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I have an old 8" barracuda ice auger from eskimo. I just recently purchased a new manual auger and I am thinking about converting my old one into a power auger. I have access to a vertical shaft lawn mower engine and wanted to use it but I don't know if I have to attach a transmission or a clutch to it to help control the rpm. Has anyone on here made there own auger in this fashion? Any tips or advice you would be willing to share would be great. Thanks, Chris
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That 4 stroke is going to be a bit on the heavy side to be hauling around and controlling. As much power as it has, probably would just need to dial down the throttle and run it low throttle.
You would be better off with a 2 stroke weedeater engine. Much lighter and appropriate power level. And yes, a transmission would be in order to reduce rpms. I don't know the actual speed, but it seems to me that power augers run in the vicinity of 60-100 rpms at the blade.
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You would do better setting it up with a cordless drill.
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Chris,
DKS is right.
Go to the Cabelas web site and look at the ice auger accessories for the cordless drill adapter bit. An 8" auger is a bit big for the cordless drill but it will work.
Google 'cordless drill ice augers' and you will find a guy that makes a little reduction unit that doubles your torque of a cordless drill that will easily turn an 8" auger but it is going to cost around $80 plus shipping.
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I once saw a guy who had rigged up a hand ice auger to an old car starter. It worked pretty dang good too, but he did have to haul a car battery with him to use it. He did mention hooking it right to the four wheeler battery on occasion.
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It all comes down to gearing and weights. Don't waste your time with the lawnmower engine it will be too heavy and spinning to fast even on idle. Just do it right, spend the money and buy a "real" auger.
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I use an 8" auger with a 20 volt dewalt. It works great. I use the ice master adapter.
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You can get an earth auger at harbor freight. Cut the auger bit it comes with off at top and weld that to your old hand auger. Cost $179
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Just save yourself the headache and look for a used one on ksl. A lot of things can happen when jury rigging up an auger to save a buck.
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Chris,
Congratulations on your awesome strength to be considering hauling such a heavy engine!
Since you can do that, instead of an carrying an auger, simply punch a hole through the ice with your fist!
But, seriously, if you would construct that with odd parts, instead buy a used one and give it a little maintenance or even buy a cheaper one that needs minor repair.
I suspect that many are thrown away when ice fishermen replace their old one with a new one. You likely will be offered one that doesn't work among the replies to come because many don't have the time or skills to do repairs and many want the reliability of a new one to not risk a rare precious moment of ice fishing to a finicky older auger.
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I have found the best remedy for a used up 2 stroke engine is a new engine. I have friends that get headaches from there old engine. It took me 2 hours to get my "jury rig" welded up (I am no pro at this but I got it straight). It starts easily and I drilled over 100 holes this year with it! Ps it's no heavier than its $400 counterpart and half the cost.
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18 lbs auger is not heavy
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