StrkeMaster issues again

[dwag70]

Am I unlucky or is something going on here !!!!!

The first problem was the recoil broke the plastic piece inside the case .... Now I take it out and the metal on off switch breaks .... I turned it on started it go to turn it off and the toggle has broken off had to choke it out to kill it I am not abusive to this thing at all but every thrid time out something breaks is it just me or are other people having the same things going on !!!!!!

[MntkaFishin]

I'd say bad luck, my new Strike Master has worked great so far(knock on wood). The only thing is that it leaks oil everyonce in awhile.

[loebs93]

jeeze...I'd start to worry about their products if mine didnt run so well. I think your just on a bad luck streak...I've been there before. I take it back to the store to see if they would exchange it for a new one and give it one more try. Good Luck

[Buzzin']

Well, I know what you are going through. I went through three strikemasters this year before I gave up and bought a eskimo shark. The strikemaster problems I had aren't the same as yours. The first one I got wouldn't start at all, the next one leaked oil all over and the third took 20-30 pulls to start most of the time. My eskimo shark takes one pull every time and runs great, no problems. I don't know if I got into a bad batch or what because most people seem to say that strikemasters are great. Who knows, good luck.

[Tripleplay]

I've had my new one out a couple of times now and so far so good on the breakage issues. You definitely learn real quickly not to pull the cord unless you've looked at the compression switch! It only takes that flying out of your hand one time to learn that one and luckily enough for me it didn't break anything.

I still haven't totally got mine figured out as it is taking 10-20 pulls to get it started routinely. (that is not counting when I bump the on-off switch and continue to pull on it!)

I may be backing off of the choke too fast but when I start to smell gas I assume there is plenty and back off to just run position until it wants to fire. Then I'll maybe go half way on the choke. I'm also unsure how much to vent the gas tank and usually end up forgetting to close it and spilling gas on the tailgate.

[hanson]

Just like any other mechanical equipment, you get to learn all the little quirks and secrets that it has.

My 3 yr old Strikemaster Lazer Mag Express has been very good to me.

I know when I start it- open the vent on the gascap, turn the switch to on, full choke, and pull the rope 5 times and it will fire and kill. Flip the choke off and pull the rope again to start it.

It will run for a little while and then kill. Put the choke back on to full, pull it once or twice and it will start. I then slide the choke to half as it is running and then up to off and it will run fine.

It then needs to warm up 45 seconds to a minute before augering a hole or it will bog.

I'll probably run some seafoam through it this year and then make sure I 'summerize' it properly.

[18 inch Crappie]

I ran a Jiffy 3hp for a couple years and now a Strikemaster Ultra 3 blade, one thing I have found is if you bring your auger in the house every time or leave it out in the cold. I could not get my auger started after bring it in. Problem found was, if the auger is warm from being in the house, was not to use the choke, only use the choke if the auger is cold. You guys talk about 20-30 pulls to start, the auger is flooded. My 2 cents

[tomfromblaine]

I've been lucky myself as far not breakin' anything, but that yankin' deal don't seem right thats why I bought a S.M. and after a few years on the ice I've seen a few augers and their owners rippin' away at that recoil then somebody would roll up drag out their gear and 2-3 pulls later their cutting ice, every time it was a strikemaster, I got mine the 1st year they came out with plastic handles, man I love that thing, 2-3pulls and I'm ready in the mean time the guy next to me is goin' thru the ritual, all the while forgetting to turn on the switch ( I did that once ) my guess is that the manufactures are so competive their forgetting they already had a good product..just my .02

[arbuck]

It sounds like Hanson and I have the same auger. Except mine dosen't usually kill after its running.

Vent open, choke on, pull till it fires (usually about 5-6 times), choke off, pull till it starts, and let it warm up for a little while and drill away.

I have not had any problems with my StrikeMaster (I even still have the original tin gas cap on there)

arbuck

[JIGLFIN]

Hanson;

Is your auger a 2HP model,with a compression release?

[Fastlane]

So far all is well for my lazer express. I am however still going through the break in ritual since it's less than a week old. One think I've noticed, after every pull, I have to push in the compression release valve. I don't have to pull too many times, but every time I do pull it pops out.

[Moose-Hunter]

After reading this thread, I jumped over to the Strikemaster site to read the owners manual. A compression release on a 2hp, two stroke motor!!?? I've never heard of such a thing. Can somebody please explain WHY?

Hi Tom...

