NEW PROPANE AUGER

[dewey1]

ANYONE BUY THE NEW JIFFY THAT RUNS ON 1# PROPANE BOTTLES? SEEMS LIKE A GREAT IDEA. THINKING ABOUT GETTING ONE BUT NOT SURE IF THEY ARE "TRIED AND TRUSTED" YET. HOW DO THEY MATCH UP FOR HOLE CUTTING NUMBERS PER TANK OFF GAS VS. BOTTLE?

[traveler]

I bought one, haven't had it out fishing yet. I did drill a few holes last weekend, first impression was positive. I'ts heavy...I bought the 10 inch so it goes 42 lbs I think. But I'm not overly mobile and don't get serious till I can drive out. They say nearly an hour run time per cylinder, of course it will depend on ice thickness as to how many holes. I don't expect it to be cheaper than a gas model, but cleaner, no handling of gas or oil, quiet 4 stroke all sold me. I was a little apprehensive to buy something unproven as well...guess I'll take this one for the team:)

[lispeej]

I wonder if Gander MTN or the stores that sell them will run one for display? I'm thinking of getting one as well.

[Hd Wtr Hillbilly]

I wonder if Gander MTN or the stores that sell them will run one for display? I'm thinking of getting one as well.

The have been on display at gander for at least a month now

[Jarrod32]

The one-pound propane tank will last roughly as long as 3/4 tank of gas in gas powered augers. Just keep the propane cylinder warm; if it gets too cold, you might get some rough running. Other than that, it is a very nice unit.

[CJH]

I'll buy one when they get the weight down. Love the idea, but its too heavy for hole hopping. It's great for a perm or stationary fishing.

[spearchucker]

Propane powered engines are nothing new. They have been around a long time so they aren't a new concept. Just a 4 stroke engine with a different intake.

[RonT]

How do they compare in price to a gas model?

[Bigtom]

I believe they are 50.00 more than normal. I was out fishing today and there was a guy next to me that just bought one and he hated it. It had no power to cut threw 8 inches of ice. I cut a hole and a half with my 4 stroke SM. I am thinking their was something else wrong with this single auger, but I am not sure. I just know that I let him use my auger the rest of the day.

[traveler]

Mine cut just fine in trial, every bit as strong as other augers I've used over the years. Must have been something going on ...

I won't get on the ice till next weekend it looks like, will report back after I've cut a bunch more holes with mine.

[MuskieJunkie]

I'll buy one when they get the weight down. Love the idea, but its too heavy for hole hopping. It's great for a perm or stationary fishing.

+1

40 lbs is just too much when there are other units out there in the low 20s.

[snowfighter]

Well after looking at all the posts on this site and others deciding between electric or propane (for mostly house use) I bit the bullet today and bought the propane time will tell.

[traveler]

now I don't feel so alone:)

[mabr]

Ive been watching these threads on the new propane and all I had for my opinion was from those. Well yesterday my son and hos friend went with me up the Millelacs and instead of pulling mine and his we took his alone. A new Jiffy propane model.

Ill say I would have no problem owning one at all. all you do is pull the thung once and its running. No warm up, no choking no priming. The think is really neat. Yeah its heavier but not enough to worry me from drilling a hundred holes in a day. The twenty below issue is no biggie to me as im not going to be out there then anyways, It was 12-15 degrees yesterday and it never had any issue with the tank sitting on the ice.

As far as the guy who had an issue with his. Id be willing to bet he had iced his blades up. Ours did this every time wed drill more after stopping, Thats not a propane issue is IMO a Jiffy issue.

[CJH]

Good post Mabr. Its good to hear from some real world use. Sounds like it worked as designed!

[Ed Carlson]

Quote:

I wonder if Gander MTN or the stores that sell them will run one for display? I'm thinking of getting one as well.

Yes we do, they have been a fast seller this year. So they do sell out between shipments.

1 easy pull, always starts. I demo them in the store all the time...people are amazed at they easy start and no stink..and how quit they are. Still just as heavy, still has the STX proven cutting system.

I have yet to see one returned.

[gatorslayer]

I just bought an electric "strikemaster"...love it! No more oil and gas, charge it every night or run it off your truck battery

[cabin]

What a great idea. No more fuel problems. Get the weight down and I will buy one.

[traveler]

one word....wheaties:)

[snowfighter]

Hate to say it but put oil in new auger connected propane tank started on second pull then gear box made loud squeel at one spot every revolution of auger. So call service department where I bought yesterday and going back to have it checked and fixed tomorrow. Who would of thunk!!!

[traveler]

no, mine did that too. I think thats the way they're suppossed to sound!

(kidding...that bites( Hopefully it's a rare instance!)

[BLACKJACK]

What do these new propane augers smell like if you use them inside a fish house?? I've always thought that if I get a big fish house I'd have to pop for an electric auger but these might be the ticket....

[snowfighter]

Well good service took it back this morning to dealer where bought and came back couple hours later. Near as they could figure the big main gear in the housing when it was manufactured the hole was drilled slight of center so it would put pressure on the other smaller gears at one point,anyway they put a new gear housing and gear assembly on and good to go.

[snowfighter]

Blackjack thats why I went propane,thought about electric but don't like the battery idea.Have'nt tryed in house yet but started couple times in garage ,no smoke, and can't smell much of anything.

[just1dude]

It's difficult for me to say this especially since I've owned Jiffy augers for the past 30 years. I recently became another one of Jiffy's newest guinea pig's on the "All New and Improved" Pro4 propane model. Although I'm pretty happy with the 4 cycle motor and the way it starts and runs. No smoke or smell and it has enough power to rip a 10" hole in short order, HOWEVER!!! the gear case sounds like it's going to explode. It has a high pitched whining noise that makes you take notice. I talked to the Jiffy boy's down at the "Ice Fishing Show" and they seemed to know about the problem and assured me that if the system failed they would have a new one in the mail. SO!!! why release the product before the kinks are worked out? Has anybody noticed this noise yet?

~mk

[TruthWalleyes]

As part of the manufacturing world, I know there's always kinks in a new manufacturing process... Many times it can be human error, but if the company had designed it properly, the motor would not assemble properly without all components in working order...they call this a "Poke Yoke". Sounds like there was a common problem of aligning a fixture in a hole drilling operations. I would guess that the manufacturer repaired the problem when it was first noticed...which of course was too late for some.

I rarely buy a brand new product (In stock the first 6mo or so) just for this reason...Every product needs time to work out the kinks.