Honda 4-Stroke Lite Issues

  • liljac
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 169
    February 4, 2013 at 1:00 pm #1305070

    I Just purchased a new Honda 4-Stroke lite and its having some issues out of the box. I let the auger warm up for a few minutes then start drilling holes, seems the second it gets to full throttle it bogs down and wants to die. I have to feather the throttle a bit to keep it going.

    I have seen some recent posts with the same issues just wondering if anyone has found a solution yet.

    It does run without dying if the choke is on about half, but it takes much longer to cut a hole.

    Just bought it on Friday so I’m considering just returning it and starting from scratch. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    suzuki
    Woodbury, Mn
    Posts: 18710
    February 4, 2013 at 2:08 pm #1137872

    I would be awfully tempted to return it. All I hear is cold running problems. Sure seems like they set these up way too lean. Unless its something else?

    Dave Koonce
    Moderator
    Prairie du Chien Wi.
    Posts: 6946
    February 4, 2013 at 4:16 pm #1137933

    I crack open my gas cap each time before I run my augers… any of them… just a habit I guess…

    I havethe Honda 4-Stroke Lite and I do not have any issues with it… I was in -10 this past weekend.. 4 pulls and she ran like a champ…

    Crack the gas cap… let us know if that solves the issue !!

    liljac
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 169
    February 4, 2013 at 4:39 pm #1137947

    Quote:

    I crack open my gas cap each time before I run my augers… any of them… just a habit I guess…

    I havethe Honda 4-Stroke Lite and I do not have any issues with it… I was in -10 this past weekend.. 4 pulls and she ran like a champ…

    Crack the gas cap… let us know if that solves the issue !!

    This Gas cap is a bit different than I have seen before, with no vent you can open. Do you just twist it once to loosen it or take the black part all the way off?

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    February 4, 2013 at 6:19 pm #1137986

    Quote:

    Quote:

    I crack open my gas cap each time before I run my augers… any of them… just a habit I guess…

    I havethe Honda 4-Stroke Lite and I do not have any issues with it… I was in -10 this past weekend.. 4 pulls and she ran like a champ…

    Crack the gas cap… let us know if that solves the issue !!

    This Gas cap is a bit different than I have seen before, with no vent you can open. Do you just twist it once to loosen it or take the black part all the way off?

    The caps on the Hondas vent through little holes around the edge of the cap. The next time the auger bogs just give the cap a big turn and see if that doesn’t free the engine up to run up to max rpm’s. If that fixes it a new cap from SM should fix the issue.

    jake-bohnsack
    Wright County Area
    Posts: 132
    February 4, 2013 at 8:14 pm #1138021

    I have also been running mine with no problems, I also crack the gas cap also just to make sure. I punched 38 holes with mine this last weekend on less than a half of tank of gas also…crazy!! I also ran it in -20 below two weeks ago with no issues. I love everything I own not smelling!!! Good luck- If it continues check out H20 in Big lake one of the authorized service centers, I have worked with them in the past and they were really good to work with.

    Jake

    1hl&sinker
    On the St.Croix
    Posts: 2501
    February 4, 2013 at 8:53 pm #1138030

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Quote:

    I crack open my gas cap each time before I run my augers… any of them… just a habit I guess…

    I havethe Honda 4-Stroke Lite and I do not have any issues with it… I was in -10 this past weekend.. 4 pulls and she ran like a champ…

    Crack the gas cap… let us know if that solves the issue !!

    This Gas cap is a bit different than I have seen before, with no vent you can open. Do you just twist it once to loosen it or take the black part all the way off?

    The caps on the Hondas vent through little holes around the edge of the cap. The next time the auger bogs just give the cap a big turn and see if that doesn’t free the engine up to run up to max rpm’s. If that fixes it a new cap from SM should fix the issue.

    HMMMMMMMM! if it is the gas cap. I wonder if those small holes are frosting up? With this light dusty snow it could be conceivable.
    Holding a dry cap over a heater may just thaw and dry those holes out.
    Try a half full or less tank of fuel if the cap is creating a vacuum a half full tank will take longer to create a vacuum.

    Vandy
    Central Iowa
    Posts: 59
    February 4, 2013 at 10:07 pm #1138075

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Quote:

    I crack open my gas cap each time before I run my augers… any of them… just a habit I guess…

    I havethe Honda 4-Stroke Lite and I do not have any issues with it… I was in -10 this past weekend.. 4 pulls and she ran like a champ…

    Crack the gas cap… let us know if that solves the issue !!

    This Gas cap is a bit different than I have seen before, with no vent you can open. Do you just twist it once to loosen it or take the black part all the way off?

