Strikemaster (A little disappointed)

I bought a new strikemaster solo last year! Loved it, work great, started without any issues. I stored over the summer, and then a couple of weeks ago, I fired it up. sputtered badly for a long time, but finally got it running good when I noticed gas leaking.

I traced the gas leak to the gromet where the hoses come out of the tank. I called around, and was told that I’m using the wrong gas! and it dried out the seals, now I need to replace the gromet, hoses, and have the carb worked on BS, I’m using the gas they told me to put in, ran stabil thru it before storing, and now they won’t cover under warranty!!! I’m not paying there $85 bucks an hour for labor out of principle. Auger is for sale B/O. Anyone have any recomendations on a new auger? Jiffy?

What kind of gas did you put in? I know non-oxy gas is recommended but unless you put in like diesel or e-85 I’m not sure how gas would cause all that…

I personally like my old strikemaster better than the Jiffy’s I’ve tried, but in your position I understand not wanting to go that route…

Edit: $50

I was told to put in non Oxy, and that’s what I use.

If your with in 25 miles of me I’ll give you 75 bucks for it.

I’ll go $100.

To be fair, you said you calked around and one guy said you used the wrong gas. Was that strikemaster?

I think I did hear about a known issue with some of the seals eroding out. I think there was a really simple fix that strikemaster was more than willing to fix.

Did you loosen the cap a little to allow the tank to vent while sitting when it was warm out? That should be done with anything that fuel is stored in to prevent damage from pressure building in the tank from warm temps. I even think that is in Strikemasters manual.

Remember that solos are ventless caps that draw air while running.

$125!

$175.00

Strike master service is not what it used to be. I had two oil seals go out on my 4 stroke before I ever got the 1st tank of gas through it. 1st one was covered but the second one (same exact problem) was refused partway into the 2nd season despite some very patient but persistent phone calls to strike-master (i can work while phone is on hold). I have no problems when equipment breaks and no problems owning up to when I do something wrong with the equipment. In this case the auger didn’t drill 50 holes as it was only used in my wheel house. I have no tolerance for those companies who don’t stand behind their products.

Bad gas is a common cop out,…maybe a battery auger is the way to go. The company can’t pass off a problem on bad gas with one of those! (nada for your auger)

Neighbor had the same problem. Solution was do not store with the gas tank empty. After letting it sit for a week or so with gas in it the seal was good to go again. Not sure what the long term fix will be. Sure convinced me not to up grade my auger.

I do agree it was a urine poor design. Kinda surprised they have not seriously hurt or burnt someone up do to this. Nice fine mist of gas being sprayed onto your clothes while drilling is not good. Sure glad Im not a smoker. Sure would suck trying to get out of a flaming pair of gas sprayed bibs.

Eskimo!! Most reliable auger I’ve ever owned and I fish nearly every weekend

Strikemaster is over rated…

I’ve always stored my Strikemasters with an empty tank and never have had a problem but that doesn’t mean they don’t happen to somebody somewhere. If I didn’t have a Strikemaster there’s only one other I’d own and that would be a Nils.

I have a jiffy, last year I drained the gas out of it completely and boy I will never do that again dried up all the seals now it leaks gas everywhere….UGH!! Maybe go with an electric auger.

Troy where you from? I’m interested in your auger if you’re going to get rid of it.

Go buy a Nils and be done with it and have the best there is IMO and probably alot of others too. Just my .02 worth.

I have a Jiffy propane…love it! fired it up once this summer after a busy ice season last year to keep it lubed and fired it up in 2 pulls this winter. Still runs like a champ. It is a little heavy but I’m a bigger fella and I need the exercise.

Bring it to D-Rock in New Brighton. Have them replace the fuel lines and
rubber grommet. Cheaper than a new auger.

dandorn wrote:

Bring it to D-Rock in New Brighton. Have them replace the fuel lines and
rubber grommet. Cheaper than a new auger.

