Bent auger shaft. Options?

[401TE]

I was drilling a hole tonight and got hung up on something and in trying to get it loose i apparently bent the shaft of the auger about 6" up. It's not horrible, but definitely noticeable when the shaft is spinning. Anyone ever dealt with this issue? If so, what did you do? Is there a way to get it straightened or do I have to buy a new bit? It's a Strikemaster Lazer Mag Express.

Thanks for any advice!

[Northlander]

I would buy a new one if you can afford it. It will eat up blades faster now. Maybe a pipe shop can straighten it for you?

[Castinski]

My buddy just had this happen to his 10" lazer. He took it to a welding shop where they put it on a lathe and heated up the shaft to straighten it out. Beats the $160 to buy a new one.

[paceman]

Only two options. Try to have it straightened or buy a new one. My buddy did the same as you. He tried to have it straightened but it still wobbled, so he eventually bought a new one. Personally I would buy a new shaft and be done with it and not risk doing damage to the powerhead.

[live4chrome]

not to hijack a thread, but i think that my angle on the bit where the blades mount is messed up. its a strikemaster. it wont cut unless you push on the powerhead, and push hard.

[bottom-bouncer]

I bent my auger this past week. I just fixed it tonite. There really is no way to bend it back again and get straight enough. My bend was down about a foot from the top of the auger I cut the auger shaft about three inches below the collar I the cut the welds loose on the flights down two feet from that point pulled the shaft out cut a piece of heavy walled pipe 26" long put it in the lathe and turned down 2" on each end so that they would slide into the original shaft and to the three inch piece from the top part of the shaft I made sure it was a very tight fit it needed a little encouragment from the rubber mallet. I then welded it at both seems out it in the lathe and it spins true. I think that is probably the only way to fix a bent auger shaft.