8 inch strike lite first time out coming up

[GBguy]

Awesome! What's different about the screw?

Do you mind me asking how long it took to get the replacement? I just emailed them today about mine.

[DTro]

That's great.  I wonder what's different with the screw?? 

[anv]

I contacted them last Friday. They didn't email me back on Monday, so I re-email them yesterday (Tuesday). They respond back that they will ship it to me overnight. So today  (Wednesday, next day) I got it. It shipped from Saint Paul to Champlin so shipping will varies.

Sorry, I honestly don't know anything about screws but it looks the same. Original one is silver and new one is black? Same length.

[waterlike]

I got my new strike master light flight and it was good for 4 holes just like a previous post, and then it wouldn't work. I emailed them and they emailed back within 5 minutes. And requested my address to send me the new bit. I'm happy that they responded so fast, but if it wasn't for this thread I wouldn't have known what to do. And also I hope they send it overnight because I probably have to go buy another adapter just to use this weekend at a Derby if the other one isn't here by then.

[CoachWalleye74]

I put the new adapter on and tightened it down as tight as I could by hand. Drilled 10-12 holes in 8 inches of ice Sunday with no wobble, no slip in the chuck, and the Allen bolt is still tight. Hoping this fox is permanent, but the start was positive.

[GBguy]

Waterlike, what do you mean the auger wouldn't work? Problem with the adapter?

[waterlike]

Sorry. I meant problem with the adapter. Loose in the Chuck. Wouldn't drill after first 4 holes. Would slip

[GBguy]

Gotcha. I drilled another dozen holes with mine yesterday and didnt have any issues with the adapter this time, but Strikemaster is already sending me a new one.

Here are some overlapping holes I drilled for anyone wondering about that.

[glenwyo]

It just amazes me that companies that have been around for a long time, like Strikemaster and Eskimo, rush to put a product on the market, without obviously thinking it through thoroughly or testing it enough! Something as basic like an adapter they can't get right? Or Eskimo putting out the first round of the Pistol bit without a centering point but then switching over one year later! Who is really field testing these new augers? It's not like their making something that has 50 moving parts on it and everything needs to work in unison. Ridiculous!

[mboss13]

It just amazes me that companies that have been around for a long time, like Strikemaster and Eskimo, rush to put a product on the market, without obviously thinking it through thoroughly or testing it enough! Something as basic like an adapter they can't get right? Or Eskimo putting out the first round of the Pistol bit without a centering point but then switching over one year later! Who is really field testing these new augers? It's not like their making something that has 50 moving parts on it and everything needs to work in unison. Ridiculous!

Eskimo really screwed up with the Gen 1...and more so with their attitude for no easy (affordable) fix. This drill adapter does suck, as I too see shavings on top of it, only hoping it isn't ruining my drill. Everything is tight....not sure where the issue is. I did email them and asked for the replacement.

This auger cuts ice fast, but so did the pistol. like you said, these issues are inexcusable......it's like their prototype must only be tested once and they quickly go and order millions of pieces to be manufactured. That entire drill adapter on the lite flite is garbage including the disc that just wobbles around.

I'm guessing the pistol gen 2 will come victorious here....then again you can't use that with a strikemaster head unit......or any other unit for that matter.

I'd get a K-drill.....but that isn't real 8".......

[sleddog1]

The easy fix is to grind the ring off that’s at the top of the drill end. Get a longer hex head bolt & locknut.

[DTro]

The Pistol Bit wasn't really a design flaw, just an addition.  Lots of companies do that to their products to later revisions.  It still worked great without the center point.   But yeah they could have reached out an provided some sort of upgrade option.

[hardwater diehard]

The Pistol Bit wasn't really a design flaw, just an addition.  Lots of companies do that to their products to later revisions.  It still worked great without the center point.   But yeah they could have reached out an provided some sort of upgrade option.

Not sure it can be retro fitted but there is a part number for the point and auger end unit

https://www.geteskimo.com/Parts/Structure/2673

[GBguy]

Just thought I would post an update now that I just got my new adapter in the mail from Strikemaster. As you can see in the picture, the new adapter has a black spacer on the lowest section, along with a new blacl collar bolt. The instructions specifically say not to use the old collar bolt, so there must be something different about this one. Besides that, the end of the adapter that fits into the drill chuck no longer has that circular collar on it.

