Strikemaster running rich

[cbrunick57]

Have a couple year old strikemaster magnum with the solo 137 motor, was stored dry and this year it seems to be running very rich, has been starting right up just fine but the exhaust has so much unburnt fuel it's covering the side of the auger and coming through the spark plug, it also seems to be eating through the fuel, but that could just be my imagination getting the best of me. Any suggestions?

[cbrunick57]

By the way, running strikemaster oil at 40:1.

[Northlander]

Run Amsoil Sabor and it will take care of your issues. Run it at about 70:1 - 80:1.

[DOOM]

Run Amsoil Sabor and it will take care of your issues. Run it at about 70:1 - 80:1.

I second that! Use non-ox gas when mixing also!

[cbrunick57]

I am running non-ox and will give the Amsoil a try! Thanks for the help!

[20lbSloughShark]

I would not run 80:1. You should run 40:1 like the manufacurer recomends. I have a friend that swore by 80:1 amsoil like many others. His newer strikemaster solo siezed this year. In 2 stroke terms, that black goo means your motor is lubricating. It may be running a little rich, but it has to for this cold weather. You should judge by how it is running. If it still cuts fine, and from what you say it starts fine, then it is fine. Just for reference, my auger probably can cut about 30 holes per tank of gas. That's with about 2' of ice. I always have a gallon can of gas with me. 40:1 full synthetic arctic blue oil, and 91 no-ox gas with one ounce of stabil mixed in.

[Esox_Magnum]

30 holes a tank??? Thats nuts, I get a couple hundred a tank....

[Northlander]

I have ran amsoil sabor at about 80:1 in my augers forever and never had any issues. I have had Jiffy, Strikemaster, Nils and a Eskimo and never any issues.

[dan z]

30 holes a tank??? Thats nuts, I get a couple hundred a tank....

Ufta I would need a 20 gallon tank if I mine ran like that. I drill 30 holes and may not even fish them. I would guess 250-300 holes a tank for me.

[20lbSloughShark]

I do have a smaller tank, and I have never actually tried. I usually just drill about 20 and fill back up. No way I would get over 50. Either you guys have much bigger tanks, or are exaggerating.

[Esox_Magnum]

Running a stock tank on my Nils, holds maybe a quart or so, no exagerating either if anything low balling the estimate...I mix .8 gal of gas a season and always have some left at the end of the season....On my 2nd tank full it's ay about 3/4 full yet after at least 100 holes....

[20lbSloughShark]

A quart is good sized. Not sure what mine is, but it seems Mine holds at best half a quart, usually I fill less than that. Mine is a 20+ year old strikemaster mag III with 8" chipper.

[Esox_Magnum]

My tank holds 22.7 oz of fuel....

[hamms-scooter]

That old chipper blade of the strikemaster is working far harder then the tanaka nils

[derbier122x]

I don't even see the gas level move after 30 holes. I'm with most of you. Half way through 2nd tank and would guess to have close to 500 holes so far this season.

[wally diver 2]

One of my buddies has an auger like that. I bet he gets maybe 40 holes per tank but It sure runs solid.

[fisherman-andy]

I would not run 80:1. You should run 40:1 like the manufacurer recomends. I have a friend that swore by 80:1 amsoil like many others. His newer strikemaster solo siezed this year. In 2 stroke terms, that black goo means your motor is lubricating. It may be running a little rich, but it has to for this cold weather. You should judge by how it is running. If it still cuts fine, and from what you say it starts fine, then it is fine. Just for reference, my auger probably can cut about 30 holes per tank of gas. That's with about 2' of ice. I always have a gallon can of gas with me. 40:1 full synthetic arctic blue oil, and 91 no-ox gas with one ounce of stabil mixed in.

Not all oil or synthetic oil are equal. Nor is Amsoil snake oil. Im sorry to hear that your buddy's Solo powerhead seized. With that in part, let me say I have ran Amsoil 100:1 in the past 4yrs on my Solo Lazer Pro. Never used any breaking in oil and I store my auger wet. Start it every 2-3 months during the year. Still running like a champ and starts on every 1-4 pulls after proper prime and choke.

[20lbSloughShark]

Some motors are just lucky. Mine is my 94 explorer that has been abused its whole life towing and off roading, hauling, etc. and it still starts better than most vehicles. All I do is feed it gas and oil along with occasional other maintenance. Does that mean all motors will last like that? Absolutely not. The motor is meant to run with a mix 40:1. That is how much oil it needs to coat the motors parts. I would bet my auger would not be working now if I had been running so little oil. If you only expect 5 or 10 years from it, fine. Let me know how it is working in 20 years from now. You can do what you want, but I think its a bad idea to tell others to do the same.

