NEW Clam Ice Auger Conversion Kit!!!

[AndRo]

What is the benefit to buying the combo at 149.99? The plate is priced at 59.99 and the auger is priced at 79.99.

[Thunderfoot]

That is an interesting question. My math says buy them separate! Any clam pros know when we might see the plate back in stock? Also wondering if a 20 volt drill would work as well?

[Brad B]

That is an interesting question. My math says buy them separate! Any clam pros know when we might see the plate back in stock? Also wondering if a 20 volt drill would work as well?

actually a 20 volt is a little better then the 18 volt. the recommended minimum is a 18 volt. the display model at the Thorne Brothers get together had the Dewalt 20 volt drill on it. as for when more will be in stock . I would guess a minimum of a week but could be longer. these have been a better seller then originally forecasted. the demand for them are high. the last time I stopped at Cabela in Rogers(10-24-13), they had 4 plates in stock at that time. Fleet farm in St cloud had the combo kit in stock.

[tview]

Matt

Could you list the make and models of the drills you have used in testing?

[hydro]

Used a similar setup last year. Hitachi DS18DBL, 18V, 600 in lb torque, 4 AH LiIon batteries. 30+ holes per battery at 10 degrees in 18" of ice, 7" hand Mora. On the first trip out, the aux handle broke so I fabricated a tougher one. Overall this worked great and I will be using it again this year.

Notes:

1. You will need to watch the drill motor to prevent overheating as it needs a lot of power to continuously drill that hole and the motor WILL heat up. Stop and clear chips often to minimize the load.

2. The Clam plate holds both the auger and drill securely. I noticed that the chuck loosened up once in a while and the lanyard kept the drill from falling through the hole.

3. Do not try to charge LiIon batteries when frozen. That will permanently damage them.

4. Keep the auger blades SHARP to reduce cutting resistance.

[muskie hunter]

Last year my strikemaster honda broke in early March so while my strikemaster was gettting fixed for a month. I went and took my 6 insch lazer symthetic adapter, a kluge drill adapter, and a 36 volt drill that was in my grandpa's house hooked it up, and that thing worked great got 30 holes on one charge through 25 inches of ice.

[amateurfishing]

so I got this and having LOADS of trouble....can anyone plz help/tell me/show me how I take a chuck off the drill so I can attach & play with my new toy?! I have Makita & dewalt drills.... I have been on internet, u tube, call co. directly workin on em for 3 days and for life of me I cannot get my chuck off a drill to save my life right now, anyone know how?

[palisade1kid]

your chuck has a set screw...on the outside side...take an allen wrench and loosen..a mallet will help to jar loose.Make sure it is on a bench when doing that part. Then take a screw driver inside the chuck and turn counter clockwise...chuck should come off.

[Brad B]

so I got this and having LOADS of trouble....can anyone plz help/tell me/show me how I take a chuck off the drill so I can attach & play with my new toy?! I have Makita & dewalt drills.... I have been on internet, u tube, call co. directly workin on em for 3 days and for life of me I cannot get my chuck off a drill to save my life right now, anyone know how?

check out this video from clam on how to do the conversion.

[amateurfishing]

I cannot get the "inside screw" lose for anything.....hex screw, #20 torx bit, nothing will get the screw to budge

[amateurfishing]

I cannot get the "inside screw" lose for anything.....hex screw, #20 torx bit, nothing will get the screw to budge

[Bigtom]

Do you know it is left hand threads. turn to the right to loosen it. I had to put the torx bit in a bench vise the turn the drill because I couldn't grip the screw driver.

[Brad B]

there is also lock tight on the screw that is hard to break free at first. the screw inside the chuck is always a left hand thread. Thomas K is right you have to turn the screw to the right like you do when you tighten a normal screw but in this case the screw loosens. once that is out the chuck needs to be turned counter clock wise to un screw it from the drill.

[amateurfishing]

there is a pretty good chance that I have been trying so hard I have already stripped the head of the screw, then what?

