StrikeMaster Lazer Mag Express......Why wont it bite on its own?

[Mike Stark]

so i have a lazer mag express 8in. last time i was out it stopped cutting on me...i could not even get it to cut when i applied down pressure....thought it might be the blades...got some new blades...it cuts but i have to apply down pressure. even once it get going if i let up on the pressure it just spins.

any ideas? and is applying down pressure on the auger bad for it?

thanks,

mike

[Ed Carlson]

My guess....is the Center point is likely dull or blunted.

Sharpen the center point. It is key to feed the main blade, if dull it spins and you will not get the ice to the main blade.

Check that out once.

[sausageman]

If you have the old style without the center point any change in blade angle will affect how it cuts.

I brought it back to Strike Master and they reestablished the correct blade angle and it cut like a champ again.

[Mike Stark]

thanks for the info....my center point is definitely dull...i was not aware that it is key to getting ice to the main blade. i thought it just helped keep the auger centered.

thanks ed.

if that doesnt work i will check out the blade angle.

thanks again.

mike

[Mike Stark]

my center point is dull and so my auger will not cut unless i apply lots of down pressure.

how do i properly sharpen my center point?

thanks,

mike

[gr82fish]

If the center point can be unscrewed, you may be able to run it across an oilstone or a lightly gritted file a few times on each edge to get them sharp again.

(Seems odd that even with new blades they can't overcome a dull centerpoint?, but it's certainly possible...I also had to bring my lower unit back to SM to replace the angle of it, was a factory defect from the beginning! Was unable to cut much at all even after replacing the center point and blades and pushing down on it. Ended up calling their service center, which was great in replacing it for free). Hope it helps!

[Ed Carlson]

If your not comfortable with sharpening the point, you can buy 2-packs of the replaceable points from StikeMaster.

[Mike Stark]

is it as easy as filing it down?

[Surface Tension]

Now that you've replaced the blades it is possible the center point is holding it back from cutting.

As said, take the center point off.

If it is rounded off pretty bad you'll start out with a heavier grit stone to get the edge back. Then you'll switch to finer grits as you go. Trick is when needing repeating strokes is to not rock the point.

A file will work too.

[Mike Stark]

thanks frank. i will try to file it down to see if it works...in the meantime i think i will order a couple new ones from strikemaster...this one lasted me 2 full winters with lots of drilling.

[jwhjr]

Can you still run them with the center point off like the old ones were? Those things cut much faster than the ones with the center point.

[Ed Carlson]

They will get Wild and dangerous if you do..not recommended, may result in stitch's.

[Mike Stark]

should i not be applying down pressure on the auger?

[Surface Tension]

should i not be applying down pressure on the auger?

If that is what it takes to drill a hole then that is what it takes.

Ideally no you shouldn't need to use any down pressure.

If I had a blade I had to lean on a bit to get it to drill that is what I'd do. Granted I have the means to sharpen any blade at will but realistically as long as it cuts I'm going to hold off to sending it in till it won't cut any longer.

[Dave]

When my Lazer Mag blades were getting dull, yes, I had to apply some down pressure. The duller they got, the more pressure I had to put on. After I put on new blades, then I didn't have to apply pressure; just like when it was new.

[Fredd]

I put on new blades on my '97 lazer and no downpressure needed for me.

[Mike Stark]

now i have a new issue....i got caught up on the last bit of ice..because i was applying down pressure...and my dang blade broke! time to call strikemaster and see if they will replace it.

[opsirc]

with new blades you should have to apply very little if any downbward pressure. check to see if maybe the angle of the blades got knocked off, they will not cut if they have. I am on my 4th year with the same set of blade and still only need a small amount of pressure to get it to cut. if you call SM ask them about it. they have great customer srevice.

[Northlander]

Im betting the alignment of the blades is off. Send it in or buy a new shaft. I doubt its the center point if you have to push that hard with new blades. Strikemasters were known for losing their blade angles on certain models and years.

[Jim Uran]

I've had my lazer mag for 5 years now I think, thousands of holes and never had to apply down pressure, of course I had to change blades. I make that an annual event. I also never had to change the center point either.

Sounds like you are off pitch to me.

[Mike Stark]

i just got off the phone with strikemaster...they said that the auger is bent...they said that the center point is only there to stabilize the auger....they also said that they might be able to bend it back but once the metal bends it will alway go back...that maybe 10 holes later or 200holes later...you never know...luckly i had ordered a 10in assembly last week...just need fed-ex to deliver the dang thing.

[Mike Stark]

allright...new problem...got a new 10in assembly....cuts great until the last bit off ice...it starts to spin....i have to play around with the angle to get it to go...could there be an issue with the motor?

[chief]

Mike,

I'm chiming in late here, but I had the same "lack of bite" problem a couple of years back. I took it to Strikemaster HQ and they promptly swapped in a new set of blades with the "proper" cutting angle (pitch). As for your current problem, I find it necessary, when cutting in deep ice, to frequently tighten the hex bolt that attaches the shaft to the motor head. This point of attachment is a long way from the blades and is subject to a lot of stress and loosening. This issue is particularly noticeable any time your hole is not drilled perfectly perpendicular to the ice.

[JimBuck]

Mike,

I'm chiming in late here, but I had the same "lack of bite" problem a couple of years back. I took it to Strikemaster HQ and they promptly swapped in a new set of blades with the "proper" cutting angle (pitch). As for your current problem, I find it necessary, when cutting in deep ice, to frequently tighten the hex bolt that attaches the shaft to the motor head. This point of attachment is a long way from the blades and is subject to a lot of stress and loosening. This issue is particularly noticeable any time your hole is not drilled perfectly perpendicular to the ice.

Good point. I've also noticed later in the season that I'll have to crank down the hex bolt after a dozen holes and that seems to help with biting or getting stuck.

[jwhjr]

Yea, I make sure to check the bolt after every trip. A few years back I didn't and it got pretty loose on me.

[Mike Stark]

the auger is cutting better...the bolt was tight...i check it often...i dont know if the blades needed broken in or if i needed to get used to how the 10in cut compared to the 8in...it still spins sometimes but not nearly as much...i found that clearing the hole mid cut helped a lot.