Strikemaster LM 8 problems

[TechWalleye]

My strikemaster LM8 (new March last year) has already been in once for a replacement of the carb. It was done under warranty, but now that I have it back it still runs poorly. It will start up on the first pull almost everytime, but you can't keep it running. I can't get it to idle in any position of the choke. If open the thottle the engine will stay running for a while but will still often stop right in the middle of drilling a hole. I have tried to let it run for 2 minutes like strikemaster advises, but it is almost impossible to get it to even run for 2 minutes. Immediatly after it quits I can restart it if I put it back on full choke and go through the entire start process again. Anyone else have this trouble or some idea of the cause? I will take it into a service center again, but I am getting close to the end of warranty and they haven't fixed it yet....

Mike

[eyebjim]

I would take it straight to strikemater in Big lake. They will get it working right.

[Neiko]

Mike, just asking but what octane gas are you using? Don't worry about the warranty. SM will take care of you. Get it to them and they will make it right.

[TechWalleye]

I have been using 87 octane with a 40:1 ratio. I have been thinking about trying non-oxy gas, but I am not sure that will make any difference.

Mike

[Neiko]

You should be using 91 octane in the 2 strokes. Drain out the gas and get 91 with a little Seafoam in it and let it run for awhile. You should be able to tell the difference once it is cleaned out.

[eyebjim]

You should always use non-oxy gas in these augers and all small 2 strokes. There is more energy in non-oxy gas and the stuff will not break down and turn to garbage near as soon.

[TechWalleye]

I will give that a shot....

Mike

[TechWalleye]

Well, I went and filled it with the non-oxy (91 oct) at the 40:1 ratio that Strikemaster recommends and it did seem to run a bit better, but still not great. I am going to take it to the lake on Thursday and I will get a better feel for it. It is still very hard to get the auger to ever come to a good idle. Anyone else think of other things to try?

[eyebjim]

amsoil sabre pro oil at 80:1 or €better yet 100:1. You will not be sorry.

[Neiko]

Did you add a little Seafoam to it? It may take a little run time to clean it out. The Amsoil will help also.

[McGurk]

Sounds like it is starved for gas. Did you check the gas line for kinks or debris blockage? Did you flush out the tank so there isn't a blockage there? A new carb won't help if there isn't gas getting to it. Storing cheap, non treated gas over a hot summer can gum up a fuel filter and even coat gas lines.

Empty the tank back out into your mixed gas container and remove and check the fuel line. YOur best bet is to completely remove it and make sure it is clear. While it's off, check the outlet from the tank and back-blow air into the tank through the outlet to see if anything loosens up. Take a small amount of non-mixed gas and flush the tank, empty and repeat with a little more new non-mixed gas. Empty and put your good mixed gas back in, with seafoam. RUN IT RUN IT RUN IT.

Seafoam won't be an instant fix but should help if there is a blockage anywhere. After you run a tank of your 40-1 mixed gas through it, switch to Amsoil Sabre Pro mixed at 80-1, and run another tank through it. I think you'll be suprised at how well that thing can run.

[Brad B]

tech walleye,

if the service center you used was not strikemaster them self then like was already suggested take it directly to them. for $69.95 they will rip it down and clean everthing and put new parts in it and then it should run correctly. (this is the tune up service they offer, $49.95 if done between april 1st and july 4th)

[TechWalleye]

Thanks for the advise guys, I think that I am probably going to try the Amsoil mix to see if it will run better. I really don't think that this is a blockage issue because it ran this way the day that I bought it last March. The service center that worked on it replaced the carb in May, and it did not have any fuel in the tank again until a couple weeks ago. It did seem to run better in the summer (warm weather) when I got it back from the strikemaster authorized service center.

I guess that I am just a bit disappointed that the Strikemaster and Techumseh manuals don't say a word about premium fuel or using Amsoil. This thing should not be this flakey. Are the Jiffy and Eskimo augers any better?

[TechWalleye]

Oh, I am also going to try and run the dickens out of it tomorrow night, and maybe catch a few fish...

[Brad B]

they won't say anything about amsoil because they want you to buy their brand of oil.

[TechWalleye]

good point.

[eyebjim]

They also have to comply with strict environmental laws and jet the carbs extremely lean to pass the emissions tests. Using amsoil (more gas less oil) actually richens it up some along with less oil to interfere with the burn making it run better.

[TechWalleye]

Well guys, I was out on Prior last night trying the auger with 40:1 in the non-oxy gas. No luck, still runs like [PoorWordUsage]. I still think that I am going to try the Amsoil, or I may take a half day off of work today and run up to Big Lake....

Has anyone tried adjusting the gold colored governor screw on the carb. The guy I fished with last night has the same auger as mine (same year) and he said he tweeked the screw to get the auger running better. Anyone else have experience with it. I know the manual says not to adjust it, but if that fixes it I would save myself a trip all the way up to Big Lake.

[TechWalleye]

Update - I just got back from Big Lake. I must say that you guys were right about their customer service. Mike at Strikemaster pulled apart the carb on my auger and modified the lever that lifts the needle on the carb so that the auger would respond to the throttle much faster. Also, he turned up the idle considerably. It sounds like it idles twice as fast now, and it doesn't die every 30 seconds. Like I said it was great service, they were busy but still looked at it immediately and had me out the door in 45 minutes.

[tomfromblaine]

Now that the mechanical issues have been resolved try the amsoil sabre pro, you be happy you did.

Tom