I think our augers came out of the same mold. 3 or 4 pulls is all my Ultra needs to get all fired up. 30 seconds later, I'm making an icy mess in my Lil' Green House. This is one of the original Ultras. Without any of the problems described above or otherwise. (can you hear me hitting the door a few times?) The blades could probably be replaced, but it's not "that" bad yet. All things considered, this auger has been a pet rock. No fuss, no muss.

If mine is any indication of Strikemaster's quality, then I've got to believe all these break downs are a result of a bad batch hitting the market place. Or did they change the engine design that much?

[Surface Tension]

My darn near 20 year old SM Mag III starts on the first or second pull. Full choke it and when she starts half choke for a bit then choke off.

You shouldn't have to hold the throttle open to start them up.

[anyfishwilldo]

Another happy SM owner. No more than 3 pulls, a warm up, and my lazer is throwin' ice. I agree, what is the need for a comp relief, do kids really need to start them?

[jltimm]

I've also got a StrikemasterLaser Express new this year,and it starts in about 5-6 pulls.My 2 previous ones started in 1-2 pulls all the time.The new one is getting better the more I break it in.

[hanson]

Its a 2hp but No Compression Release.

The auger is about 3 years old. It was the same year they came out with the 9" 3 blade.

The thing runs great! It just has some quirky habits.

[Tripleplay]

Hanson,

Like you stated earlier, I'm still having to learn the little quirks of my SM. I've already got the compression switch issue figured out and I also agree with the earlier posts that the switch pops on almost every pull. Now after every pull I give the switch a push in or the handle is going to fly.

I'd like to see it starting in fewer pulls and I'm hoping that as it gets broken in and I continue to learn it better that I can reduce the pulls to 5-6 or so. I'm very happy with the augers performance when cutting which is what really matters as long as I can get it started.

I'm not down on the machine at all, just looking for advice on something I may have been doing wrong such as not venting enough or too much or too much choke, etc.. What this really means is I have to use it way more so that means more fishing not just starting in the garage!

[Guest]

Strikemaster, Jiffy, same motors.

I can't figure out what the release valve is for either. My Jiffy starts on the second or third pull everytime and I only press the valve button in on the first pull.

I am afraid of the plastic recoil piece though. Who was the genius that came up with that?!?!

[Surface Tension]

Triplay, Unless you going to drill a lot of holes, just loosen the gas cap to release any vacuum or pressure then tighten it back down.

Because you smell gas isn't an indication to take the choke off. The choke will help draw the gas into the engine instead of running out the air horn and onto the ground.

Every auger is a bit different on how they like to started. As a rule Full choke till it starts or fires, then back off to half choke till it starts to load up a bit. You'll know by the way it runs. Then open the choke all the way and let the engine warm up a bit. The longer you let it warm up and get to its optimal operating temp the longer the life that engine will have.

[Surface Tension]

I want to add my take on these gas tanks with the vent screw.

We know liquid and air expands and contracts in different temps.

Imagine what can happen when you fill that tank and its -30 out. A week later the temps is +30. How bout when you bring that auger in your house. Where talking 100 degree difference here. The pressure builds in that tank and what stops it from pushing gas out the carb? The inlet valve does. That valve is getting hammered into the its seat. Something has to give and the tang that adjusts your fuel level in the going to bend. Repeat this process over and over and your carbs fuel level is out adjustment plus the tip on your inlet valve is damaged causing your engine run lean or rich.

Just something to think about when storing your auger.

[Surface Tension]

MH, I'm guessing here but the reason for the pressure release may be because of a switch to a higher compression engine or a change in the timing.

[Lights]

I would guess you just got a bad one. I would give strikemaster a call. They are real good at keeping there customers happy. Mine starts on the first or second pull every time, But it's one of them without the compresion release. I think the trick with these motors as with any 2-cycle is to break them in properly.

[jltimm]

The reason behind the new compression release is the newly styled muffler adding more backpressure which is supposed to make another 1/2 hp.

[freighttrain50]

hey hanson,

i do the same thing. when you get it going though for the second time slide the choke up about half way or so and then you can start drilling holes. once you get part you through the hole you can slide the chokr up to "Run" and it always does its thing.

[JIGLFIN]

Surface Tension;

Have you operated one of the new 2Hp models?

These are not the 2hp of 3 or 10 yr's ago, these are a brand new "Animal" and the start/run issues really test ones tolorance!

With the 3hp motors /w the primer, a person can develop a start pattern. (without the choke)

In my opinion the 2hp needs a primer as a means to get a handle on the correct amount of fuel for startup, the primer also works as a feathering device, during warmup.

[JIGLFIN]

Bump!