StrikeMaster Solo

[harvey lee]

Been using a Solo for the past 3 plus years and have been very happy with it's performance.

The other day I thought I would change the air filter, plug and put new blades on. I has been cutting well but time for some maintaince.

Ifished 3 times this week and the auger was working fine.

Last night, I did my filter, plug and blades.

Went to the lake this am and the auger would not cut a bit, just spins.

Baffled thinking I put the blades on wrong. Went home, checked and there is only one way to put them on the cutting head.

So, I thought maybe the newe blades are bad so, I put the old ones back on and went to the lake, still would not cut even with the bladesd it would cut with.

Called Strikemaster to see what in the world I was doing wrong.

They asked if I had borrowed the auger out, dropped it or slammed it against anything, said no, I am so very careful with the auger.She sadi I had to have dropped it as the pitch must have changed. I said I have no idea how as it worked yesterday just fine and by just changing blades, I have a pitch issue. I know I did not bump the cutting head and it rides in a rack on my wheeler so there is no way I can see that it got bumped.

So, off to StrikeMaster on Monday so they can see what the issue is.

Anyone ever had a pitch issue with a Solo?

[slurpie]

I ran strikemaster for a long time. The pitch issue is there biggest downfall. I run nils now love that cutting head hate the slushy hate the slushy hole. Am working on putting the nils head on the strike master shaft hopefully best of both worlds.

[BartmanMN]

Did you tighten the bolts so tight that it modified the pitch? By your description and note about not bumping it at all, that is about the only thing that could have happened.

If that was the cause, that really stinks if it is that touchy.

[harvey lee]

NO, did not over tighten them. Man, I would hope the auger is built better than that.

Never had any issues with changing blades on any other brand auger.

I snugged them up approx as tight as they were when I took the bolts out.

I guess when I go to StrikeMaster on Monday I will find out what the issue is but when I talked to them, they said they are sure it is out of pitch. Worked great one day, changed blades and then it does not work at all.

I would agree the pitch probably changed but man, if the drill is that weak that one cannot take bolts out, change blades and then not cut, that's pretty weak.

[DTro]

Yeah, that's not cool.

I had one of my blades mysteriously disappear last weekend. I assume its at the bottom of the lake, so I went out and bought a new set and installed them with a little loctite. I have my fingers crossed that I didn't do the same thing as you.

[hockeybc69]

I had a pitch issue. They fixed it for me for nothing when they were located in Big Lake.

I also have no clue what I did to bend it.

[Deep]

Possible that the blades are on up side down?

[harvey lee]

Only one way to put them on.

If the auger bent from putting new blades on the cutting end of business, then the bit is made of poor material or not put together that strong at all.

I know it cut fine before I put the blades on, then the new or old would not work.

So, something on the auger got tweaked a bit.

[Whopper Stopper]

Keep us posted. I will be in the market for blades pretty soon for mine. Where is Strikemaster located ?

WS

[harvey lee]

10395 yellow circle drive

Minnetonka, Mn 55343

1-877-572-7278, hard to find thier number as It is not on thier Contact US on thier HSOforum.

Darren, odds are you will be fine but I would go to a lake near you and test it or have another bring one along.

Nothing worse than getting up at 4am, going to the lake with your new auger blades and the thing will not cut.

[Whopper Stopper]

Thanks for the number and address. I will write it down in my owners manual.

WS

[jjohnson5150]

My Strikemaster solo has had 2 major issues since I got it 3 years ago. I actually had NTool in Minnetonka put on new blades for me the last time it was in the shop for clutch replacement. They are a certified shop. NT might be an option to fix this issue if you need a place closer.

Lets just say that there are other options out there and I'll be checking them out next fall.

[harvey lee]

StrikeMaster explained to me that it has to come back to them as they have the only jig to reset the pitch on the blade.

They were very helpful over the phone and said they would fix it while I waited. Can't beat that service.

[DTro]

I'm going to go give it a shot just to make sure.

Did you happen to put the bolts on the wrong way with the heads facing down? Just thought I'd throw that out as it would be possible to do that...

[harvey lee]

No, did not. I did not think one could even do that.

[harvey lee]

Just got back from StrikeMaster.

The issue I had was there are 2 gussets that are welded from the cutting head up to the shaft to support the cutting head. One of the supports had a clean break in it. Looked like it was cut exactly in 2. NO idea how that happened. Stress crack maybe, we will never know.