[Brad B]

there is a pretty good chance that I have been trying so hard I have already stripped the head of the screw, then what?

only thing I can think of would be to get your self one of those special bits for removing stripped screws. I know sears/craftman makes one. if the screw head is stripped and you get it out you will need to check with a hardware store to see if they might happen to have a left hand thread screw in the size you need. the only other option would be to order a replacement screw right from the drill manufacturer.

[Savage Brewer]

Unfortunately 99% of the bits for backing out stripped screws is for right hand threads. Which wont work to remove the retaining screw as it is backwards.

I dont have any good ideas myself, being that it is buried in the chuck.

My Makita drills have a flat slotted screw in there.

[Brad B]

Unfortunately 99% of the bits for backing out stripped screws is for right hand threads. Which wont work to remove the retaining screw as it is backwards.

I dont have any good ideas myself, being that it is buried in the chuck.

My Makita drills have a flat slotted screw in there.

you bring up a good point I forgot about them being used on only regular right hand thread screws. I guess if it stripped out about the only other thing would be to drill it out carefully but with it being left hand threads I don't know if a person could fine a tap that has the left hand threads to re tap the hole with.

[Bigtom]

If you come up to St.Cloud there is a local tool supply company that could help you. I think the best alternative is a new drill.

[amateurfishing]

yeah, I have called a couple of authorized service centers and short of ripping a perfectly good drill apart there is nothing that I can do. im not going to go buy a new drill just for this thing, it will end up returned to store sadly, I am bitterly disappointed how this has ended.

[Brad B]

yeah, I have called a couple of authorized service centers and short of ripping a perfectly good drill apart there is nothing that I can do. im not going to go buy a new drill just for this thing, it will end up returned to store sadly, I am bitterly disappointed how this has ended.

since you said in the earlier post you have a makita and dewalt drills why don't you check out amazon for the just the same drill with out the battery and charger. you can find the bare drill for like $50.00 to $125.00. you wouldn't need the battery or charger since you already have it.

[amateurfishing]

I have already made a couple major purchases this year besides this one, I thought this conversion kit would be awesome for early & late ice cause I would not need a major purchase for it since I have a drill and hand auger already. took hand auger to retailer and it is a dinosaur so had to buy entire new auger to work with conversion kit, now cannot get either of current drills to work on this project. I have a perfectly running old magnum III 49cc, this conversion kit was a total splurge approved by the mrs. I have not been able to get 2 drills to work on this and am not going to buy another one just to attempt this project again and ask for more $$$ from the mrs. she has been very nice with my current purchases and I am not going to press my luck any further asking for another drill for this thing. I will just go back to my old gas auger and save cash make her happier, besides I cannot be mad about anything I never got the chance to use.

thx for all the help & ideas though

[Steve@CLAM]

amateurfishing, looks like you live very close to the new CLAM HQ. Would you be willing to drop off your drill and auger kit with us for a few days? I can't promise, but would like to try to get it working for you if we can. I'm sure there are some out there, but we haven't found a drill yet that we haven't been able to get working with our adapter. I had the chance to use it quite a bit last winter, and I can tell you it makes for a pretty amazing auger! Let me know.

[amateurfishing]

steve@clam, THANK YOU VERY MUCH for that kind and considerate offer and I would love to take you up on it and I will, BUT please be aware this has nothing to do with your companys conversion kit in any way, simply I cannot get the screw out of my drill to take the chuck off, AND if it was somehow miraculously taken out, I do not believe it will be in any good condition to be reused and attach the conversion kit with.

[Savage Brewer]

Hate to say it amateur, but what would it hurt to have one of them give it a shot?

If someone knows what they are doing, might be able to get it apart yet, unless you have done irreparable damage to the drill yourself.

Just saying, if they are willing to look at it for free, why not try?

Pulling the screw holding a chuck on a Makita or DeWalt can be a little tricky but isn't all that hard once you have done a couple.

Did you say you damage two different drills trying to get the chuck off?

What models were each of them?

[hydro]

AF,

If you still have the drill around try this- With another drill and a bit about 3/4 the size of the lock screw head, drill off the head of the lock screw. Cut a little at a time until you see the screw head give way. Once the screw head is off, put the chuck key in the chuck and smack it CCW with a hammer to loosen the chuck. The screw will be sticking out of the shaft and can be removed once the chuck is off.