Nils Auger info

Just thinking about getting rid of my Jiffy and buying one of these augers any input would be great

Best auger I have ever used….doubles as a hand auger to, and a great one at that…6th season on mine and nothing bad to say…

Based on mostly positive reviews on-line, I bought the 8 inch power point auger from an on-line retailer last year. Lightweight and cuts holes fast. The Tanaka power head starts easily and should be last a lifetime. I have had 2 issues though.

1. After cutting around 20 holes I had to send the cutting head in for sharpening. They guy who sharpened it said it looked like I dulled it on some dirty ice from sand or debris. I don’t fish on a lake that has much of any sand.

2. There is a significant wobble to the auger between the power head and drill. Nils sent me a new drill and a new adapter. I still has more wobble than any auger I have seen in person or on YouTube. Nils has basically told me they have replaced everything they can, and that I should take the power head to a Tanaka service center to get it checked out.

Aside from the issues that I hope to get resolved, I really like the auger. I am disappointed in the customer service from Nils, which I think is basically one guy out on the East coast. And the on-line retailer only had a 30-day return window.

My suggestion if you like the Nils, is to wait until next fall and buy it from a local retailer that will take care of you in case there are issues. Had I known StrikeMaster was coming out with a Honda-powered 4-stroke this season, I might have waited.

Overall it’s a good auger.

jimmy you’ve got it figured out. If you get a your shaft replaced with a straight one kudos to you. I think they’ve got a manufacturing problem IMHO. If they’d fix the bent shaft problem, make cutter heads more readily available and bring the prices down on there products I think he’d sell more of them. Frank is good at sharpening and his turn around time is great.

Quote:

---

I was looking at one at Reeds

---

Most years Nils sell out. My advice don’t wait.

I’ve had a Nils power auger for probably seven years now. I got it when I was hoofing it to spots on the slab and the lighter weight was a distinct advantage. It absolutely flies through the ice. Starting it in the cold (-5 and below is cold where I live) isn’t a problem whatsoever. I finally had the head re-sharpened at the beginning of this season. I too had a small wobble, nothing great, as was able to fix it with a small aluminum shim. Another advantage of the Nils is the longer auger length…it’s like having a built in extension, although one is available if so needed. I don’t fish out of a permanent shanty and cannot provide input on its ability to re-open holes. I have nothing but praise for this little workhorse.

ETA–The shim was placed in the “bit” where the auger is connected to the power head. When I had the auger removed, I rolled it across a sheet of plywood and could not see where the shaft itself was the issue, hence the need to shim at the attachment point.

Quote:

---

Based on mostly positive reviews on-line, I bought the 8 inch power point auger from an on-line retailer last year. Lightweight and cuts holes fast. The Tanaka power head starts easily and should be last a lifetime. I have had 2 issues though.

1. After cutting around 20 holes I had to send the cutting head in for sharpening. They guy who sharpened it said it looked like I dulled it on some dirty ice from sand or debris. I don’t fish on a lake that has much of any sand.

2. There is a significant wobble to the auger between the power head and drill. Nils sent me a new drill and a new adapter. I still has more wobble than any auger I have seen in person or on YouTube. Nils has basically told me they have replaced everything they can, and that I should take the power head to a Tanaka service center to get it checked out.

Aside from the issues that I hope to get resolved, I really like the auger. I am disappointed in the customer service from Nils, which I think is basically one guy out on the East coast. And the on-line retailer only had a 30-day return window.

My suggestion if you like the Nils, is to wait until next fall and buy it from a local retailer that will take care of you in case there are issues. Had I known StrikeMaster was coming out with a Honda-powered 4-stroke this season, I might have waited.

---

I had the same issues and I could not get it resolved. I even bought an extra power bit at $85 a pop. The wobble was so bad the first bit was thrown out wack beyond sharpening to proper specs.

