auger issues

[OnAFly]

I realize I should been doing this months ago, but yesterday I got the aguer down and tried to start it up. Nothing, not a sputter, nothing.

I checked for spark, its there. I looked at the fuel line and there wasn't fuel in it despite have put gas in the tank. I tore apart the carb checking if it was clogged up. I didn't find anything obvious, but I'm far from an expert. The fuel line didn't look cracked or anything either.

Anyone got any ideas, even somewhere to bring it to close to Centerville or White Bear Lake.

[Esox_Magnum]

Does it have a fuel shut off? If no gas in the line then its something plugging it at the tank....

[OnAFly]

No fuel shutoff, its a SM Lazermag Express. Probably shoulda included that. I'll check the tank next to see what's up there.

[Gus]

If the fuel line is at all hard, replace it and then give it a shot.

Worst case, the diaphram in the carb dried up if you ran the gas out of it at the end of the year. For some reason these auger motors don't like to be dry.

Sometimes you can get it going again by shooting a bit of gas into the carb and letting it run a few times. Other times, you'll be looking at a carb kit.

I'd start with the fuel line if it's at all hard, then if it still doesn't start, try putting just a touch of gas in the carb and running it a few times to see if the diaphram starts to work. If still nothing, carb kit time.

[Surface Tension]

Prime it with mixed gas in the carb. YOu'll probably have to do that a few times till the fuel pump in the carb pulls gas from the tank.

[OnAFly]

I'll give that a shot on Sat, I'll be unable to do anything with it over the holiday.

You're talking a couple drops of gas right?

[Surface Tension]

About a teaspoon.

[hydro]

You mentioned that there was no fuel in the line. Check inside the tank to see if there is a filter on the pickup. If that were plugged up the line to the carb would be empty.

[OnAFly]

I checked the little screen there by adding seafoam to the tank while detached. It drained at a reasonable rate.

[Hoey]

Does this unit have a priming bulb?

[OnAFly]

Nope, could a dried out carb cause this?

[fsnrod]

i have often taken the spark plug out squirt a little gas in it. It usally starts for a few seconds do it a couple times it usally runs.

[Surface Tension]

Nope, could a dried out carb cause this?

Yes and the reason to prime it through the carb. Or you can pull the plug and do it that way too but there is a good chance you'll have to repeat it.

I should ask if you vented the tank while were at it.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I had to rebuild the carb on mine last year due to a dried up diaphragm. I think the parts where around $15 and about 30 minutes to replace and it was good as new. That was the first one since I bought it 13 or so years ago. Not to bad.

[hamms-scooter]

Not a huge fan of running motor dry before storage. I would get a carb kit for it. I am no expert either but you tube is great.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

When all else fails give it a shot of ether but be ready for an explosion!!! Really, I don't use ether but old gas, a fowled spark plug, or carburetor issues are probably the most common issues. I paid to have a carburetor rebuilt 2 years ago and it hurt to the tune of $100.

[OnAFly]

I did have the vent open on the tank.

I'll try pouring a little gas in the carb and maybe look for a rebuild kit if that does nothing. After that, I'll take it somewhere. Now I have a good Saturday project

[OnAFly]

I tore it apart again and soaked the carb then sprayed it out again. After putting it back together for the 3rd time, it runs. I'll be popping holes this weekend

[Eric Wettschreck]

A bit of a similar situation.....

Neighbor brought over his Strikemaster mag 2000. It hasn't run in 2 years. Tried starting, no luck. I took the carb off, cleaned everything up, put back on. It will start if I give it a shot of gas into the carb, then die. After a few go rounds of this we managed to keep it running but only if it was WOT. let off on the throttle and instant die.

I'm thinking bad diaphragm? Any other thoughts?

[Eric Wettschreck]

Took it apart again yesterday afternoon. Another good cleaning of everything (thanks for the inside tip) and put back on.

1 pull she starts, idles perfect, WOT sounds nice. She's ready to make holes.

[OnAFly]

I went out yesterday and cut some holes to test out the auger. Its kinda tough to start and wants to bog down sometimes while drilling. The motor kind of bogs then gets going then bogs then gets going. I'm going to order a carb kit for it and see if that fixes anything.

[jentz]

On a fly you probably need just a carb adjustment,The bogging sounds like its lean?

[OnAFly]

So what do I do to adjust it? Is there a step-by-step for something like this or do you just have to have a lot of background knowledge on small 2cycles engines?

[delcecchi]

If it runs, that makes it easier. Find the adjustment screw and turn it, out would be best, like a quarter turn. See if that helps. If it doesn't, try the other way a quarter turn or so. If it does keep going until it gets worse.

At least that is the way I do it. Sometimes there are two adjustments. idle and high speed.

[OnAFly]

I see what looks like an idle adjustment screw which just holds the throttle to a set point without pressing on the thumb throttle.

I'll be adjusting that since the thing won't run more than 20s without me pressing on the throttle. It's done that forever tough.

[delcecchi]

Is this one with the "solo" engine? I looked at the owner manual on line. They seemed big on cleaning the air filter, and mentioned carb adjustments but didn't say how they were done.

Typically there is a screw or screws directly on the carb. But they certainly don't point them out in the manual.