Jiffy Model 30 Ice auger

[coyotekiller101]

I have a model 30 auger I bought 2 years ago. I powerhead works great, however it seems to take a lot of work to get a hole cut. The blade seems to be sharp so I have not bought a new one yet. Is it possible that the "drill" itself is bad, or will new blades do the trick? Anyone know?

[cat-man]

Just remove the blade, use a flat file to resharpen.

[jwmiller33]

CoyoteKiller, Welcome and thanks for joining us!

My first thought about your Jiffy is possibly your shaft is bent a little bit, causing the blades to not be sitting on the correct angle on the ice. That could be why it takes so long to drill a hole. Even the slightest bend in a auger shaft can completely screw it up... That would be the only reason I would think it is taking you a long time to drill a hole if your blades are still sharp.

Are you pressing down hard when your drilling holes?

[jBohmer]

A sharp Jiffy auger should cut through the ice like butter. I never thought how a bent shaft could effect drilling. I think jwmiller has a good point. I would think that you shuld be able tell if it is bent by giving it a good eye, good luck.

[Ed Carlson]

Just because your hear hooves, don't start think'n Zebra's.

The cutting edge is dull. Very likely the center point as well.

Sharpen the center point, it feeds the main blade. If dull and/or blunted, it will not drill properly.

Keep the angle...never use a grinder, cold file only.

[Bigtom]

I agree with Ed. Last year I had to lay on top of my 3hp stealth to cut in the ice. So I got the blades sharpened at a local saw sharpening store, and it cuts great. I accualy have to lift up on the auger because the weight of the auger cuts to much. I brought the whole auger shaft to him and I think I only payed 18.00 plus tip.

If it was bent it would drill a crooked hole as my old auger did.

[jwmiller33]

you can drill crooked holes if your not aiming your auger straight down also, which is easy to do

[reinhard1]

i had the same poor drilling experience with my jiffy. i bought new blades, still not the same until i sharpened the point with the file. now good as new. good luck.

[fishinfey8]

Sharpen the point and get new blades. I had the same issue last year. It's pretty hard to bend the shaft unless you don't support the powerhead while traveling on a bumpy lake, road etc...

[GatorBait]

JW hit it on the head. Now if you have the ripper blades, you don't want to lay on the auger, you'll actually want to lift slightly due to the weight of the auger itself. Hopefully something here helps you out. The bent shaft thing will be a given if you have new blades w/sharpened point and same results. It doesn't take much at all, been on that road once before.

[Random guy]

Now blades and/or points are most likely the culprit but we have bent the cutting head bouncing around in plow trucks and they will cut poorly or not cut AT ALL. Best way to go about this is first try to sharpen the blades and if that doesn't work loosen up the bolt that holds the bottom plate to the auger so the bottom is floppy then gently try it. If it cuts better after that you have bent the bottom plate or end of the auger. How it is bent is the blade section has ended up higher then the opposing side of the plate. Basicaly putting the blades at the same level as the skid part of the cutting plate not allowing the blades to take a bite.

On one occurance I bent the pitch of the blade upward. The plate was fine but the angle of the blade was bent where the blade bolts to the plate. All it would do is bounce up and down as I tried to cut.

[jwmiller33]

JW hit it on the head. The bent shaft thing will be a given if you have new blades w/sharpened point and same results. It doesn't take much at all, been on that road once before.

ya same thing happened to our jiffy last year. not fun at all!

[coyotekiller101]

Thanks everyone!....I'll try the point & blades before I run out & buy a whole new drill!