Starting A Brand New Auger Question

[LEECH21]

I'm going to buy a Jiffy Stealth 2hp with a 8" blade. Is there any special procedures I need to do before I start it? Besides putting gas in it of course, HA HA HA!

[Deitz Dittrich]

I believe there is a break in peroid... Where you run more oil, and dont put a load on the auger(drilling a hole is putting a load on it)... Read the manual it will tell you.. If I remember right there is an idol peroid of about 20 mins before you can start drilling holes...I think I went longer than that even. Remember you want this to last you a few years!

[loosegoose]

The owners manual should thoroughly go through this.

[mntraveler]

I just bought a Strikemaster (2hp lazermag). Read through the manual for this very issue and it didn't tell me anything. If someone knows I'm all ears too. Thanks.

[upnorth]

I just got Eskimo Shark and all the manual said was to let the auger do all work(no added weight) for the 1st few hours and run a 20 to 1 ratio for the 1st 20 hours. It didn't say anything about letting it run/idle for 20 minutes or so. Don't think it would be a bad idea though.

[schmake]

Just got a Strikemaster Lazer 224, recommended to idle for 1 or 2 minutes before drilling holes. I checked it on their HSOforum. I was relieved, because that is what I did, but I got nervous when I read past posts.

[LEECH21]

When I tried starting my Jiffy Stealth for the first time yesterday it was kind of a pain in the A$$. It wouldn't start for I'd say the first 30-40 pulls. Then it started but would kill right away. When it did start it kinda made a weird clicking noise(normal?) I gave it some throttle and then opened her wide open...it sounded great. I then let it idle for about 25 minutes or so. It sounded okay when it was idling(not seeming like it was going to kill.) I have yet to try it on the ice.

[Esenjay]

Leech,

I just got a Jiffy 3HP Stealth 10" for Christmas. Being a former Army guy I am a stickler for following directions.

It has been a nightmare.

Both Jiffy and Strikemaster use the same Tecumseh motors, so this is not a brand bash, and all the Strikemaster fans chill out.

I spent over $400 on the unit, you would think that would warrant a good running machine, except that was not the case. The first time out, it would not idle, sluggish at full throttle, could not cut a hole in 17 inch ice without the auger stopping, pulling up and then keep going. The manual says not to adjust the carb, so I brought it into a authorized service center here in Grand Rapids. They messed with it for 1/2 hour before giving it back to me saying it should be good. Uh oh, new expectations...

The next day out on the ice, after 1 hour of pulling, it would not start. No really, 1 hour, yes I can be stubborn. Needless to say, Ka-BOOM, (that is me really mad).

I called Jiffy, spent 1/2 hour on the phone with their tech guy, still doesn't run right, idles some of the time, sluggish when you first give it throttle and the throttle is now sticking.

I exchanged it for the same model, I hope the first was a lemon.

Anyone have any input?

Is it a 3HP thing? It is definately a motor issue, not auger design with my situation. I heard a rumor that the 3HP has had problems with new emission standards, thats why Strikemaster quit making 3HP units.

If the swap doesn't work I am going to try a different brand, does Eskimo use Tecumseh motors?

Any input appreciated, Scott.

[cold one sd]

I had a jiffy three horse and it started on the first or second pull all the time. I would prime it and pull the rope over one time with the choke on and then turn the switch on and it would start on the first pull. I have heard some comments about the pollution dump on the new three horses. If they can't make them run, maybe they shoulcn't sell em. I have a jiffy stealth 2 horse now and I like it a lot. hopefully yours will run better with more use.

[Northlander]

My old 3 horse Jiffy was a cold blooded bugger at times. Depending on the weather. If it got too hot or cold it would be sluggish. Played around with adjustments and finally got it right. I got tired of hauling that big 3 horse 10" cut around and went way lighter with a Nilsmaster. Super light and super fast.

[TRITC]

Esenjay,

I have an Eskimo and I've had it for quite some time (about 7-8 years). It does have a Tecumseh motor, however I have not had anything wrong with it. It has always run great, it isn't the fastest cutting auger in the world but it is very dependable. I have a buddy who had a Jiffy for several years and finally gave up on it and bought an Eskimo because of the experience that I have had with mine. I just have the smaller 8" with the smaller engine (I think 2 horse).

TRITC

[Neiko]

Esenjay, I hope you don't take offense for me asking a basic question here but are you using 92+ octane?

[Ole #1]

I have a 3hp 10 inch Jiffy that I bought 2 years ago, one or two pulls and she fires up. It will pretty much idle right away for me. I think you just got a bad one.

[eye1000us]

Esenjay - I feel your pain, quite literally.I too have the new 3hp Stealth.So far it sucks ,having the same exact issues as you mention.I've followed all the directions and I'm starting to think chiseling a hole would be less work.All I can assume is that there is an issue with the new 3hp model. I know others with older 3hp Jiffys that work great.This thing is going back tomorrow and getting replaced with something different,probably a 2hp of some sort.My fishing time is too valuable ( not to mention my hard earned cash) to put up with this kind of product.Totally disgusted.

[Esenjay]

Neiko,

Yes it was 92 octane non-oxygenated gas.

I think I did get a lemon, because there are so many people out there with reliable augers they have had for many years, all with Tecumseh motors.

I do wonder if something has been changed with the 3HP though. Eye, I traded my power head in for another 3HP, if this one does not run stellar, and I mean flawless, I am first going to freak out, and then go get a 2HP model.

