Auger Issue

[FISHINGURU]

So I had my auger in my portable pulling it behind my sled, I get to my spot and it won't start, finally it will start but won't stay running. Really strange since it starts in a few pulls no matter what everytime.

Well I just decide to use my buddies for the day and put mine away, when we got back to where we were staying I put the auger in the shower because it was iced up from using it the day before. Well when I woke up in the morning it was out of gas, it all leaked out and I had almost a full tank, the place just reeked.

The tank don't looked cracked, the line doesn't seem to be leaking, I'll probably have to dig into it and take a look.

This ever happen to anyone? Any ideas? I'm hoping it's just a gasket or something easy and cheap lol.

[Eelpout08]

Was it leaking out of the muffler? sounds like there could be a chunk of carp stuck in the carb. first thing i would do is get a carb kit and giver a good once over. should only be 10 or 20 bucks. might as well throw on a new fuel line just for the heck of it.

[FISHINGURU]

No clue man, I couldn't tell where it was coming out thats what was wierd. I put it in the shower with a full tank and when I went in there in the morning it was empty. I'll rip her down and take a peek probably tomorrow I was just hoping for any ideas or if it happened to anyone before, its a first for me. I'm not very mechanical so the less I have to do the better lol.

[Esox_Magnum]

Happened once to me, put a kit in it lasted about a month then replaced the carb. D-Rock was helpfull getting it going again.

[FISHINGURU]

Hmmm, how much did that cost ya? What kind of auger did you have when that happened?

I'm wondering it if happened from bouncing around a bit or if it was from coming in and out of the cold. I was up north on the canadian border it was like -35 windchill. Just thinkin out loud lol.

[Eelpout08]

i have had gas start leaking out thru the needle valve in the carb, thru the engine and out the muffler, not really sure why i guess cause it quit doing it before i had a chance to tear it apart. i think either the dirt that was stuck in there worked its way out or maybe some moisture in the gas froze in the carb and held the needle open.

BTW- what flavor auger are we talking about, this one was a strikemaster with the techumseh engine.

[Esox_Magnum]

Strikemaster, carb was $50 something.

[jeffeg64]

What brand of auger?

I had an older strikemaster this happened to. Turned out it was the gas line got old and dried out. these have a filter in the bottom of the tank that attaches to the gas line then the line goes through the hole in the bottom of the tank. there is no o ring or sealant the line itself is the gasket. I replaced the gas line and it works fine. It is a special line, it was like 4 dollars. Thanks to L and M in cloquet.

[FISHINGURU]

I run the Nils, I figured most you guys would be talkin about Strikemasters because they have been around longer and are more popular. I haven't heard of many issues with the Nils yet, this is my first issue with this auger, I used to run a 10" strikemaster and had the shaft go out of pitch before and I brought it to D-Rock. Other then that I've been golden.

I'll double check the tank make sure it might of not got a tiny crack in it, check the line again, it's possible something got in there or condensation forsure, things happen when it's -35 out, especially when it goes from that to an 80 degree bathroom.

thanks for the ideas, I'll get to the bottom of it and let people know for if it happens to them.

[Surface Tension]

There is a rubber grommet on the tank that the return fuel line goes through.

Sometimes the hose will compressed making a ring by the grommet. Pull the hose out a hair and you'll see that ring.

This might be enough and all you have to do.

BUT

Bringing and auger inside with gas. The gas is cold and when it warms it expands. This pressure might not be enough for the cap to vent but enough to open the inlet valve(needle and seat) on the carb. Even a tank with just a little fuel will pressurize when you warm it.

You really shouldn't bring and auger with gas in it into your home. If you do vent the gas cap. If you've ever seen a plastic 5 gallon gas can in the summer bulge during the day and collapse when it cools at night, well know you know.

[RebelSS]

FISHINGURU: Before you go tearing into the carb, check out a couple of things...which I bet is the problem, especially if you haven't been using non-oxy gas. As previously stated, Check your gas tank seams, the point at which the grommet/fuel lines pass out from it...the ethanol in this gas is destroying tanks and and plastic/rubber parts. Have seen this a LOT on ones I'm repairing..same thing happened to my buddy's 2 year old auger...it was the tank/lines leaking. Check 'em out good!

[lerk_eye]

My fuel tank seam started leaking on my 2 year old Nils, mine was only a very slight seep. Have a replacement tank coming from a service center under warranty.

[FISHINGURU]

Well boys, I decided to just add another full tank of gas to see how it would respond. It fires right up again and runs fine now, kind of idles high though, it likes to spin as it's just sitting there, it's always done that but seems to spin faster now.

Anyway, I set it up in the shed just like I had it up north and the tank is still full so it must of been a pressure thing. My old LazerMag had the air relief valve on the top of it I remember I'd keep it cracked open when I would bring that thing in, the Nils only has that little pin hole in the cap. Looks like I'll have to crack the cap open when I bring it in to melt. I've brought it in atleast 10 times before in the same situation without this happening. But it was -35 thats getting pretty hardcore.

Any suggestions about the spinning while at idle?

[Surface Tension]

If your using a leaner oil/ gas mixture it can change the idle speed but it seems that the idle is a;ways set a little high on the Nils that I've seen.

Look for the idle speed adjustment stop screw on the carb.

You will see it by the lever on the carb. Tun it out a little counter clock wise.

[LindellProStaf]

Spray some lube on the linkage below the power head. I have to do that to mine once a year. I read it on here. Works great. Slows down to a nice idle now.

[FISHINGURU]

MAN OH MAN, was just loading up the Nils to take it up north and that whole tank of gas I was talking about on 1-17 is gone!! Walked into the shed and it stunk like gas, looked at the tank and its empty again, took the auger out of my Otter Cover and poured out a bunch of gas.

Seems to me its coming out of the muffler area, thats where all the gas seems to be around. Not to long ago it was still full so I thought it was fixed! It must of done the same exact thing with this warm weather?

The grommets and the plastic lines all seem good to me. I don't see the tank leaking anywhere. I don't know what to do last thing I want is gas all over my portable all weekend lol.

[Swimmer]

Frank, Surface Tension, helped me get my Lazer Mag going after gas was squirting out the starting relief (yellow) button...so I trust his advice. The following is based on Frank's info (thanks Frank). I would avoid bringing the auger inside unless there is a gradual temperature change (unlikely) and store the unit upright or with the carburater in the up position. While my tank wasn't draining in storage it was draining gas through the intake (needle) valve into the cylinder and out the yellow button and out the muffler while trying to start it. So if your needle valve is stuck open -- maybe indoor condensation freezes the valve open when you take it back outside? -- take out the spark plug and pull on the starter maybe 30-40 times to get the gas out of the cylinder and hopefully seat the needle valve. Then I dumped the gas out of the muffler, put the plug back in, and she started right up with no more leakage. Something easy to try anyway.

[FISHINGURU]

Well here's the deal, I didn't really bring it in or out of anything this time. It was sitting upright in my shed for the past month with a full tank of gas, then all of a sudden the gas is gone within the past week or so, it must of been from this little warm weather?

It still runs just fine, I can go out there right now and pull it in a couple pulls and it starts and runs.

I'll pull the plug and give it a bunch of pulls anyway, something has to be stuck open or gets stuck open when the weather gets warm.

Who knows, this is the first time anything like this has happened to me in 20 some years of owning augers.

[Surface Tension]

Do you have a brother or sons that might be using your auger?

Store it laying down so the gas cap is upright.

If the inlet valve is bad or debris caught in there at least it won't drain the tank on you.

When the ice season is over you can investigate further.