What dandorn said!

captddh wrote:

Bad gas is a common cop out,…maybe a battery auger is the way to go. The company can’t pass off a problem on bad gas with one of those! (nada for your auger)

Totally agree. Oxygenated fuel is here to stay, so it’s time manufacturers stopped blaming everything on “bad fuel” and started making stuff that actually works.

The bad gas cop out is still used by every small engine manufacturer today to get out of warranty repairs. Most use that claim without even looking at it. Bullsnot. Fuel with ethanol has been around for over 15 years. Don’t fall for it. There are materials out there that are not affected by the ethanol containing fuels. If a manufacturer uses materials that are affected by ethanol it is a manufacturing defect. That is covered under the warranty, a manufacturing defect.

Atleast you got a year out of yours before it disappointed you. My solo has been a disappointment since the first time I hit the ice with it.

Mine was good last year, keeping it running it this year is a bear. Had a eskimo that would leak gas all the time( but started first or second pull no matter the temp), so next one will be battery for sure. Getting a little pi$$ed with a $500 auger not working right.

@huntinfishintut

Troy – I was down to Strikemaster today and told them about this post as I was curious about how they would handle an issue like you’re experiencing. The response I got was “no one at StrikeMaster would answer a request for warranty service like that and this particular issue is definitely covered under the Solo two year warranty.”

I had both service guys in the room at the same time and they both looked at me like I out of my mind. Any chance you got this response from an Authorized Service Center and not Strikemaster directly? Not that it matters. You’ve got a two year warranty and I was told this type of issue would be covered no questions asked. If you email Strikemaster it sounds like they’ve got you covered and you’ll back to describing your Solo like this >>> “Loved it, work great, started without any issues.”

[email protected]

Like most things these days the new units are not near as good as the old units. I have a old strikemaster lazer that must be 15+ years old. The only thing I done to it in those 15 years is new blades every 3 or so years. I believe it is still the original spark plug. I never drain or treat the fuel at year end. I’ve always started the unit at the start of the season with the same gas as was in it at the end of the previous season – No problem. Always starts within 3 or 4 pulls every time out. My buddy got a strikemaster a few years ago based on the luck I’ve had. His has not ran near as well. He’s had to have it worked on several times.

I could be wrong here, but maybe part of the problem with the new augers, and small motors for that matter I think has to do with the EPA and the motors having to meet the new clean running requirements. They need to run so lean, and after they sit for a summer they don’t get enough fuel. The jets are sealed to keep you from adjusting them. I know my Mercury pro kicker had issues right out of the box and was a bitch to start when it was cold. I ended up drilling out the caps for the jet screws and was then able to open them up and it was a night and day difference. I haven’t bought a new auger for a few years, but maybe that is the common problem.

mojogunter wrote:

I could be wrong here, but maybe part of the problem with the new augers, and small motors for that matter I think has to do with the EPA and the motors having to meet the new clean running requirements. They need to run so lean, and after they sit for a summer they don’t get enough fuel. The jets are sealed to keep you from adjusting them.

Bingo. I’ve shared that info here before and actually started to type the reply again before getting distracted. The EPA requires augers pass emissions test at 70 degrees. 70! And we run them at temps as cold as 30 below. Ask any old snowmobiler how he would expect his sled to run if he jetted it at temps 100 degrees warmer than what he would run it in.

Tecumseh got out of the auger engine biz right as the EPA was starting to enforce the new emission regs. Was the Tecumseh a very good engine? Yes it was. It was also a smokey pig that spewed unburned oil and gas into the air.

In my opinion today’s augers are built much, much better than the augers of 10 – 20 years ago. But the emission requirements make riding the fine line between easy starting and protecting the environment a tricky deal. IF you’ve got a newer auger that is jetted “just right” they’re awesome. If not, they can be a pain until serviced.

James Holst,

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I spoke to Chris at Strikmaster this morning. I am bringing the auger to them tomorrow morning and it will be ready to hit the ice before Noon tomorrow.

I must have contatcted a service center and not strikemaster directly. He is also going to take care of that!

I was very impressed with Chris, and am now a strikemaster customer for life!

Thanks again. They really do stand by there stuff, especially when you deal with them directly!!!