Mine blew up third day of use and was replaced with a 142 and a 10″ bit under warranty. They let me keep the 8″ bit to make up the price difference. The 142 is the best motorized auger I own also have a Jiffy model 30 and a Pro 4 Propane.
Swedish Pimple, Rippen Raps and Jigging Raps.
Both my lx-3 and lx-5 had motors replaced under warranty. I would not have been mad if I didn’t have to pay the shipping each time! $30 with appropriate insurance thru UPS. My lx-3 was only used twice and they wouldn’t do anything to help with shipping costs.
Touring 2 ups are great ice fishing sleds. Electric start and reverse is a must if you move a lot like we do.
Do you literally mean the auger has blown up? Like an explosion?
You buddy was out on the lake and the auger itself exploded, burst into flames, spontaneously combusted?
That doesn’t seem like a common issue.
LOL when an engine blows up it doesn’t explode! The Honda is 4 stroke there’s a lot of moving parts and all it takes is one to break.
Yup I have blew mine up the 2nd trip out. The Hondas get fixed by Honda, it was taking forever. Strikemaster finally set me a Lazer Mag with a 10″ bit and let me keep the 8″ bit to make up the price difference.
Thursday night they had 2 I called someone in my family they picked one of the 2 up Fri. That was an awesome score, don’t feel bad!
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family. This was my brother in laws fishing partner and someone who fishes almost daily. It was a freak thing and ice is never “safe” regardless of what your driving. Our ice fishing community is relatively small and when something like this happens we need to band together instead of turning this into an ice safety clinic.
I have the Frabill fxe, Ice Armor extreme and Striker. The Frabill are my favorite followed close by Ice Armor.
I wear the Striker Hardwater and have owned the camo Artic Armor and the green Artic Armor. The Artic Armor always gave me the feeling like I was in a plastic bag and once I sweat in it was very hard to get dry. The Striker is very comfortable however if you run and gun like I do you will notice the zippers let air in if it’s windy. One of the Artic Armor suits may have saved my life as I fell into a river I was able to roll right out. I will always wear a floating suit!
Just remember that’s the weekend of Battle on Bago this year.
You will not beat a Nils. I have a bad shoulder and it still cuts with ease.
I haven’t found a Jiffy that keeps up with my Strikemaster Mag and can out drill most 8″ with a 10″.
How old is it? My guess would be your transducer took a crap I believe that is what happened when mine went a few years ago.
Strikemaster does not repair the Honda motor in house they send it back to Honda,that’s why it takes so long. I had the exact same thing happen to me last year tournament the next day and everything. After waiting forever Jason ended up sending me a Lazer Mag with a 10″ bit and let me keep the 8″ to offset the cost. In the end Strikemaster was very accommodating I was not happy with them in the beginning but they have to play by Hondas rules so I guess that’s who I’d be mad at. Oh by the way a little birdy told me the 4 strokes have way too many moving parts and I’d be better off with the 2 stroke.
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Do a search, 100 good comments from owners to 1 negative from non owners who wasted money on a different set up.
I wouldn’t call any set up with a nils a waste of money lol. After all with a nils bit you could still put the handle on and drill away.
I’ve had a few of the others and striker is by far the best I have owned
I personally would go with the 2 stroke I have owned both of these augers and had the 4 stroke blow up. After talking with the Strikemaster tech after the Honda blew up he recommended the 2 1/2 hp lazer mag said it’s by far the best and most tested motor they have on the market. We ended up working out a deal and they sent me a new lazer mag with a 10″ auger and got to keep the 8″ bit off the 4 stroke and all I can say is this one rocks. Now I know there is a lot of guys who love there 4 strokes but like the tech said to me there are way too many moving parts in the 4 stroke.
Pimples are my go to lure and don’t use swivels but my second lure is a rap and that I do use a swivel with.
Another vote for Striker!!
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I tried a Hunters Buddy from FF last weekend. I think it might have been defective, would only run 15-20 minutes on low, then shut off. I could fire it back up a couple of times, but then it only ran 10 minutes or so and finally shut down. How long should it run on low with the propane bottles that are sold for it?
I had the same problem with a Hunting Buddy, exchanged it got new one does the same thing. Talked to customer support they transferred me to tech support and they have yet to return my call. It’s not the propane I’ve tried different brands new bottles nothing works .The pilot is too weak and doesn’t contact the thermo couple then the gas shuts off.
That would be awesome if they come out with something. Switched brands so I could have a quick flip but, with the heaves we have on Winnebago I’ve went thru a few bases not cool! Sure miss the bulletproof Otter base! Even thought about making a hybrid but, if something is in the works I’ll hang tight!
I just wish Otter would come out with a quick flip for us ice trollers!
If you sell these iI’d be interested. Please let me know and a price. Thanks 
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Finally got a weekend of use out of mine no issuses what so ever -7 this morning started right up and ran great all day. The more I use this thing the more I love it!!
Well here’s my update I as well as a couple mechanic friends believe that mine has blown up! I had a hard pull after a back fire and then ran poorly for a few more hole now nothing. It will not start has spark, gas, clean air filter, no pinched lines, is getting fuel, oil is grey and little to no compression. Best of all it was 2 days before the battle on bag fishing tournament. Had to barrow a buddies back up for the weekend. To say I’m upset would be quite the understatement! And yes I put in the provided 1.7oz of oil.
Finally got a weekend of use out of mine no issuses what so ever -7 this morning started right up and ran great all day. The more I use this thing the more I love it!!
Yep power point is it! I have used it on a few ice fishing items and it works great.
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I would at about 2-3ft of 6 lbs flourocarbon to the business end of it with a really small swivel between the two. Super clear water plus limiting the line twist from the spoons.
This is what I do!
I’ve owned a Ice 55 and now own a LX 5 in my personal experience the Marcum was a much better unit. So if the 7 is anything like the 5 it will kick the birds butt.
