Jiffy Model 30 binding while drilling

[nofishfisherman]

I have an older Jiffy Model 30 that I got as a hand me down. Haven't had a chance to get out with it much the last 2 years but the 2 times I have gone out this year I have had trouble with it binding when I get to the bottom of the hole. It will cut through pretty well just until it gets to the bottom then it starts to bind. I have to let off the throttle, lift the auger and give it 3-4 more shots before it breaks through.

Its a 10" auger with single chipper blade.

This is the first gas auger I've owned, always used hand augers in the past so I'm not sure how normal this is. I know the other Strikemasters and various other brands I've used on occasion never had this issue but they didn't have chipper blades.

Any thoughts on cause or fix?

[Stringerless!]

Have the same thing and used it like that for years. One day I noticed while taking it out of the car that one of the braces that holds the blade assembly was broken. Actually the weld had broken and the brace was just a tiny bit off. If I had a welder I would have fixed myself but I just bought a whole new drill. Think it was about $150. I bet that is your problem.

[nofishfisherman]

I'll have to take a closer look at it tonight to see if that is the issue.

So far it works but with the weight of the auger it gives the arms a good workout having to keep lifting the auger a bunch of times for each hole.

[i'majigger]

There is a metal lip on the opposite side of the blades. This is a gauge to keep the blades from being to aggressive and cutting to much. If you take a cresent wrench and bend this down just a very little it will keep the blades from binding when you get to the bottom of the hole. You may have to experiment how much you bend that gauge. I have an auger just like yous and this is what I had to do to fix this problem.

[nofishfisherman]

That's the kind of fix I like. Hopefully that's all it is.

I guess either way I didn't pay for it and it still gets through the ice.