Got a Question About My Ice Auger

[AEffling]

I got a new ice auger during the summer and was wondering what to do to prep it for the ice season. I have heard people say to spray Pam on the blades or put butter on the blades. Just wondering what you guys do?

Tight lines and good fishing!

[matt_aid]

Not much you need to do.

There should be a break in period, but other then that, get good mix oil/gas and you should be good to go.

[Allen66]

Wait till just before ice season to buy your fuel. Winter gasoline is blended differently to provide proper vporization in cold climates which results in easier starts.

[CMMahy]

If it's a gas auger, break the engine in as per the manufacturers specs, and figure out a starting routine that works best for you (number of primes, how long to leave the choke on etc) so you're not messing around with it out on the ice. A good place to start is with what the manufacturer recommends. I burnt a half a tank of gas in mine late fall in my back yard, before it even saw ice, just getting used to the starting.

For a hand auger, pick up a spare set of blades and make sure you have the tools to change them out, handy when you're on the ice. It only takes hitting bottom once in shallow water, or drilling through a layer of frozen slush into some sand/gravel that came off someone's tires to take the edge of the blades and make drilling much harder, if not impossible. I've always found keeping a spare set of blades handy can really salvage a day of fishing that would have been cut short when the blades got dulled.

Good Luck.

[oyler]

CMMahy +1    All good points!

[Wardo]

Fresh gas and a new spark plug is all it takes for me.

[Grumpyoldman]

Ya wanna stroke it.
Ya wanna talk to it.
Ya wanna hold it close.
Ask your auger, "Do you want it?"
Ask your auger, "Do you need it?"
Ask your auger, "Do ya got ta, got ta, got ta, have it?"

And if you start her, and she purrs, she's ready.       

[petrgill]

You can play around with the idle screw if it has one to make it run as smooth as possible though you may have to wait to get on the ice to see how well it does when actually meeting resistance.

[pikeking]

Make the wife sleep on the couch and sleep with it so you can form a good relationship so she will start every time you want her to.

I put a new plug in every year and new gas. As long as the blades are sharp you should be good to go. Remember that they run different when it's cold out. Some of them need to warm up before they will run properly.

[Wiener]

I put wax on my Jiffy (flighting) but that was after I repaired some rust. (It's 10 years old)

Don't buy gas with ethanol.
After the break in period, switch to Amsoil Saber for the mix.

Hope this helps,

Wiener

[surflizard]

I use the butter flavored Pam spray and I spin the blade after I drill the hole to remove the access water. I heard they like BUDDA !! 

[Rebelss]

Ya wanna stroke it.
Ya wanna talk to it.
Ya wanna hold it close.
Ask your auger, "Do you want it?"
Ask your auger, "Do you need it?"
Ask your auger, "Do ya got ta, got ta, got ta, have it?"

And if you start her, and she purrs, she's ready.       

    !!!!!!

[Uncle Al]

I've always started mine before I leave the house so I know it will run out on the ice.

[surflizard]

I start my augers once a month year round, because it keeps the neighbors guessing and I enjoy the sound and smell of a well tuned auger running at high rpms !   

[DaveSS1]

If its a hand auger, keep the blades sharp and wipe them off at the end of the day before storage to avoid rust, etc.  Leave your cover on the blades.

With a gas auger make sure you buy gas just before you use it.  Follow manufactuers recommendations on fuel/oil. Also, make sure you let the engine warm up before drilling.  Strikemaster recommends 1-2 minutes of idle on a cold morning start...ive always waiting at least a minute.  Also try wiping it down with a dry cloth at the end of the day.

[Gasman]

Those with gas augers, do you up the oil/gas mix during the break in period??
 Also my daughter says hi ,Why I dont know,but she wanted me to!

[Wardo]

Those with gas augers, do you up the oil/gas mix during the break in period??

I didn't.  It will just gum up the plug quicker!  I ran regular oil the first winter I had my auger and noticed it wasn't running as well by the end of winter.  I switched to synthetic at the beginning of the next winter and haven't looked back!

[Rebelss]

Those with gas augers, do you up the oil/gas mix during the break in period??

You can...but not necessary. Depends on how picky you are about your engine. Just let it idle for the first 10 minutes or so, then shut 'er down and let it cool off. Re-start, and slowly bring revs up, then down, slowly advancing up to WOT. Remember to let it idle as long as it was at higher rpms; if you ran it at high revs for 15 seconds, let it drop to idle for at least that long. Proper break-in sets the stage for the future of your engine....no reason to pound the heck out of it right away. Say "Hi" back to your daughter!

[Tainterslayer]

I don't do anything special before the season starts. I will just start it up a few times before I hit the ice to make sure it starts. A new plug here and there but I haven't done that much.

Spend some extra time at the end of the season.... that way you don't have to spend 5x more time at the beginning of the season!

[Curley]

Fresh gas always.
Give it a new plug each season. It's only $2 why find out to late.
Put it in the garage at the end of the day. I left mine in the truck under the cover and had Ice in the carb after a rain. I had to borrow someone else's. till it thawed out later that day.

[Hardwater Problem]

Don't ever let anyone carry your auger and never let it out of your sight.  Last year my little fishing buddy was having some balance issues on departure and was using my auger as a balancing aid.  It will only efficiently do one or the other, drill holes or help "the stupid" exit the ice!!!  I can asssure you it will not do both!!!