Nils or Strikemaster/Honda lite.Decisions,decisions.

[troutman]

I'm going to pull the trigger on a new auger and it's down to the Nils with an 8" or,a Strikemaster/Honda lite with the same.I've recently noticed that Nils has 2 engine sizes available,a 27 and 35cc.Obviously the bigger engine is somewhat pricier.Is it worth it?How does the Strikemaster/Honda compare?Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[tracker185]

nils, hands down. worth the money, tracker 185

[Dylan8351]

Between the two I would get a Nils in a heartbeat. I have the smaller motor and it cuts like a beast with the 8" on it.

[wally diver 2]

Is nils a 2 stroke? I'm not very familiar with them.

[rouser]

I bought a Honda lite last year, loved it at first but ended up having problems with it, I didn't have the greatest of luck getting any real support from Rapala/Strikemaster. Fortunately the store I bought it from told me to bring it back and they would replace it. The replacement was a floor model and found out it was damaged... so returned that and ended up buying a Nils.

The Nils shipped with a dull bit, had Frank sharpen it and bought a spare. I was able to use it for the last 3 weeks of our ice season, probably drilled 100 holes with it. The auger is light weight, pretty quiet for a 2 stroke, and is fast (though not considerably faster than the Honda lite).

Overall I like the Nils so far, I don't know that I'm in love with it the way some people are about their Nils.

I don't think you can go wrong with either of your choices. Both are good products.

[dfeste]

I am one of the Nils lovers. To the OP, the bigger motors on the Nils augers is new this year. My 27cc flies so I'd expect the same or better from the bigger motor. I heard a rumor somewhere that Nils may soon be coming out with a 10" auger so that may have something to do with the bigger power head.

[tracker185]

nils is a 2 stroke motor, cuts and haandles like nothing you have ever used. will out cut ant auger on the market. tracker 185

[slurpie]

If you get the nils make sure it has the smaller cutting head new this year. I don't and won't carry an ice scoop and it leaves a lot of slush in hole. Only downside of the nils.

[ClownColor]

I just bought a nils last spring on discount. Haven't used it yet, other then breaking it in but it seems to be made tougher then my last two Strikemaster. Also has less plastic. I've gone through 3 set of handles on my strikemasters. The nils runs smooth and is very light. I also like the detachable power head and hand auger adapter.

I see the throttle as a weak point as it seems flimsy so we'll see how it holds up on the Nils.

[JSK76]

Just bought the 10" honda lite today haven't used it yet so can't give you any kinda of a review as of now other then it weighs 29# 15oz full of fuel and oil and ran it in the garage for about 3 min with just a small bit of smell, mostly notice it when you walk out and come back in and it's noticeably quieter at Idle then my old solo 2hp, at full throttle the difference is less noticeable. I did leave it outside and it's -20 out going to see how many pulls to get it to start in the morning I'll report back in the morning.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I think the nils is nice, but I would go with the strike master. Reason being is parts and/or service center anything u need for it would be easier to find and service on the strikemaster. I'm sure u could find a few places that service nils, but a strikemaster would have way more places.

[ski_otter]

I just bought the 8" honda Friday at the show. I'm on Mille lacs now, got up here about 1am. After riding up here from the cities in an uncovered pickup it was hard starting, took about 20 pulls to start, but it was -20. Once I let it warm up it started first pull every time I shut it off and restarted.

I chose it because nils was out of my price range and I'm kind of a honda fan boy

[Eric Wettschreck]

I don't know aboot the new Honda motors so I can't comment on them.

Nils,

Pros- Lightweight, cuts super fast.

Cons- Leaves lots of slush in the hole, parts are interesting to find, not totally new but kind of the new kid on the block as far as augers go. Frank sharpens blades and he's the only place on the planet I know of that does this, more spendy than other units.

Strikemaster,

Pros- Parts are everywhere, leaves holes pretty darn clean, easy to work on, been around a long long time, less spendy than Nils.

Cons- Heavier than the Nils, now that they're not just Strikemaster anymore I've heard service isn't as good but that's second hand info so take with a grain of salt, the plastic handles have given a lot of guys trouble.

FWIW- I have a 13 year old Strikemaster Mag 2000 that just keeps running and running and running and running and I have no need/desire to change anything. Why fix what isn't broken. I've had to clean the carb and replace the blade. Typical maintenance for any small engine and auger.

[harvey lee]

NIls, I have one but rarely ever use it any more. It is a great uger but my StrikeMaster Solo works just as well and I believe the Solo cuts a hole faster than the Nils.

I use to say the Nil's was the fastest auger on earth until I got a Solo.

Cannot say a thing about the Honda version as I have no reason to not use my Solo.

Parts are easier to get with the Strikemaster, not that I have ever needed one.

Both Nil's and Strikemaster make an awesome auger and I do not believe one can go wrong with either

The Strikemaster will leave a very clean hole while the Nil's may be the worst on the market for leaving slush in the hole, thay are BAD for that.

If I remember correctly, the Nils is approx 3 pounds lighter than my Solo. That is nice.

AS Far as a Honda engine being on the new Strikemaster, I would never be afraid to purchase any Honda motor.

[uffdapete]

Don't wanna rain on the Nils parade but my brother is on his 2nd season with his Nils and it would not start yesterday in -24 temp. Yes we followed the starting directions. It was inside the pickup on the 1.5 hr ride to the lake and on the sled for 45 minutes while loading and getting to the spot. He did what he was supposed to in terms of storing over the off season and had new gas in as of 1 week ago on his first trip of this season. But no go... didn't even fire. Fortunately a friendly guy from Spring Lake Park with a SM Honda Lite offered to come and punch 4 holes for us. He had some trouble starting that too but it started after 25 or so pulls. We gave the Nils probably 200 pulls.

[JSK76]

Well I tried to start my honda just now -22 and I stopped at 40 pull with not even a fire. Fresh 91 octane, non oxygenated fuel. I did prime the ball and since it was running basically 12 hours ago maybe it flooded it? But I don't smell gas, I did flood my solo once doing that. I tried with the choke off at the end incase it was flooded and yes the power switch is in the on posstion. I do fish in colder then -22 too!

[JSK76]

Pulled on it another 30 pull and now I smell gas. My ION started first pull of the trigger

If ION would just have come out with an 9" or 10" they could have saved me from this torment! Another thing I noticed is after using the ion, the honda lite feels as heavy as my old Jiffy model 30!

[hamms-scooter]

I was looking for new auger from last season as well and I looked at Honda lite and the Nils as well. I chose the Tanaka/Nils. I don't like changing oil and it is easy to mix gas with the pack amsoil sells. Very light weight and screams through the ice.