-29F Honda Strike Lite started!

[JSK76]

Earlier in the season I posted complaining about my Honda Lite not starting in the cold and then I sent an email to SM and they told me to turn up my idle, after that I've had better luck with it starting. I left it out side last night knowing it was going to get down to -32F. I can't say exactly what the temp was because my temp gauges were were reading -18.5, -25, and a hand held Mac Tools temp gun said -29 and that's usually very accurate, and the internet said -31 so I call it -29. Primed the fuel ball 5 times, pulled over one time very slow to get things freed up, 7 pulls later it fired, gave it one more push on the fuel ball and about 7 more pulls it started and idled like it was sitting in a heated garage! I went from being very disappointed in this auger to being impressed (doesn't start as good as my solo did but I didn't expect it too). I still think the 10" is too big for it because it has a hard time breaking though the last inch of ice, it really gets bound up like it needs more power to break though.

[FrontenacPike]

Not sure if anyone suggested this to you in your previous post but I also had the same issues with my strike lite when I first got it several years ago. I called S/M (Big Lake) and they suggested feathering the throttle while pulling it over. I was literately pulling 40-50 times in any weather south of 10 degrees. After trying their suggestion, my lite rarely takes more than 4 pulls.

Happy fishing!

[dan z]

My lite was a starting kind of rough too, it always started but just seemed odd to pull more than 6-7 times when -10 or below that. I went out on a limb uppped the idlle a couple turns now it starts better. My issue is sometimes when drilling it seems to choke/bog down if I let of the throttle it won't die but if I'm a split second late or will kill. What should I do?

[guyonacouch]

dan z, I had similar bogging issues with my strikelite and actually just replied to someone with a similar issue so I'm just copy/pasting from another thread. After going through every solution I could think of, I called Strikemaster and they told me that sometimes the gas cap doesn't vent properly and that I should unscrew the cap a little to release the pressure. I don't always have to unscrew the cap, but every time I've had that bogging issue, I've unscrewed the cap and it's fixed it right away. I asked the service tech if I needed a new gas cap and he said that probably wouldn't fix the issue but I have considered looking for a cap with a screw type vent. I always make sure that I don't fill the tank up too full so that I don't leak any gas if I have to crack the cap with it running. If you don't find an easy fix, call Strikemaster - they've got good customer service.

[dan z]

I'll try that if its the case I'll drill a hole in the cap and put a screw in it with a gasket

[Northlander]

Don't do that. If the opening of the gas cap doesn't help call strikemaster and ask them to send you a new gas cap. I have had the same issue a few times. My 4 stroke also doesn't seem to like it below -15 but I found if I prime 5-7 times and then feather then throttle it starts after 4-5 pulls.

[dan z]

Alright I guess I won't drill the hole.

[JSK76]

When I was coming home from buying my auger I wanted to put gas in it and didn't have any at home or a can with me so I filled the tank right from the pump (don't recommend) and filled it to the top of the neck. After that all I had was gas leaking issues from the cap until it got down the tank a ways. It's funny how some are air tight and mine leaked. I guess I never had the stalling issue that other have had either so I shouldn't complain I just won't fill it that full anymore.