Strikemaster Solo Lazer

[gonehunting]

You are buying an auger at the right time of the year. Sales have already begun. I am a strikemaster guy but have heard good things about the Nils. The customer service and local parts availability would have me buying the strikemaster. My opinion only. I have the Solo Lazer Pro and it is one ice cutting machine. I have no problems starting. The biggest mistake I see with any auger brand is not allowing it to warm up after starting. 30-60 seconds of idle time makes a big deal when running properly under 20 degrees.

[DRH1175]

Thanks, Even my jiffy runs better after ideling for a minute or so. I have loved my jiffy. It has cut my holes everytime for 20 years. But it is too heavy! I have loved it so much that I would buy the Pro 4. But I want a auger that doesn't lug me down. I am only 36 but I have bad shoulders from previous injuries. So it is on to a strikemaster or Nils. 20 to 25 lbs sounds so much better than 40.

[fisherman-andy]

Was out on Big Sandy yesterday and have trouble cutting the ice with my lazer pro. To begin the subject there is nothing wrong with my pitch, my blades. I had them checked out properly. I even keep new blades around. I also keep the blades from freezing with ice with a little cooking spray. It performs flawlessly most of the time, and at some times it leaves me scratching my head.

It will cut on good layer of ice and typically well without force, or very little pressure. But i've notice on uneven layers of ice, or some lakes again this year such as Big Sandy that my Solo had trouble cutting unless there was more down force. It will just spin spin spin without some slight down pressure. Sometimes angling it, or giving it little pull to clear out the ice in the hole may help but it just goes back to spinning unless you give it some down pressure. At different spots on the ice it wont cut at all. Then move to another spots and it starts gripping. Bring the auger back to test on another lake and it cuts just fine with little or no pressure. I have never had this problem with the Eskimo auger which I still own. This leaves me to believe some type of uneven layers of ice, dirty, or new forming layers have given me trouble with the Solo cutting ice if you dont give it some down force. As far as cutting on big sandy I notice the ice chipped easily. So it wasnt very hard formed ice.

[DRH1175]

Very wierd that it would be like that on Big Sandy. Must have pockets from the weird year that is causing the cutting issues.

[fishnhuntnboy]

I'm about to get the lazer 2.5 solo in the next day or two. What mixture of gas/oil should I use? I have a bottle of amsoil saber from when I use to have my jiffy.

Thanks

[gonehunting]

My Lazer Pro is a year old and I use gas/saber mixture of 50:1 which is recommended by Strikemaster. Others are running it leaner but I'm not sure what that does to the warranty.

[fishnhuntnboy]

So I got the auger earlier than I expected. Reading the start-up procedures and it says to not use synthetic oil and to use a 40:1 mixture. Is it ok to run amsoil then? On my last auger I ran it at a 80:1 to 100:1 mixture. I wanna make sure I use the right stuff and not damage anything.

On the other note I can't wait to get out and use it!

[DTro]

Well the thing has been starting MUCH better now with only using 2-3 primes. I still have to feather the choke a bit, but I must have been flooding it before or something.

Also wanted to add a note about durability. I've read a bunch about handles breaking over the past few years. Well yesterday out on the ice we were headed to a new spot and the guy I was fishing with had his SM Solo on his sled on the digger bracket. He forgot to latch it down before he took off, and next thing you know, all I see is the auger doing rapid cartwheels across the ice (not much snow out there right now). It did a perfect endo about 4 or 5 times. He stopped, tossed it back on and secured it. We got to out spot and it fired right up and it drilled perfectly. Not even a scratch.

[Rebel9921]

Strikemaster posted at their HSOforum in the FAQ section (I could be wrong so dont hold it against me) regarding the fuel mixture... You are okay to use 50:1 ratio as it is the maximum... higher the ratio will void your warranty which is 2 years...

From what I know and suggest... do the ratio anywhere from 40:1 up to 50:1 and you'll be safe regarding the warranty... also once the warranty expires, feel free to up it to 75:1 or 80:1... I havent heard of any Strikemaster owners doing any higher than 80:1 with Amsoil but do feel free to chime in...

When I purchased my Lazer Pro at the Ice Show in 2010, I also purchased Amsoil Saber and been using it ever since I got the auger out of the box... Its running smoothly today with zero problem... Just remember to use non-oxygenated gas...

DTRO... Strikemaster HSOforum has this tidbit about how Bro Brosdahl once sent a Strikemaster cartwheeling across the ice at 50mph (I believe) and it works like its new... Not surprised about the durability....

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I am running my Solo at 100:1 (Amsoil) without any issues at all. I ran the first few tanks at 50:1, but have been at 100:1 for most of last year, and all of this year.

[joneshat11]

I am running my Solo at 100:1 (Amsoil) without any issues at all. I ran the first few tanks at 50:1, but have been at 100:1 for most of last year, and all of this year.

+1 on this. I have been running my Solo on it's third tournament season. I did break in with Strikemaster oil on the first 3 tanks and then from there I have been running 100:1 Amsoil. I just use the pillow packs that are 100:1 with a gallon of gas. After breaking in I did notice better performance when running Amsoil. Plus, now I don't have oil leaking out the compression button.

[fishersofmen]

Yep I think I will make the switch to Amsoil next time I fill it up. It runs great with standard two cycle but the oil blowing out the compression button and exhaust is a bit annoying.

[DRH1175]

I am getting a new auger this year. Right now I found the solo lazer mag for $389.99 and the strike lite for 467.49. For those prices which one do I get?