Auger incident

My buddy borrowed my Strikemaster 40v auger. While crossing a crack the auger slid off the fish house and landed battery side down in the crack. It basically submerged the battery and the power button. It was in the crack only long enough to jump off the wheeler and grab it. He got 4 holes out of it and started beeping and the indicator lights flickered. The power button eventually froze.

After drying everything out, the battery doesn’t show the indicator lights. The auger works but has some moisture showing in the light still. Strikemaster said they can look at it but overall I think it is fine. My main concern is the battery. Can these be rebuilt?

Overall, I am surprised how little water proofing or water resistance there is, especially the battery. I know submerged is a different animal but I think even rain or a slush filled sled could do some damage.

So, can the batteries be rebuilt? Is this only a Strikemaster issue or is ION the same?

Your buddy should buy you a new battery. Borrow it, break it, buy it.

Sounds like a user issue not a strikmaster issue. Haven’t heard of anyone having moisture issues from normal use.

He is buying a new battery. It’s already been ordered. Just hate to see it be recycled if it can be rebuilt.

It is a user error. However, it did show where rain, slush etc, could also cause problems. Just curious if other electric augers have similar soft spots.

I wouldn’t change as I love the auger and have never had issues in the years I’ve owned it. I’m in no way bashing Strikemaster either. Their customer service has been awesome in answering my questions and offering advice.

3 years ago I dropped my battery in a bait bucket and it still works to this day.

I have to assume the manufacturer does a good job sealing the battery.

Have an ion and seems sealed well but the battery plastic is very thin I’d imagine the issue on yours probably isn’t sealing but probably cracked from impact

Aaron Wiebe fell through the ice last year as did his 40 volt. He came back and retrieved it all days later. The auger worked fine but I don’t recall if he used the same battery or a different one. He has a video on his page uncut angling.

Do you have an “Interstate” store nearby? they would be able to rebuild it if anyone could.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Aaron Wiebe fell through the ice last year as did his 40 volt. He came back and retrieved it all days later. The auger worked fine but I don’t recall if he used the same battery or a different one. He has a video on his page uncut angling.

Battery was toast from what I remember. But auger worked fine with a new battery.

I often wondered if during the summer one could pull themselves through the water with an electric auger…

castle-rock-clown wrote:

I often wondered if during the summer one could pull themselves through the water with an electric auger…

I mean I would think so, make one big ol mess but if you could get it low enough it could work. At least in my head it would. Now I gotta try it out