How long will a gas auger last?

[Skunked-Rookie]

A friend of mine said that at best if you use them a lot they will only be good for about 3yrs. He told me to buy a new one and then after 3yrs sell it, then use that money you made from the old one and put it toward buying a new one. I almost never buy anything new and that is why he told me that.

He also has a habit of blowing money away excessively when he doesn't have to, and that is what lead me to ask this question. Is he right or wrong? Or is there no right and wrong answer?

[hoggs222]

I have a 10" strikemaster lazer mag that my dad gave to me. I believe he got it in the mid 90's. It still fires right up and cuts great.

[KidWalleye]

My Strikemaster is 8 years old. Starts perfect every year. And runs great. If it's really cold (-10 and below) it's hard starting.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Sell your buddy your auger every 3 years for 20 bucks under new price, then go buy a new Nils.

Everything lasts as long as how well you take care of it. Take good care of your auger and you can pass it down to your grandchildren.

[Skunked-Rookie]

Thanks for the info guys. I kind of had a feeling that this is the kind of response I would get, because I have seen quite a few people out on the ice with augers that were pretty banged up and ugly looking that seemed to work just fine.

[Skunked-Rookie]

Also, I am new to gas augers so this might be a dumb question. Can I switch the auger with a different size on the motor if I wanted to say go for smaller fish like pan fish, or larger fish like Pike, instead of buying 2 different augers? Or is that not a possibility? If it is possible is it too big a hassle to do?

[so haaad]

My dad still has an old Jiffy that he got in the 80's. The thing actually runs better than my 3-year old Strikemaster.

[Mike L]

LOL. My grandsons aren't but a couple of years away from drillin' the holes for me.

[harvey lee]

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Also, I am new to gas augers so this might be a dumb question. Can I switch the auger with a different size on the motor if I wanted to say go for smaller fish like pan fish, or larger fish like Pike, instead of buying 2 different augers? Or is that not a possibility? If it is possible is it too big a hassle to do?

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An 8" auger will get the job done for all your fish. I use to have an 10" Jiffy and now I own what I feel is the best all around auger on the market, the NILS. She's light,fast, no extension needed for most winters and starts fast and cuts now. This auger is a great one, take a look.

http://outdoorproseries.com/

There are many Fishing Minnesota members that own one of these augers and I know of not one that is not happy with it.

[hanson]

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There are many Fishing Minnesota members that own one of these augers and I know of not one that is happy with it.

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Tom... time for an edit, looks like a typo.

[Sergeant Slabber]

I've had my 8" Strikemaster for around 12 years and it runs/cuts just as good as the day I got it. I've never done anything to it except change the plug once and get new blades.

[harvey lee]

Fixed and thanks Chris. My bad.

[dkf]

A couple years ago I was talking to a guy with a a Jiffy model 30 hes had for 17 years. Another guy had a 2hp Jiffy hes had for 15 years.

Last season I saw several guys on the lake with very old augers. The one was a single hand model and had to be at least 30 years old. (Eskimo or Jiffy)

Take care of your auger and they will last a long time.

[dkf]

Quote:

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Also, I am new to gas augers so this might be a dumb question. Can I switch the auger with a different size on the motor if I wanted to say go for smaller fish like pan fish, or larger fish like Pike, instead of buying 2 different augers? Or is that not a possibility? If it is possible is it too big a hassle to do?

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Yes you can swap drill sizes and it is as simple as taking out one bolt.

I have a 2hp Jiffy "Stealth" with the 6" and 9" drill assemblies. I switch blades depending on what I'm after.

[hanson]

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Fixed and thanks Chris.

My bad.

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Ahhh... was pretty funny when I read it. I go... thats not what he meant.

[hanson]

To put my thoughts on the original question, the auger will last as long as you maintain it, and that goes for any manufacturer.

What will really require maintenance over the years is the blades. Blades go dull, that is a fact of life. Sharpen them or replace them and you'll be good to go.

As for the motor, most augers are running Tecumsehs and they just flat out keep running and running. Biggest issue you'll run into with the motor is carbs. They get dirty, they gum up, etc over summer if you don't do simple summerization on the engine.

I have a Strikemaster that is 5-6 years old and starts and runs like a top.

My family still has a Jiffy Model 30 that must be over 25 years old that starts and runs like a top as well.

[JustinG]

Yeah, I had an old Ardisam Sweet Cut up until last year. That thing must have been about late 70's vintage and she fires right up to this day. I sold it to a coworker last fall cause it was getting pretty tired. He told me it is still running and cutting fine. Maybe I shouldn't have sold it....

Justin

[pathogen]

Bought my Jiffy Model 30 in 1980. Since then it has been in for 2 tune ups and I changed blades once (beginning of last winter). It has cut A LOT of holes over the years and starts first or second pull regardless of temperature. Just my experience, but many brands and models are capable of the same sort of durability if they are treated with care.

[Mike L]

Key is firing up that auger on a monthly basis in the off-season, just like a snow-thrower. Keeps the varnish away and the jets clear.

[nytelyter]

i am six years now on my strikemaster 3000 10" and i also have an 8" jiffy. but i retired an old "Tas" power head that had the sweedish blade onit "mora" that auger was purchased by my uncle in 72 one of the original power augers. i will admit that it was a stubborn lil beiotch. to get started (due to poor maitinence) but, with a new set of blades, it would outdrill most augers out there. dang thing would rev and dig. and i did very few repairs onit. ... paul

[Scott M]

Yep, fire it up from time to time, put that on your calendar. And take good care of it. Remember how it runs when you first get it and always try to maintain it at that level. I had forgotten how well mine ran until I had it tuned up after the 3rd year. They put a new pitch point on it, replaced the blades, and it was cutting ice like a hot knife through butter. I plan to have this one for years. I had my grandpa's running just fine after about 20+ years and then some dude stole it from me (Don't get me started ).

[The Grebe]

Well, if you pour straight gas into it, not long. If it falls out of your truck onto the highway....probably not very long either.

If you loan it to a friend, chances are it will break and never be the same. If you use it like a hammer drill, especially over rocks, probably isn't gonna last to long that way either.

But, but....if you take reasonably good care of it, feed it right and don't allow it into any questionable neighborhoods, they last a loooooong time!

I've even used mine as a posthole digger on occassion, (My Bad) I've got some old dull bits especially for that and my StrikeMaster will still cut anywhere from 20 to 30 holes every time I go out in the winter and I go out alot. It's been toeing the mark for at least 5-6 years and the one before that for about 10 years and that one is still going strong also...I gave it to my brother