Honda lite not running right

[JSK76]

I have a 2 year old honda lite with the 10" auger. I alway use non 91 non oxygenated fuel with Stabil and start it at least once a month in the off season. It doesn't get use much at all because I have on ION that I like better so it has maybe 30 holes on the clock. Last weekend I took it out and drained the gas and put new fuel in it and drilled two holes and and it was so smooth I rember thinking to myself how much I liked this auger. Flash forward to yesterday, it starts first pull, I let it warm up and it wants to die when I give it gas. I opened the gas cap to vent it but it still acts like it's not getting fuel. Even when I pump primer ball it doesn't seem like much fuel is going in like before, more air then fuel. It didn't matter if I ran it with the choke partially on either it just ran like dump! I was able to get my holes drilled but it was under powered and very finnicky. The only thing I can thick of that was different was the outside temp being so warm, it was 60 out. It's a 4 stroke so I don't think they are effected with jetting like a 2 stroke but maybe I'm wrong? I hate to put it away for the season not knowing if I have a problem with it or not.

[guyonacouch]

I was going to suggest cracking the gas cap, but you have that figured out. Did you check the gas lines? A small hole or a crack would cause the issue you're having. I wouldn't imagine they would be brittle enough at that age to crack but you never know. Does the carburator have a screw to drain the gas out of it? I've never looked close enough at mine to see if it has a clean out, because mine has run flawlessly for the last two seasons. There could be some water or some small debris sitting in there that is causing it to not fire the way it should. Is your airfilter clean? Could it have been damp? These motors are simple - hopefully it's a simple fix! Good luck!

[20lbSloughShark]

4 strokes react to temperatures just like 2 strokes. The warmer it is, the less gas your engine needs. Your carb was simply set too rich for the very warm temps.

[Tom7227]

Empty out the gas and run it til it dies. No reason to leave gas in it all year round.

[mrpike1973]

I just went through what you are describing. I just bought a new one 1 month ago there is a gas line that gets kinked. you can take it off and shorten it a bit or call Strikemaster and get the new one. I had mine done under warranty yours may be to old good luck hope this helps. Mine did exactly what your saying

[brad119]

X2 on the kinked fuel line. Brought mine down to the HQ in Minnetonka. They fixed it up right then and there...15 minutes, no questions asked. Initially told me it was one of three issues they've been seeing...gas cap doesn't vent (fix with new cap), kinked line (they re-route the fuel line in more straight-line instead of back behind clip next to primer bulb), or valve lashing can be bad. Sounds like the kinked line is most prominent issue they're seeing.