Run away fast as you can it is not worth the chance of getting dud and the chances are pretty good. The Service is horrible and as for a Tenoka service center

I have a Nils and love it. Had the wobble problem and found out when I put the auger shaft back on I didn’t have the flat side facing the bolt head.That tightened it up and no wobble.I also tightend the bolt and put electrical tape around the nut and bolt to keep them tight.They seem to work loose other wise. Other than that the only thing I don’t like is the auger shield (sucks)I replaced it with a 2 1/2 gal. bucket and a bungy cord.
I run 91 oct. gas with Amsoil Saber 100/1 and Startron

Good point on the extra length of the auger. Came in handy this past weekend when there was a foot of snow on top of the 2 feet of ice.

I’ve heard someone else mention placing a shim in the coupler to deal with the wobble. How thick of a shim did you use? I’m wondering if a small aluminum washer would do the trick.

Quote:

---

Good point on the extra length of the auger. Came in handy this past weekend when there was a foot of snow on top of the 2 feet of ice.

I’ve heard someone else mention placing a shim in the coupler to deal with the wobble. How thick of a shim did you use? I’m wondering if a small aluminum washer would do the trick.

---

I don’t see why it wouldn’t, you might just need a half washer but I wish I would have thought of that at the time. I happened to make mine out of soda can aluminum and layered/folded as needed. I can’t remember how many layers at this point.

Quote:

---

I have a Nils and love it. Had the wobble problem and found out when I put the auger shaft back on I didn’t have the flat side facing the bolt head.That tightened it up and no wobble.I also tightend the bolt and put electrical tape around the nut and bolt to keep them tight.They seem to work loose other wise. Other than that the only thing I don’t like is the auger shield (sucks)I replaced it with a 2 1/2 gal. bucket and a bungy cord.
I run 91 oct. gas with Amsoil Saber 100/1 and Startron

---

I’m not a fan of the factory cover myself, did a little search and found out other Nils owners are using the strikemaster Lazer 8″ cover. I went out and bought one and it fits like a glove.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

I have a Nils and love it. Had the wobble problem and found out when I put the auger shaft back on I didn’t have the flat side facing the bolt head.That tightened it up and no wobble.I also tightend the bolt and put electrical tape around the nut and bolt to keep them tight.They seem to work loose other wise. Other than that the only thing I don’t like is the auger shield (sucks)I replaced it with a 2 1/2 gal. bucket and a bungy cord.
I run 91 oct. gas with Amsoil Saber 100/1 and Startron

---

I’m not a fan of the factory cover myself, did a little search and found out other Nils owners are using the strikemaster Lazer 8″ cover. I went out and bought one and it fits like a glove.

---

I just last night found out that Cold Snap Products has introduced an 8″ Nils specific snap cover this winter. One should be on its way to me as soon as they can process the order.

I did that and ended up taking them off. They work but can ding up the blade if you hit it on the magnets.Also if you hit the cover it will shift and can come off.Thinking of ordering the Cold Snap cover,it looks like the best way to go.

Tanaka service centers are all over the country, 5 within 50 miles of me and I live in the middle of nothing… Any small engine shop can srevice them if the need ever arises…

The coupler was probably not cut perfect is why the shim worked for you. There is quite a few bent shafts and just as many disgusted owners because they couldn’t get it resolved at Nils. The shafts appear to be pulling from welding them. The only 2 straight shafts i’ve seen have been a cabelas high velocity and 1 that was about 10 years old.
I’d skip the magnets and get a Strikemaster 8″ cover they do fit like it was meant to be.
I don’t know if all Tanaka service centers will take care of motor warranty because it’s a Nils deal not Tanaka. Look at the back of your manual and see if it lists ice auger.

Pros:
well balanced/easy to handle
the 270 motor is quieter than the older 262 motor
motor runs like a timex
runs at all angles
handle won’t let motor tip over
starts on the 3-5 pull cold unless -25 then it’s about 10-12
can be used as a hand auger

Cons:
cover is not the easest to get on, but can be done, pay attention
replacement blades not avaiable at stores
send off for sharpening, week turn around
leaves slush in hole
customer service from Nils lacking
costly to buy

The owner is a salesman and a good one. He is not good at customer service. Years ago he could have benefited from hiring someone to do CS and fix the bent shaft problem, he would have had the best auger on the market and sold tons of them. There is only 3 steady vendors and a whole lot more that sold them for a while but got tired of the BS.