[fisherman-andy]

Some motors are just lucky. Mine is my 94 explorer that has been abused its whole life towing and off roading, hauling, etc. and it still starts better than most vehicles. All I do is feed it gas and oil along with occasional other maintenance. Does that mean all motors will last like that? Absolutely not. The motor is meant to run with a mix 40:1. That is how much oil it needs to coat the motors parts. I would bet my auger would not be working now if I had been running so little oil. If you only expect 5 or 10 years from it, fine. Let me know how it is working in 20 years from now. You can do what you want, but I think its a bad idea to tell others to do the same.

Who said anything about telling others to do the same? Yes not all same engines are the same. Why? Build quality and components? You can run the recommendations and still fail.

Let me say this again, not all oil is equal. What you use currently may have the providing lubricity additive to run per say your auger provided by the recommendations of the manufacturer. This does not mean another oil needs the same amount of mixture to have the same affect or performance of lubricity or tribology.

Oil is a blend of components. The bulk of it is a base stock, which is oil, but it's primary purpose is not to lubricate, but rather to blend with, and carry additives that provide specific functions. The most important additive is the one that provides the lubricity. The base oil also can blend with and carry other additives designed to accomplish different things. For example, quality oils have an additive that helps maintain the integrity of the gasoline should it be stored as mixed fuel for extended periods. Another additive may help reduce exhaust smoke.

With oil that has mix at a ratio of 100:1, most people would look at that and think that there simply isn't enough oil to allow the engine to survive, but again, it's not the amount of base stock that is the important issue. It's what is contained within the blend. Their blend have or could higher have a percentage of an additive that protects better than does an oil that mixes at 25:1 or 40:1 etc.

[eurolarva]

I have a solo 137 and 20 holes barely dents my gas tank as well. My old strikemaster shot a rod through the case and I took it to drock. I was running 80 to 1 with amsoil sabre and the tech there said if I did that with the auger I bought from him he would not honor the warrenty. Stuff that gas is made of these days has a short shelf life and sometimes some of the junk starts plugging the filters and the carb and then you have a lean condition. If you have a lean condition at 100 to 1 or even 80 to 1 your chances of burning out your motor is much greater. I use sabre and use 2 pouches per gallon so I am running close to 40 to 1 where I should be and can still start my auger at -20 degrees. I use to be one of the amsoil preachers till I toasted my strikemaster. The mechanic says if you were to burn your engine out using amsoil good luck getting a claim on it. Chances are they will find something else wrong in your fuel system that can be blamed before the oil.

If your auger is running rich which it sounds like it is doing you really should get it checked out by someone who knows how to service them. If you are in the Fridley area call DRock. They have real affordable and very helpful people there and will get you going in no time.

[fisherman-andy]

I have a solo 137 and 20 holes barely dents my gas tank as well. My old strikemaster shot a rod through the case and I took it to drock. I was running 80 to 1 with amsoil sabre and the tech there said if I did that with the auger I bought from him he would not honor the warrenty. Stuff that gas is made of these days has a short shelf life and sometimes some of the junk starts plugging the filters and the carb and then you have a lean condition. If you have a lean condition at 100 to 1 or even 80 to 1 your chances of burning out your motor is much greater. I use sabre and use 2 pouches per gallon so I am running close to 40 to 1 where I should be and can still start my auger at -20 degrees. I use to be one of the amsoil preachers till I toasted my strikemaster. The mechanic says if you were to burn your engine out using amsoil good luck getting a claim on it. Chances are they will find something else wrong in your fuel system that can be blamed before the oil.

If your auger is running rich which it sounds like it is doing you really should get it checked out by someone who knows how to service them. If you are in the Fridley area call DRock. They have real affordable and very helpful people there and will get you going in no time.

Strikemaster's current recommened oil ratio is 40:1, so if you run anything out of any manufacturers guidelines you void your warranty regardless. DRock is a certified Strikemaster service center. They are gonna tell you to abide by the guidelines of the Manufacturer. Did you know the guidelines used to be 24:1?

Again it is possible for your motor to fail or have issues even with the recommended guidelines. Im just waiting for my Solo Lazer Pro to fail @ 100:1 Amsoil Saber mix the last 4 years so I can have an excuse to buy a Strikemaster Honda instead.

Its always the safe bet to adhere by the manufacturer guidelines, however it is possible to run a different oil/gas mix ratio as I myself or others on here have done.

[Hawg]

Black goo simply means you're running rich.

[20lbSloughShark]

Not true, black goo is good. If its literally dripping from your motor, its a bit much, but there should be some coming out of the muffler.

[mojogunter]

To the original post. It sounds like the needle and seat may be bypassing fuel, and that is why you are burning so much gas. It has nothing to due with what kind of oil or the mixture. I would go through the carb and clean it out, and try it again.

[20lbSloughShark]

I finally found my answer after 3 years with this auger. I warmed it up, topped it off with fuel, and started drilling. At the end of the day and multiple fish later I had 70 holes drilled. I drilled 47 when my auger started to starve for fuel. 47 holes per tank, and it ran great the whole time. Seems like its not a good measurement. Anywhere from 50-250 holes is considered "normal." I probably go through 2 gallons a year, but rarely cut more than about 20 holes a trip.