All you guys with reliable 1-2 pull augers that idle and don't bog down...

keep them, 10-20 seconds quicker drilling a hole because of a new blade design is just not worth the loss of a known machine with proven reliability.

That's my 2 cents, Scott.

[iffwalleyes]

It is not that uncommon for the 3 hp models to have problems when they first are shipped. I usually lays in the Carb. Because the piece are all just assembled and they are never started. Like Northlander said the weather can affect it but you should be able to find a happy medium that will work for you. Jiffy did have problems as well as strikemaster with there 3 HP units because of new emission laws it really was stupid. Basically they had none adjustable carbs. So there wasn't anything you could do about it. That didn't last though they are back to adjustable carbs again and now you can dial it into where it needs to be again. I myself have 2 3HP 10" jiffys and love them both. I got a new stealth last year and love it. It ran great right away but the midway the the season it started to sputter. So I took it in the the service center and they adjusted it to where it needed to get back to and now it runs like a pig. Once you get it running right I am sure you will love it.

[LEECH21]

So are all these problems with the 3 hp and not the 2 hp Jiffys? My old 10" 3 hp Jiffy was a pain the first year or so (the breaking in period), but after that it ran like a charm. It would always start on the second pull and idle smoothly.

Also just curious how long I should let my new 2 hp stealth auger run(idle) before drilling my first hole? An hour? A full tank of gas? I'm just not sure

[Finlander]

I always let mine idle for 30 seconds at least before starting to drill a hole. Otherwise it will bog down and then have to re-start.

I just changed my blade that was the original from 1998.

Bought the new style chipper blade.

It would cut through the ice real quick then it would stop dead as it hit the water. The motor kept running, it's just that the auger blade would'nt turn as it was going to break throught the ice at the bottom of the hole.

So I looked at a new auger at the store and compared my auger and noticed that my bottom plate where the blade attatches to the auger was bent a slight angle down.

So I took a big hammer to it and bent the plate back so it was flat like the rest of the plate.

I'd assume the little bit of the plate being bent down took too much bite as it would go through the ice at the bottom of the hole and would stop the auger from turning and completing the hole.

I hav'nt tested out the new blade yet, so I hope I fixed my problem. Otherwise the auger (3hp) Model 30 has been running great! Only changed the plug in it once!

Anyone else have similar problems with there auger stopping at the bottom of the hole?

[Duffman]

Most augers will have a little problem getting thru that last chunk of ice. Doesn't matter if it's powered or a hand auger. Some augers handle that situation better than others, I think when the first blade breaks thru it hits up against HSO ice, therefore the blade cannot continue cutting.

[LocalGuide]

I got a brand new z51 Eskimo Shark 8" Turbo. I really liked how the auger cut ice, it was fast. But I had one problem with it so far, I have been having a heck of a time getting it started.

When I first put gas in it It took over 30 pulls to get it to fire. That was with it primed and the choke on. So it was getting gas. Then for about the next 5 starts on the lake it started fine, like before the 6th pull or so. Then last Sunday I was going to drill some holes right before prime-time. I get the auger out pull it over about 5x, nothing. Well to make it short I ended up spending about 45 minutes trying to start it. I wasn't to happy and I was bound and determined to get it started. Needless to say it never happened.

So off to Gander Mtn I go to take it back. I took it in and told them it wont start. They said they would take a look at it and see if they could fix it, if not I would get a new one. Well I took it in on Tues and got a call back tonight saying I had a bad carburetor. So they told me I'm getting a new unit again. I'm happy that I got good turn around time and I will get a auger that will work again!

So thats my little story of the night.

[LEECH21]

When I picked up my new Jiffy Stealth 2hp 8" auger last Sunday I got it home, took it out of the box, put it together fueled it up,then.....on the first pull the plastic piece on the recoil broke ! I called up the sports shop that I bought it from and they said bring it in. On Monday I brought it in and the gave me the auger that was on display (already put together). I got home and was ready to start it and the thing didn't have a primer button. I'm not sure why???? They couldn't even figure it out. So back I went again. Pick up my third auger and took it out of the box, fueled it, and it STARTED!!! Maybe the third ones a charm? I haven't tried it on the lake yet(I'm crossing my fingers).

[eye1000us]

........and it continues.Purchased the 3hp Stealth from Fleet Farm the week before Christmas.Absolute junk so far.I go to return it today and Fleet Farm will not take it back without first having it sent to Jiffy for repair.If they can't repair it then Fleet Farm will return my money.This process will take who knows how long.Good thing I have another auger (Strikemaster ) to use.What a joke,guess thats a warning ,no more Jiffy no more Fleet Farm.$400 lesson learned AARRRGGHHH!!!!

[iland99]

Even Strikemaster isn't immune it appears. I went to use my Lazer Mag Express for the second time ever (bought it new in November). When I tried to start it, gas sprayed out of the yellow compression release valve, every time I pulled the rope gas sprayed out, like it was super flooded. I let the gas evaporate and tried it again, and it would still spray gas but not very much this time. By now my clothes are covered with gas and I’m not feeling too good about spending $360 on an auger I can’t use. It finally did start and ran pretty rough – I had to tap the throttle once in a while or it would die. I drilled four holes with it after letting it idle and shut it off. I started it up and let it idle for 5-10 minutes right before I left and it started fine, no gas spraying or anything. Took it in to L&M and had them look at it, they couldn't replicate the problem. It's ran fine ever since....

[LEECH21]

My Stealth has been leaking a little oil/gas out of the compression release valve as well. Just a little, not spraying like you mentioned. Once the auger gets running it seems to stop and then runs fine. Weird!