Overall it’s a good auger.

Just my opinion though.

Yes, it would appear they have a customer service problem going on right now and may have a good patch of newer blades that were not ground correctly. A lot of guys seem to be having issues with the initial blade that end up being resolved with a trip to Frank DeLuca for re-grinding/sharpening…something nobody should have to do with a Cadillac product. They had such tremendous word of mouth going into this selling season that is really getting eroded.

Love my nils and wouldn’t trade it for anything. Wish I would’ve gotten one a long time ago. Save me many frustrations my strikemaster(s) gave me over the years.

Cabelas, fishusa, redrock store, I’ve even seen them on shopzilla.

Cabelas online and select stores have them…. or HAD them.

Fish307 and Redrockstore store have been the most consistent sellers. Is Reeds done selling them now? Cabelas sells the High velocity (nils)hand auger but I think they quit selling powerhead combos, I could be wrong though. Some smaller shops, bait shops etc. sell them too.
Like someone else mentioned if you get a good one great, if its got a bad shaft you can try to get a new shaft or send it back and get your money back.
If you got any other questions give a holler.

I was in the Hayward Bait and Bottle the other day and I believe they had one. Not sure if they would be willing to ship but you might try giving them a call if you can’t find one anywhere else. Or you could make the drive to Hayward and try it out on one of our lakes before heading home.

Tucker

Pro Fishing Supply has them, just had one delivered from them last night.

Quote:

---

Do the nils leave a ton of slush in the hole?

---

Spin it out like any other auger.

For the Nils guys that are having a wobble issue, I would recommend turning the auger a half turn in the adapter and try it that way if you haven’t. To get mine to run true I had to attach the auger to the adapter with the round side of shaft facing the bolt and the flat side against the adapter. Also be sure to wiggle the shaft as you snug up the bolt to make sure the flats of the shaft seats square against the adapter.

Just got my Cold Snap auger shield for my 8″ Nils today.
Best fitting blade guard for a Nils out there. On and off with no hands and it stays on. Hope the come out with one for the 6″ soon.

Let us know how you like the nils. Would recommend getting an extra cutting head right away.that way your not out of business when you need to send to frank.

Ordered it last week and it came today. $24.99. Check thier web site,don’t know if I can post it here. Best thing I ever got for my Nils. You will love that auger. If you need sharpening get a hold of Surface Tension, Frank is the best at sharpining those blades. I haven’t sent any to him yet but have used some that he did and do they cut. Good luck with your new Nils. You might want to run 50/1 the first tank and then switch to Amsoil Sabre 100/1.

Bought my cold snap cover for my Nils Saturday while on the ice with Dan Houg. To say the cold snap cover is an improvement is a mild understatement. Great product!

I have 2 (8″) non power points and 1 power point. I like the non power point much better. The power point really dosen’t help unless your drilling old holes which I wouldn’t do anyways because of the shaver blades.The non power point wont ice up as much. I wax the auger fliting and spray the cutting head with pam if its real cold out to keep the ice build up down. Also when you mount the auger to the power head make sure you face the flat side to the bolt head so it seats against it.Mine wobbles if I face the round side to the bolt head. I wrap some electrical tape around the bolt and nut so they don’t come loose. Just a few tips,hope they help.

They do not have a chipper blade. The power point is a shaver blade just like the non power point. As I said above you really don’t need a power point.As far as cutting they are the same. Ice build up is greater in the power point and it cost more.All Nils cut without wandering and you need very very little downward presure to cut.Watch out for sand or anything that isn’t supposed to be in the ice.As with any shaver blade by any brand this will dull them faster than anything and you will be sending them to Frank.