They set the pitch correctly and I am going to weld the gusset back where it was set by the shop and I will be golden. Freak break but noone to blame but the steel.

While there, they noticed my t handle that is attached to my starter pull rope was damaged or broke a little on one end so they gave me a new one to put on. I had also cut the rubber bungee that holds the blade cover on and was using a bungee strap I had. They put a new one of those on also.

Brought me the auger and there was no charge,

.

Not sure how one beats that CS at all.

Thanks StrikeMaster.

[BehindtheHead]

wont welding it pull it one way or the other and put it back out of pitch?

[efgh]

If you weld a spot about 1/4 in. in he middle of the flight where it is broken, let it cool, weld another spot the same near the top of the break, let cool, do the same on the bottom. Turn auger over to other side ,weld between the spots of weld. This should not change the pitch doing it this way.

[dan z]

Thanks for the contact numbers !

10395 yellow circle drive

Minnetonka, Mn 55343

1-877-572-7278, hard to find thier number as It is not on thier Contact US on thier HSOforum.

Darren, odds are you will be fine but I would go to a lake near you and test it or have another bring one along.

Nothing worse than getting up at 4am, going to the lake with your new auger blades and the thing will not cut.

[harvey lee]

The fellow at StrikeMaster said as long as I have the 2 broken pieces together, it will not change the pitch when welded. I thought the same also that it would.

I have no idea how or where it was bent but when they placed thier pitch tool on it, they knew what was to be done.

I thought maybe one could weld it without having the pitch checked but how would one know which way to tweak it with out the pitch tool.

You are correct again EFGH, that is exactly how we welded it up.

Works great now.

[efgh]

Glad to help you out, Bibs.

[jerkin'm]

They have a service center at that location? Something in the transmission in mine went out last time out and need to take it in too....

[FISHINGURU]

Been there done that, except mine was from being torqued on, but I did the old blade changing game and running to and from the lake irate before I figured out it was my pitch.

Mine was a 10" Lazermag that was 5 yrs old or so. Brought it to D-Rock and they fixed the pitch in no time. The guy even let me cruise down the road to a lake and drill some holes to make sure it was all good before I headed home.

D-Rock does good work on the Strikemasters I've highly recommended them to a few different friends now. I've had a Nils for a few years but recently sold it.

I'm back with a 10" Solo LazerPro now so if/when that beast goes out of pitch atleast I'll know exactly what needs to be done. lol

[dougger222]

Had two Techemsi(sp?) repaired last year at D rock and picked up a 2.5hp solo with 8in lazer bit and was very pleased with everything.

The other day raced my cousin who just bought a nils auger. Drilled 5 holes at the same time and the 2.5hp solo with massive 10in lazer bit won every time. The people who witnessed it called it a blow out and the solo/lazer was way faster.

There was so much slush in the nils holes...

[fishing tech]

Yeah, that's not cool.

I had one of my blades mysteriously disappear last weekend. I assume its at the bottom of the lake, so I went out and bought a new set and installed them with a little loctite. I have my fingers crossed that I didn't do the same thing as you.

DTro, I had that happen. Put on new blades and 10 holes later it broke again. Took it to SM they set the pitch and put new blades on. 10 holes later the same thing. brought it back and the gave me a new auger bit. Something about china vs Sweden.

[FishSystem]

Have a mag2000, with the tecumsa 2.5 hs, and it is about 12+ yrs old. Never had a problem accept the plastic bit that enguages the flywheel on the rope pull broke once, and I went to Big Lake. They seemed like really good guys. I bought a second one just in case. Never had a problem with anything, changed blades alot, never a prob. Now I see that they went to the Greman SOLO engines, but only a year later, their using Honda. Figured there must be some problems with the SOLO. ANYTHING? Just curiuos.

I was out in mid January and the mag sputtered, and then spit some oil out the muffler. It wouldn't give me any high rpm's. I figured it was a little too rich a mix, and I was tired of climbing on top of the auger to get the hole drilled, so I baught the Jiffy propane 10". I am in love. so quiet, drills faster, no gas/oil, and it just pull itself through the ice (stx drill unit). I'm gonna be cleaning up the mag2000 and put new gaskets, and a new muffler on it. once she is running good Then she is up for sale. probably for $100 (spent 45 on the gaskets and muffler). I think it's a good deal.