Strikemaster Solo Lazer

[DTro]

I have to admit though, I was a little disappointed that I when I picked up the auger I couldn't talk them into giving me the ice show pricing on one of their sweatshirts. I tried 2 days and they were sold out both times and I hoped maybe I could swing a deal afterwards.

Bummer

[FISHAHOLIC19]

I have the Lazer Mag 2.5 Solo and love it. It's worked great for the last 2 seasons...still waiting on ice to start the 3rd season with it.

[CAMAN]

The very first thing I noticed was how different the shavings appeared compared to the Nils and how much more they were being thrown out of the hole. Now this can be a good thing and a bad thing. The good part is that the actual hole has less slush, but the bad thing is that this stuff is being tossed out onto your feet and legs. My thought though is that I would prefer to scoop less slush and depend on my boots and bibs to keep me dry, but that is just me.

As mentioned above, If there is one bad thing I could ever say about the Nils is that it leaves quite a bit of slush in the hole and it makes it a pain when you are doing a lot of hole hopping. The addition of the Ice Hogger Shroud helped a lot with that, but the shroud is a little bit clumsy for hole hopping, so I was very pleased to see how much cleaner the SM left the holes. I might not have to lug around a scoop with me to every hole now (at least with early ice).

A quick tip for everyone! To reduce the number of shavings that stay in your hole, drill the hole and after you break through kick a hole in the side of the shaving pile, and pull the auger out while its still spinning. Doing this will force the chips out of the hole. After I started doing this a few years ago I rarely use an ice scoop anymore. You do need a good set waterproof boots and bibs though.

[ib_jigged]

I love my mine, no troubles at all.

I think they should write a song about it:

Red Solo Lazer!?

[dan z]

I havent used the new solo but my SM 224 does a whoppin on most augers out there/ its clean,fast,light. I ran into a SM rep at the Big C the other day and told him I have a 224 and he said better keep that thing around because he hasnt heard of it coming back. He also said they made a 7" four blade at one time ohhh would that thing ever rip. Mines an 8". I have seen guys put a blue auger on some other SM's and they also can go through the ice very fast.

I'am a SM fan for LIFE!

[SFC]

Keep the informative posts coming!

[Notcho]

On my 3rd season with the solo pro, better than anything on the market.

I know because I bought them all! Lot of money wasted.

Starts right up almost cuts holes faster than needed and sounds like a little dirt bike wide open.

I would recommend the the Strikemaster Solo to anyone.

[tsande00]

I just realized last night that there is a spot under the throttle lever to stick your allen wrench for taking the head off the drill. I'm on my third year with this auger and never noticed that!

(FYI to anybody else who didn't catch that)

[FISHINGURU]

Rookie

[FISHINGURU]

About the wobble, make sure the bolt you use to connect the power head and the shaft is the right way, some augers the bolt will work either way but there is a right and wrong way to install it.

I remember it happened to a friend of mine his had a bad wobble, when I looked it over I seen he put the bolt on so it was flush with the shaft but on the other side was an indent where the bolt head would go into so it sat snug.

Not sure if that's anyone's problem but take a peek if you think yours isn't right.

[tsande00]

I've noticed that my bolt comes loose over time so ever few uses I need to re tighten it. When it starts to loosen the wobble becomes much more noticeable. Check the tightness on your bolt.

[Gissert]

I am on my third season with may Solo. I have been nothing but happy with it. I was going to get a Nils, but the Solo came out and I sprung for one in the late ice season in 2010. I had flat worn out my old Lazer Mag.

I will agree the speed is impressive with the lazer blades. I have a vid somoewhere of me getting thru 26 inches of LOTW ice in a hurry, I'll try and find it. Since I have a perm shack, I got another auger bit with a 10 inch chipper for opening old holes. It works with ease, and no binding.

My Solo also has the wobble, as did my old Lazer Mag. Its normal.

[joneshat11]

I now have a 3 year old Solo Lazer Pro. Threw a 6" Lazer Drill unit on it and still cannot beat my friends with their NILs with 6" Drill. They are not far off in speed but I cannot bet them. With that said the PRO to having the NILs is the weight and when you drill 200+ holes every time out that weight means the world to me. The only pro that I see of having the Lazer Pro is that having local service when things went wrong. Strikemaster has fixed it free every time.

With using both I have to say my next auger will be a NILS the weight factor and not losing speed (actually gaining) is such a big difference to me that I'm going to have to make the change.

