Strike Master Lite 4

[icedog]

(Maybe I missed the discussion of this subject...if so, please point me toward the topic.)

Anyone have an opinion about this new unit from Strike Master; Strike Lite 4 cycle?

I have seen one hanging in the store and looked it over. The 4 cycle motor makes some sense, but I am not so sure about those "synthetic" flites and bottom end. I am sure that Strike Master has tested this unit for durability....just not sure they have tested it like I would use (abuse) it!!??

What do you think?

icedog

[Bob_D]

Here is a thread from this fall...

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=623404&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

IMO....I think it will have problems with both the motor and the bit assembly (including ice build up in the blade "cup" for lack of a better word). However, that is just my opinion.

[cold one sd]

I watched some holes being drilled with one of the new 4 strokes this weekend. I don't know what kind of blade is used with this model, but it turns fast like a Jiffy. The guy running it actually got ice shavings or chips on his boots and when he pulled it out of the hole he got wet almost to his knees. I thought this was one of the main complaints about a Jiffy auger.

[hanson]

Hmmm...

Upon close inspection of Strikemasters product info, the Stike-Lite blades are in fact a different product than the typical Lazer blades found on most of Strikemaster's products. However, my feeling is the blades are different because of their attachment to the composite auger bit. What I'm saying is they are most likely Lazer blades with a tad different profile to attach to the composite plastic auger bit. They are not chipper blades like the Jiffy's have that throw ice in a 3' radius of the hole you are augering.

I did get to inspect this piece of machinery quite closely at Gander the other day and I'm most definitely impressed with the composite plastic auger bit. It is just as strong as the metal bits in my opinion. Remember, it is the actual blades that do the "work" and the augers job is to bring the ice shavings up and out of the hole. I will predict right now that any broken auger shafts are due to dull blades and excessive force by the operator. Lazer blades cut by themselves and don't need extra force. If they do, time to get them sharpened.

By the way, this is an auger that I am very interested in. However, I don't have the extra $500 in cha-ching to field test this thing.

I do think Strikemaster is leading the pack by introducing this auger, we'll just have to see how it performs.

[cold one sd]

hanson, isn't it a metal shaft and blades and composit flighting or is the auger made of a composit material?

[hanson]

cold one-

You may have me stumped now. Like I said, I took a good look at the auger at Gander one day a week ago and honestly failed to pay attention to the detail you are talking about.

What I noticed was there was a metal shaft coming out of the power head. It then transitioned to the composite material (shaft & fliting). How? I'm not sure.

I guess what I assumed was that there was a connection between the metal shaft and the composite auger. Upon closely inspecting the photos of the auger, I believe I may be wrong. It appears that the metal shaft extends down to the blade "assembly" and that the composite fliting simply slides up the metal shaft.

Maybe some Stikemaster guru's (Jim Hudson) know the specifics for sure.

The bottom line is I think the business end of this auger will work effectively. Its the 4 stroke engine that a few of us are questioning a little. As a permanent/sleeper shack owner, I'm looking for an alternative besides electric that I can use in my shack without reminding me of Woodstock.