Bought a Strikemaster MP-1025 Auger this weekend, as I have depended on friend’s equipment for drilling for some time.
After filling with 2 cycle fuel, primed and started on about 2nd pull.
20 mins later, a buddy and I were out the ice, I started it again… same great start. Put a couple of test holes in the ice, then checked them for fish and chose our location.
After which, started it a 3rd time. Again started great, but once we completed drilling 3 holes for the shelter, I set it aside and noticed the pull cord hanging 3″ out of the power unit. Thinking that this was poor retraction of the cord, I reached down and pulled it completely out of the unit. Broken off about 4″ from the pull handle.
I can’t see how it could have broken during the pull start and still have retracted, but also did not notice anything like a backfire or anything unusual that I would have thought about to cause a break.
The quality of the cord used for the pull start looks to be a cotton (or something) woven cord. Has anyone else heard of anyone having this kind of rotten luck?
Will return it to Fleet Farm, where I bought it, but am having 2nd thoughts about having the same unit. It was new out of the box. I’m thinking that unless the pull cord is changed to nylon cord or something that is much better quality, that the next unit will do that same.
I don’t think anyone buying a new unit expect failure this quickly or would want to be out on the lake and have this kind of failure, so am very disappointed with Strikemaster’s choice in cord material.