I installed it on my drill and everything seemed to snug up nicely. I'll hopefully get out fishing a couple times this weekend and will update again after I get a chance to use it.

[hardwater diehard]

Just thought I would post an update now that I just got my new adapter in the mail from Strikemaster. As you can see in the picture, the new adapter has a black spacer on the lowest section, along with a new blacl collar bolt. The instructions specifically say not to use the old collar bolt, so there must be something different about this one. Besides that, the end of the adapter that fits into the drill chuck no longer has that circular collar on it. 

What's the collar made of out of curiosity ?

[GBguy]

The collar is plastic. It doesn't go all the way around the adapter, so it is removable. It does cover up the bottom hole which I assume is for use with the lazer/mora hand augers. Which is good, because I kept my 6" lazer hand auger for early season, but may want to use the smaller auger with the drill from time to time, and now I can sell my Kovac adapter with my 8" more and extension.

[hardwater diehard]

GBguy..Thanks for the reply ..Good to know SM is stepping up to correct the situation ..maybe those waiting for their improved SM Adapter from them can use a piece of pvc to fill space up utill they receive one ..w/Loctite added as well.

[GBguy]

And grind down the end for a better fit in the chuck.

But the wait wasnt that bad. It took less than a week to get the replacement from when I first contacted them to when I received it, and it could've been a couple days quicker had I seen their email response (it went to my spam folder) and the shipping was delayed a day by weather.

[JohnJ1981]

The easy fix is to grind the ring off that’s at the top of the drill end. Get a longer hex head bolt & locknut

Grinding the adapter is a quick fix for the chuck problem but the easy thing to do is email StrikeMaster. I emailed them last week and just received the updated adapter and bolt for free. Tried it out and it works great, no wobble and the bolt is still tight! I think I may put some lock-tight on the threads for some extra security.

[waterlike]

I got my new adapter, just like the previous one posted. Ground down on the top. And I actually think they ground down the grooves a little on the sides so they are more flat. And the black plastic piece. Now it works as intended. Awesome. Drilled 50 holes today, drilled super fast and clean. No wobble. No slipping in the Chuck. Not once.

[Damn Yankee]

Unbeknown to most, Strikemaster sold this same POS adapter last year as a drive adapter for their augers.
Many were returned.
The problem (other than the strange end) is the diameter of the adapter is .020-.030” smaller than the hole in the end of the auger, so when tightened down, the auger is offset, so there is wobble.
Watch James H video (last years) add for the 40volt auger. Once the auger starts to cut it runs straight but the wobble goes to the operator and his arms and shoulders do the wobbling.
This year you can’t buy the 40volt with the lite-flite because they need to dump all those steel lazer augers.

[sunniewally]

Just exactly how does the wobble affect the drilling of a hole?

[PIKE FISHERMAN]

Just exactly how does the wobble affect the drilling of a hole?

My adaptor wobble didn’t affect how mine cut. I’m sure short term use would be fine, but long term exposure with the wobble could pose a problem with either the adaptor or shaft warping.

[Dave in Mpls]

Howdy all-

Just wanted to chime in with my experience.  Ordered 2 8" from Glen's (and received promptly!!)  Didn't get an opportunity to use one until last weekend, and experienced the same wobble, etc. others experience.  Sent an email today and got no response - instead, I got a call from Strikemaster about 20 minutes after sending the email!!  The gal I spoke with (super nice!) acknowledged the issues and is sending me out new adaptors for each.  The one thing she stated, which I don't believe has been addressed, is that there is a difference in the allen bolt they send vs the originals.  Apparently, while the pitch and length is the same, the depth of the threads in the originals is shallower than the replacement that the new adapter (no "round collar", and plastic bushing) comes with, allowing it to loosen.  Who knows, but I'll try anything once!  Plan on putting a bit of blue loctite on the new bolt just for good measure.

Regards