[DTro]

Second trip out on the ice was just as enjoyable as the first. A couple more inches to burn through too.

Is there a half choke? I've noticed that when I start it fully choked it understandably dies out quick. So then I take the choke off and it fires right up and runs for a bit then dies. So then I have to choke it again. If there was a mid point it would probably be perfect after that initial fire. There only seems to be 2 positions though?

So far the biggest thing I've noticed is how smoothly it punches through that last inch of ice. Normally you get a bit of a bog down or have to lift up a bit and get a little momentum to break though, but not with this thing. Pinch the throttle and hang on.

So far so good....

[hamms-scooter]

This is exactly how I have to start my mag 2000 tecumseh engine. Full choke it pops off, Half choke it stays idling then no choke and go and the 6" lazer just rips through.

[hamms-scooter]

Joeneshat11, The only thing I notice with my nils vs my lazer is how much more you have to scoop from the hole drilled by the nils. If you look at the auger the flighting is way smaller then the blade I think this is why, doesn't grab it as well and lift it out. The nils is almost effortless though. So sharp great auger.

[Bigslugger]

From the manual it says to have it on full until it pops then switch it to run and it should fire right up.

That is how mine runs..2 pulls and 2 primes and its started

[Mike Walerak]

I'm on my third season with my Solo Lazer 2.5 I was reluctant to shy away from my 20 old reliable Mag III. But one day on LOTWs the truty rusty exploded. No choice but to head to Log Cabin Bait and put a new one on the VISA. Never looked back! I am happy I opted for the 2.5 hp vs the 3. For the simple reasons of noise and weight. My buddy has the Pro 3 hp and we have cut holes side by side and sure he is a little faster but not enough for me to want to upgrade.

I have not had mine out yet as I'm still cutting holes in SE MN with my 6" Lazer hand auger. Only had about 5" of ice yesterday.

mw

[harvey lee]

Second trip out on the ice was just as enjoyable as the first. A couple more inches to burn through too.

Is there a half choke? I've noticed that when I start it fully choked it understandably dies out quick. So then I take the choke off and it fires right up and runs for a bit then dies. So then I have to choke it again. If there was a mid point it would probably be perfect after that initial fire. There only seems to be 2 positions though?

So far the biggest thing I've noticed is how smoothly it punches through that last inch of ice. Normally you get a bit of a bog down or have to lift up a bit and get a little momentum to break though, but not with this thing. Pinch the throttle and hang on.

So far so good....

The first try I set the choke, hit the primer bulb 4-6 times and push the blue decompression button in. Pull rope.

Second try I take the choke off, push the primer bul;b 2-3 times and push the button in. Pull rope, hit the throttle and it almost always starts. If not, push the primer bulb 2 times and depress the blue button and pull rope.

This sequence always works for me and never more than 3 pulls at worst. I use the primer bulb way more often than the choke and I always depress the blue decompression button. The auger should start better after you have run it for awhile. I am on my 3rd year I believe with this auger and never an issue with starting and I am also still on the same set of original cutting blades.

[fisherman-andy]

Here's how I start my Solo from cold or if its been sitting for 30 min unused.

1. I primed the bulb 4-8 times (8-10 if cold start)

2. Set to choke and pull the cord till I hear it fire up.

3. Then set to run and pull cord till it starts.

The key here is hearing it fire up from choke. Once you hear it fire up already it will always start.

If it dies after running then either you have not enough fuel, loose or broken fuel lines, fuel cap issue, or you didnt prime the bulb enough for fuel. If that dont work check the spark plug.

[Gissert]

I found the video of my auger on LOTW. The title says 40 inches, but the ice was more like 34 inches thick there. I was getting though in about 20 seconds. This is the 2.5 HP solo engine

[crappiebuster]

Got a lazer pro last week. I cant believe how that thing cuts. The 3 horse definetly takes no prisoners.

[Vitreus]

I was lucky enough to find a solo 2.5 on a-sales-site last year for $250. I spent 2 months checking the listings every day for a good auger. What a great machine, I love it.

[FISHINGURU]

I am happy I opted for the 2.5 hp vs the 3. For the simple reasons of noise and weight.

The 2.5hp and the 3hp way exactly the same.

How much louder is the 3 compared to the 2.5?

[Mike Walerak]

Your right I just checked the specs. For some reason I was thinking the the Pro was 29lbs. The Pro is noticably louder. At the time I bought mine I know the Pro's were a little cold blooded. From what I hear now that is not the case. mw