Gas Motor Ice Auger Refresher

These notes are primarily for those new to the sport. I know may of you “get it” and are very seasoned and do not need these tips.

I felt sad for a guy trying to start his gas auger yesterday. He pulled the starter rope at least 100 times never got it started. I felt sad for myself because I had no tools or fresh fuel to help him.

Here are my suggestions for auger reliability.

1. Put the auger away correctly in the spring. This includes getting the gas out of the carb. To do this drain the gas tank. Run it till it dies. Remove the spark plug and spray some Seafoam deep creep or fogging oil in the cylinder and pull it over a few times to get everything coated. Clean the spark plug using brake cleaner or use a propane torch to burn the oily residue off. Then reinstall the plug.

2. The following winter. Start with new mix fuel using Pure Premium gasoline and a good quality oil. Mix at the recommended ratio. If you are pouring your oil out of a larger container it’s never a bad idea to use a measuring cup to get the oil amount correct.

3. Start the auger at home before your head to the lake.

4. For initial startup Don’t be afraid to use a quick shot of starting fluid in the air cleaner to get the motor to pop. Nothing pressurizes the crankcase and gets the carb diaphragm working better than an engine running.

Best regards and Merry Christmas

BlueSmoke

Nice tips – I would just add that pure premium means the pump will be labeled “non oxygenated” or “ethenol free” gas. This will save you tons of headaches in all your small engines. You might have to google to find it as it can be hard to find depending on where you are.

Great tips!

If your getting your non oxygenated gas out of a pump that shares a hose with the gas with ethanol in it, pump a gallon or two into your truck to get the ethanol out of the hose.

So for the last 3 yrs I have been running tru fuel in my auger and weed eater. No mixing required and 92 octane. Both run better than ever. I also do all of the tips above in the spring.

Good advise and reminder. Usually when I pull and pull it ends up I forgot to flip the switch on.