Tecumseh done as of Dec 9th????

[52#FLATHEAD]

I heard Tecumseh is done w/ motors for Strikemaster augers as of Dec 9th. Anyone else hear this?

[Esox_Magnum]

They are done with all small 2 strokes.

[PerchPounder]

Sad but true. I've already seen new Jiffys with I think they were Badger engines on them? not too sure about the brand but I know theyre not tecumseh.

[52#FLATHEAD]

Is this because of Gov't regs? I was thinking about getting a Lazer Mag next year. Will we be seeing the Lazers w/ 4 strokes next year? How is the auger that already has a 4 stroke holding up?

[snoozebutton]

That's kind of sad. Does Briggs and Stratton make a motor that small? They've made some pretty good 2 strokes over the years.

[PerchPounder]

I believe they stopped production due to the sale of the company. To my knowledge Briggs doesn't make anything that small. There have been many recent discussions here lately about the Strike Lite most of it good but nothing has a 100% approval rating.

[hovermn]

While I've also heard good things about the strike lite, this may be the year to buy if you're on the edge. The Lazer Mag Express is one heck of an auger! I've had mine for several years now and it's never let me down.

The one thing I don't like about the 4 strokes is that because they have oil reservoir they're sensitive to possition. They have to be laid down with the plug up. Maybe that's a small thing, but if not, it can fill the cylinder with oil. I'm sure people have ended up with a small amount of oil in their sled from this.

[Esox_Magnum]

Glad I got my Nils now.

[52#FLATHEAD]

I really would like a Lazer Mag Express but have a hard time justifying $410 for it.

[Sonicrunch]

My next auger will be an electric, even if gas is still available.

[Team Otter]

I really would like a Lazer Mag Express but have a hard time justifying $410 for it.

You can buy a reconditioned Lazer Mag Express for ~$315. Don't let "reconditioned" cause any uneasiness. That's all I use.

[SomethingFishy*]

The Strike-Lite uses a Subaru Robin engine.

[Thunder]

Originally Posted By: 52#FLATHEAD

I really would like a Lazer Mag Express but have a hard time justifying $410 for it.

You can buy a reconditioned Lazer Mag Express for ~$315. Don't let "reconditioned" cause any uneasiness. That's all I use.

I can echo that...I purchased a reconditioned MAG2000 2 years ago and haven't had any issues with it. Got it for $200, can't go wrong with that!

[walleye08]

there a place in new ulm you can get a NEW lazer for 340 and the mag2000 for 240 but thats prob a ways away from you

[52#FLATHEAD]

My Scheels had the mag 2000 for $250 & are sold out now. Their Express was $384 but marked it up to $409 when they realized everyone else charged that.

A friend of mine has an old 2000 that he uses to dig post holes with..........he needs a new blade

[caseymcq]

My next auger will be an electric, even if gas is still available.

I have been thinking about getting a new auger. I am curious why you would choose the electric over gas? I am asking because as of right now I am open to anything and would like to hear what other people are considering in their decisions on which auger they would get. I have read a decent amount from other people on Nils, Strike Lite, Lazer Mag, Stealth, etc. I haven't heard much about electric augers so you caught my attention with your post.

[deadeye]

I always thought if I were to build a permanent house that I would get an electric. If all you drill is the holes for the house, it would be the way to go. No fumes, no noise, no dealing with gas, and it always starts. Now strikemaster has one with a battery, so you could even pop a few holes for tip ups too. I was talking with the old guy, Marv, that made the first Jiffy augers (he may still own the company?) and he uses their electric exclusively in his ice house. I think he exclusively fishes out of a permenant and he couldn't say anything bad about it. I guess it takes an extra 5 seconds to drill a hole, but who's counting when your not in a rush.

I still run the gas auger, but I only use portable shelters, so I run and gun too much for electric. I have been thinking about getting a rebuilt strikelite powerhead instead. I just worked over the drill on my lazer express, and don't really like the cheesy plastic flighting on the strikelite drill.

The old tech on my lazer express still runs like a champ. I throw some seafoam in it and run it dry in the spring and it always fires up. Its too bad they aren't going to make those motors anymore. I have always been pretty happy with mine.

[Bulldoggr]

Glad I got my Nils now.

And my Eskimo, with it's Viper Motor. The only motor designed for Ice Augers

[goetler]

My next purchase will be an electric for the permanent house. My old gas one still works so I have that for back-up.

[Ed Carlson]

I have picked up on some very interesting developments in the works for the future of on ice power augers. You will possibly see Robin engines on the bulk of ice augers, and maybe even more Husqvarna power heads on ice augers in the future, with even more 4-stroker's popping up.

I view it as a big upgrade in the thinking of the future of modern ice augers, and the lighter the better is what I say.

New clean electric options too, like the Ice Gator. Forward thinking companies with new materials that will preform better, offer more convenience, and operate far more "Green".

Change is good....let's see where they take us.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

So will we still be able to get parts and pieces for the Tecumseh engines?

[Ed Carlson]

At first yes, after time it may become more of a challenge. There are a lot of engines out there, so spare parts should not be an issue for some time yet.

I do not expect ice auger manufactures to replace a bad unit under warrenty with another old Tecumseh head unit..they will go with the "New" updated version. At least that is my hunch on that since they are discontinued stocks.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

I have picked up on some very interesting developments in the works for the future of on ice power augers. You will possibly see Robin engines on the bulk of ice augers, and maybe even more Husqvarna power heads on ice augers in the future, with even more 4-stroker's popping up.

I view it as a big upgrade in the thinking of the future of modern ice augers, and the lighter the better is what I say.

New clean electric options too, like the Ice Gator. Forward thinking companies with new materials that will preform better, offer more convenience, and operate far more "Green".

Change is good....let's see where they take us.

You sound like Obama now.

CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!

[fishinJohn]

I love my husqvarna chainsaw and think they would build a great auger motor. However I am happy to have my Nils too.

[marine_man]

Husqvarna already builds a ice auger, and they work great! They're a fair amount more expensive than a jiffy or stikemaster, but they work great from what I've seen.

marine_man