Buying Nils auger

[trapperdirk]

Dang I love my Nils going into it's 4th season but that lock on the new ones has me thinking . In 3 seasons and thousands of holes I have only totally jammed it once on some thick layered sheet rubble ice and a good thing I had a set of vicegrips on the atv so that I could back her out without heading for home for a pipe wrench . Home at times can be hours away . I think the lock is a good feature .

As far as 8 or ten inch auger holes ? . I have a Jiffy that I also use that's a ten . My kids and their safety is my responsibility and no one elses . Icefishing comes with risks .

TD

[tsande00]

As far as 8 or ten inch auger holes ? . I have a Jiffy that I also use that's a ten . My kids and their safety is my responsibility and no one elses . Icefishing comes with risks .

TD

Kind of goes without saying doesn't it? I think the point was that if people are bringing small kids out with them, the 10" would stay at home, or on the store shelf.

If I had a friend that was looking to buy an auger who had small kids and wanted some advice I would point him towards the 8"...not because he isn't capable of watching his kids, but why take a chance? People are so quick to point the finger sometimes it's sickening.

[Jim Almquist]

I would be more worried about ME holding on to my flasher and rod and stepping into a 10" hole. The odds are you are going to break or pull something and cut that day short and may very well end your hardwater season.

One can always take along a chisel and bevel the bottom of your hole to make it easier to get a fish started up the hole.

[jwmiller33]

can someone explain the locking feature on the newer nils? i have not heard of it before

[DTro]

Basically if the auger gets stuck in the ice, you can positively lock the shaft and use the powerhead as leverage to manually turn it back out.

Without the lock you either need a large vise grip or pipe wrench to get leverage.

I've had mine for like 4 years now and never needed that feature. But it's a nice addition to have just in case.

[tsande00]

The locking feature seems like a great and inexpensive idea. Do other manufacturers do this? Or just Nils?

[MuskieJunkie]

Also I know alot of you guys run the Amsoil in them, where can I get some of this?

Red Rooster in Bloomington, as stated above you want the sabre

[Northlander]

The locking feature seems like a great and inexpensive idea. Do other manufacturers do this? Or just Nils?

Just Nils that I know of.

[tsande00]

What is the primary benefit of Amsoil and is it equally beneficial in say a Strikemaster Solo auger?

[Dothedew]

Wish i knew about the Nils auger earlier.... bought a strikemaster lasermag last year. Thinking about selling the strikemaster and getting a nils. Might just get another marcum lx-5 for my daughter. She's my lifetime fishing partner.

[Northlander]

What is the primary benefit of Amsoil and is it equally beneficial in say a Strikemaster Solo auger?

It will work just as good in any auger as in a NIls. If you have a 4 stroke auger you may need a different oil Im not sure. Amsoil will have that oil too if needed.

Benefits that I found are better cold starts, less smoking exhaust, way less build up in carbs etc. Im on the same spark plug for I think 5 years now and it looks like new.

I used Amsoil in my old Jiffy Legend and it made a world of difference as far as starting and cleaner running.

[theoilman]

For the 2-stroke augers use the AMSOIL Saber Professional. It is a full synthetic - diester based lubricant that burns away clean leaving no carbon behind. It is far more slippery than any petroleum based 2-stroke oil - and greatly reduces wear. It burns clean, smokeless or nearly smokeless in most machines. It eliminates the oil dribble out the exhaust many complain about with other oils in fish houses. Easier starting! Quicker warm-ups!

But you definitely should open the door when using the auger! It still produces carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide! But airing out is so much faster and easier!

AMSOIL advertises save lubrication in all premix machines as lean as 100-1 but most prefer to be safer and use it leaner at 80-1.

For your 4-stroke augers there are several choices. For a SAE30 or 10W-30 use AMSOIL 4-Stroke Small Engine Oil (prod. code ASE). Or probably a more popular choice is AMSOIL 0W-40 Power Sports Engine Oil (prod. code AFF), the same oil many are using in the 4-wheelers.

(You can order direct online through any of my links.)

[cps420us]

My new auger was on my doorstep today! Can't wait to try it out! So even though the manual says run between 25:1 and 50:1, I'll be fine running with Amsoil at 80:1? Just curious, kind of a spendy investment. Oilman, I just ordered some Sabre from you site. One more question. I remember seeing something on how to properly break in the engine to achieve the best performance come winter, but can't seem to find it anywhere. Can someone post a link or some more info? Thanks.

[Northlander]

Do not attach the auger bit at 1st. Fill your tank with a 50 to 70-1 Amsoil ratio. Run a full tank through the power head. Let it run for 20 minutes or so then go out and rev it up for a bit then let sit for another 20 minutes or so. Do this until your out of gas.

Next tank attach the auger run a 70 to 1 ratio while cutting your holes and after that I run roughly 90 to 1.

In talking with Nils they recomend a 75-1 ratio.

I buy the pouches and use just a bit less than a gallon of gas with them.

Get yourself on Amsoils prefered customer list and save some $. I think if you buy like $100 a year in Amsoil it saves you $. I use it in all my motors but my truck so I easily go through the $100.

[Jim Almquist]

The way I broke in my Nils is almost identical to Northlanders. I like using the pouches as well because it is very simple. 8/10 of a gallon and 1 pouch and your running at 80:1 which is the ratio I have been running at for the past 3 years.

That reminds me that its time to go fire up the auger and run a little fresh gas through her

[Northlander]

Oh I found putting some sand or rocks in the bottom of a pail and then putting the power head on top of it and letting it sit in there and run worked good. If it rattles around too much bungy it down a bit.

[Northlander]

Just got some good news from Nils USA. They have a new Auger bag out! It will be black and orange with a 3 handle design. This should be awesome for those long snowmobile rides and keep snow out of the power head. These should hit stores towards the end of November. When I get mine Ill post a pic.

Red Rock, Marine General and Cabelas online should have them along with the Augers.

[Fillet]

I either need to get my blade sharpened or get a new one. Cabelas is my closes dealer now that they carry Nils. Is there a difference between what they call the hand auger blade and a power auger blade?

[theoilman]

Many recommend to run the oil richer for break-in. The first couple of tanks of gas run the Saber Professional at 50-1, Then go to the leaner 80-1.

[cabin]

I sold my trusty old Tecumseh powered auger last year . I was sucked in by the commercials for the German engineered Solo engines. Big mistake. It has been a nightmare. Wish I had kept my old one, or spent a little more and bought a Nils.

[Jim Almquist]

I either need to get my blade sharpened or get a new one. Cabelas is my closes dealer now that they carry Nils. Is there a difference between what they call the hand auger blade and a power auger blade?

They are the same blade. If you need to get yours sharpened you should send it in to Surface Tension and he will get it back to you in better then new shape. Here is a link to his info Surface Tension

[Northlander]

Many recommend to run the oil richer for break-in. The first couple of tanks of gas run the Saber Professional at 50-1, Then go to the leaner 80-1.

In talking with Nils USA today they highly recomend a 75 to 1 ratio for the life of your auger with Amsoil. Thats after a 50-1 to 60-1 break in for a tank or 2.

Myself I have had good results at 90-1 but that scares a lot of folks.

[Esox_Magnum]

I broke mine it at 50:1 now run 80:1, best investment I have made for ice fishing.

[hamms-scooter]

Looking for Nils auger and attachment for my strikemaster powerhead any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Northlander]

You will have to fabricate some sort of adapter to get a Nils auger/shaft on a Strikemaster power head.