Auger got abused

[CrewJones]

Had some friend use my Strikemaster Solo . What happened was they never let off the gas and really did a number on the gearing. Just need to know how to fix it.

The drill works great still at first after its been warm in the garage. Then after you drill holes for a while it stops spinning after you let of the gas and kind of grinds to a stop. you can year a squeaking grinding noise from the gear casing, almost like there is no lube, or water in a bearing..

As mentioned you can still use it but something is def. wrong.

Any help would be appreciated, don't let anyone use your auger unless you want it abused.

[Surface Tension]

You'll have to take the gear box apart or bring it into a SM repair center.

I'd probably not use it so you don't create more damage.

[Kodiak]

sounds like your "friend" owes you an auger

[mmartin]

make sure the bolts holding the gear box are tight. Mine did that and found out they were coming loose and slipping the gears. Also I had to at a washer to the top of one of the gears to keep it pushed down all the time.

[dan z]

sounds like your "friend" owes you an auger

If this happened to me I would give them the service bill.

[CrewJones]

what are you going to do, we make it look easy because were always drilling holes. You pick up that solo for your first hole and everything goes out the window.

I will just get it fixed, beats fishing alone, and my buddy felt bad enough all day with me yelling at him reminding him how destructive he was to my gear.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

NoWiser had a Solo transmission break. I think this is why Clam has repackaged the Solo and changed to metal gears.

Mine hasn't broke, yet. And I don't necessarily think it is your friend's fault, from the sounds of it. I never let off the gas when drilling, and most people I know don't either. These Solo's aren't built like the Strikemasters of yesteryear.

[CaptainMusky]

Where do people keep getting the gears are plastic. Take it apart and look. They are metal.

[NoWiser]

Where do people keep getting the gears are plastic. Take it apart and look. They are metal.

Yup, gears are all metal. My dad did have the transmission break on his. It was a very easy fix, but left him without an auger for a day. It was definitely a design flaw and we'll carry some spare parts for the next time it happens.

I also never let off the gas on my auger. Sometimes I let it warm up, but most often I start it up and let it rip. Besides letting it idle, I have literally never ran it anything but wide open. I don't think it was your friends' fault. The solos just have some issues.

[harvey lee]

I agree Wiser, I start my Solo, let it idle for a minute or so and then it'as full throttle until I am done drilling however many holes I am cutting.

never have even used it at anything but full throttle.

I would take a shot and say the auger was ready to break and it happened when your buddy was drilling.

Tough deal as one never knows when something can and or will break.

If full throttlwe can hurt an auger in good shape, all of mine over the years should have broken.

I agree with Frank, don't use it until you get what is broken repaired. All you may do is break more and that means more dollars to repair it.

I have had peole ask if they could use my auger on the lake as they had issues. I do not let them use it, heck they could lean on it with down pressure and damage the cutting blades. I just go and drill thier holes for them.

[luckycrank]

Hmm first solopro out of he box noisey gears! Returned 2nd pro out of boxblows fuel lines off evrry 4 -5 holes returned 3rd one out of box 12 holes in shattered gear ! Returned it to store ! 4 auger as recommended by strike master o opted to get a magnum not a pro and now this one wont stay running dies the second after you depress throttle evan after a fifteen minute warm up ! So Not your buddys fault ... strike masters fault id say

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Where do people keep getting the gears are plastic. Take it apart and look. They are metal.

One of the very first things I read about the Clam auger is that something with the gears was upgraded from plastic to metal.

[harvey lee]

Boy, I must be a lucky guy. I have had my Solo since it first came out. One year, I replaced a fuel line but other than that, one of the best, fast cutting augers I have ever owned. Right up there with my Nil's which I hardly ever use anymore since I like my Solo that much.

[FISHINGURU]

I'm on year 2 with my 10" Solo, so far so good. If it breaks it breaks, then I get it fixed and still have my favorite auger.

Everyone has a story about their old favorite tough as nails auger that lasted 20 yrs, guess what they made thousands and thousands of them same augers that had issues and are now in the junk yard.

You hear horror stories from every brand, but you'll have guys 10 yrs down the road that probably will never have a problem with theirs.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I really like my Solo, but 4 of 4 people I know who have them have issues. Gear cases, starting, carbs, recoils, flighting breaking, etc. Pretty well documented on this and other sites. Mine took hundreds of pulls to get started the last two winters. The old Strikemaster was 5 pulls or less, guaranteed.

No question they are animals at turning solid ice into shavings, though.

[IL Res]

My "lesson" came when I loaned my 2 yr old SM Lazer to a buddy. He returned it w/ the pull cord ripped out. I spent an afternoon repairing it, no problems since but it was quite an experience figuring out how to put back together.

Also learned from an ice guide that you don't need that big 8"/ 10" auger

to catch fish. I picked up smaller 6" auger for my SM and fell in love w/ it. Much less torque and a lot faster cut. Makes a big difference if you're into drilling a lot of holes. I got the auger from Reed's at the end of season for 75 bucks. Well worth it.

[harvey lee]

I really like my Solo, but 4 of 4 people I know who have them have issues. Gear cases, starting, carbs, recoils, flighting breaking, etc. Pretty well documented on this and other sites. Mine took hundreds of pulls to get started the last two winters. The old Strikemaster was 5 pulls or less, guaranteed.

No question they are animals at turning solid ice into shavings, though.

It could be -15 and my Solo will start in 3 pulls max. I do run synthetic Amsoil in it and I am sure that hepls some. New plug every year and fresh gas with StaBil added to the gas.

Thing plain and simple starts great.

[CaptainMusky]

Perhaps the gearcase itself is metal on the clam. Never looked but the gears inside the strike master are metal.

Regarding the drilling wide open, its recommended that you do hold it wide open until you break through the ice. When I first got mine I was having some issues getting hung up at the bottom of the ice. I called strike master since I thought it was a drill or blade issue. I told them how I drilled and the guy said hold it wide open its geared for it. I have done this ever since and no issues since.

[dan z]

My buddies solo screams! My only complaint is its louder than a rock concert in a high school bathromm lol. If I didn't find a strike lite cheap I would have bought a solo without a doubt.

[Kyhl]

I don't know that I'd blame your buddy. Parts wear out.

On a contrarian view, you could be adding unnecessary wear on the clutch if you are feathering the throttle while drilling.

[CrewJones]

I explained badly, the auger was run through the ice to the motor. As it was in the snow on the ice he still had the throttle on high trying to wrestle it out as it pulled him all around for about a half minute. Its my fault for thinking the auger was something anybody can use

It's getting fixed this week I will let you guys know what is wrong with it. The auger has been fabulous never made a noise before this circumstance. I also have a Jiffy model 30 from 84 as my old/ back up auger. After using the solo for 3 years now its no wonder I switched.