going on the ice, no problems yet and it starts up within 2-3 pulls with plenty of power coming out of the new solo engine. just my .02

[toothfish]

couldnt get it to stay running and than wouldnt run at all put a new spark plug in it and even dumped out gas and put new in and it still wouldnt run.  i thought maybe it was to cold out and stuck it in my basement for a few hours only to have it leak gas from the motor somewhere.  which stunk my whole house up for the last 3 days wife was real impressed with that.  not real thrilled with the eskimo but maybe just got a bad one am ganna get either a z71 shark or a lazer mag today z71 is 400.00 and the lazer mag is 439.00 am leaning towards the lazer mag for the extra 40.00 any other imput would be great dont wont any more bad experiences on the ice 

I repair  / service many augers through out the winter and own an Eskimo ... (with a Lazer bit ) .
Leaking gas problems I have repaired (Tecumseh):
Cracked carb fitting
Cracked fuel tank
Carb inlet needle not holding

Do not let them sell you a new carb unless absolutely nessary . I have repaired 90% of the carb problems with out replacement. Cracked fitting can be replaced with a brass elbow from a Zama carburetor. Carb kits are available from Tillotson carb company.

[MelroseHawkins]

Has anyone gotten a hold of Strikemaster about their broken handles?  I am curious to what their response would be or solution for the future.   I wonder if a guy could somehow try to pad the handles.  Maybe take some pipe insulation & cut to fit or 4 small lengths with two on each side then duct tape around it where wanted it.  This could cushion any hard falls.  I may have to do this if I end up with one.

[slammin slabs]

Has anyone gotten a hold of Strikemaster about their broken handles?  I am curious to what their response would be or solution for the future.   I wonder if a guy could somehow try to pad the handles.  Maybe take some pipe insulation & cut to fit or 4 small lengths with two on each side then duct tape around it where wanted it.  This could cushion any hard falls.  I may have to do this if I end up with one.

not sure why they went with the plastic handle should have stuck with the metal handle possibly aluminum if they were worried about weight.  i tell you what though that solo engine is a machine.  overall am very happy with strikemaster lazermag it is awesome!!!  would love to see someone with a nils if they are the best cause it will be hard to beat the new strikemasters!!!

[toothfish]

Here is a repair I did on a customers Srikemaster broken handle. The red piece is 1/8 inch steel with four 1/2 inch sheet metal screws and one 3/4 inch screw in the center. I agree, they should have used aluminum handles ... ?

 

[kauffman_matt]

has any one had luck with the modle 31 Jiffy auger?  I have had one for 4 years and I have never been impressed with it.  Its a 3 hp engine and is absolutly gutless.  I have had people look a the carb and have messed with the high idol jet and never seemed to have any luck at all.

[toothfish]

Speaking of engine only  : Tecumseh being currently out of business here are the choices as I see them.

Eskimo has their Viper engine (made in china)
Stikemaster has the Solo engine (German company)
Jiffy does not say who makes their engine but from the sales literature I would say it's an Echo engine (Japan company)

From a professional point of view I would rate Echo as best with Solo 2nd. Not sure of the China engine. Echo and Solo have been in business for many year. Echo would be the easiest to find parts locally.

I was wrong about Jiffy engine being an Echo (japan engine) !!  I had one come in for repairs. It's a china engine ....kind of a "knock off" of an Echo engine.