    The caps on the Hondas vent through little holes around the edge of the cap. The next time the auger bogs just give the cap a big turn and see if that doesn’t free the engine up to run up to max rpm’s. If that fixes it a new cap from SM should fix the issue.

    I just took my cap off and looked at it under a magnifier and did not see any holes.
    Is there suppose to be some?

    James Holst
    Keymaster
    SE Minnesota
    Posts: 18926
    February 4, 2013 at 10:12 pm #1138077

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Quote:

    I crack open my gas cap each time before I run my augers… any of them… just a habit I guess…

    I havethe Honda 4-Stroke Lite and I do not have any issues with it… I was in -10 this past weekend.. 4 pulls and she ran like a champ…

    Crack the gas cap… let us know if that solves the issue !!

    This Gas cap is a bit different than I have seen before, with no vent you can open. Do you just twist it once to loosen it or take the black part all the way off?

    The caps on the Hondas vent through little holes around the edge of the cap. The next time the auger bogs just give the cap a big turn and see if that doesn’t free the engine up to run up to max rpm’s. If that fixes it a new cap from SM should fix the issue.

    I just took my cap off and looked at it under a magnifier and did not see any holes.
    Is there suppose to be some?

    Does yours run fine? If yes, then there’s not supposed to be any holes.

    liljac
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 169
    February 5, 2013 at 2:12 am #1138157

    Took the gas cap apart when I got home today, I think the inner piece may have been out of alignment with the cap itself, cutting off the air. Brought it out to a nearby pond and let it idle for a bit then put the hammer down and drilled 20 holes, RAN GREAT!! Never had to loosen the cap and it never missed a beat.

    Thanks for all the advice, I’m hoping it continues to run great!

    hamms
    Mn
    Posts: 493
    February 5, 2013 at 3:20 am #1138173

    That would be the easiest fix ever! Hope your in business now! That would be frustrating to buy new and honda of all things and have issues out of the box…

    rouser
    Posts: 18
    February 5, 2013 at 11:34 am #1138209

    I also took mine out on the ice last night. Drilled a dozen holes without issue, plan on giving it a workout Thursday morning. Hoping that was the last of my problems.

    rouser
    Posts: 18
    February 6, 2013 at 8:18 pm #1138715

    Heard back from SM today, thought I would post up their reply as it may save someone from a headache someday… My oil was added in the proper amount. I’ll have to keep my eye on the fuel line retainer clip in the future.

    First I need to make sure you only put the 1.7oz bottle of oil in the motor that we provided. If you over fill the motor with oil it will not work well at all. If you did put the correct amount of oil in it, it may be two other problems. The gas cap may not be venting properly. When the auger starts to die, open the gas tank to relieve any pressure that may have built up. If this does not remedy the problem make sure that the black fuel line that exits the back of the gas tank is not being pinched by the black retainer clip that it is run though. If it is being pinched by this, remove the fuel line and run it outside the black retainer clip. Let me know if any of these things help.

    MNEric90
    Shakopee, MN
    Posts: 99
    February 6, 2013 at 8:46 pm #1138725

    Hopefully they work the kinks out for next year’s model so I can sell my Lazer Pro for the Honda!

    riverruns
    Inactive
    Posts: 2218
    February 6, 2013 at 11:57 pm #1138780

    They should do a recall? I’m still in the market for a auger just not sure if this would be the one? I would bet next year the auger to look for will be battery juiced?
    Shawn

    Travisroell
    West Bend, WI
    Posts: 33
    February 8, 2013 at 12:51 am #1139213

    The Speedy man just dropped mine off so I hope I don’t have these problems.

    hawkeyes
    Posts: 8
    February 13, 2013 at 3:50 am #1141266

    I had the exact same problem late December when I got mine. After going through alot of phone calls back and forth with reeds scheels and sm they finally worked out that I take the lemon to scheels to trade straight up for a new one. This new one was everything that I had hoped. Over 250 holes with 8-10 inches of ice and have yet to fill it up!
    I want to thank Strikemaster and scheels for EXCELLENT customer service
    Reeds will never get my business again

    rouser
    Posts: 18
    February 13, 2013 at 11:37 am #1141300

    My 2nd Honda Lite started bogging down while I was on the ice Saturday (2 week old auger). I checked the gas cap for venting, started the auger and it died again. Then I checked and removed the black tube from the clip as suggested by the SM email… started the auger and it died again and this time it locked up… just like the first one.

    The right amount of oil in this auger, this was not operator error…. very frustrating. Scheels took the auger back and gave me a full refund. Strikemaster emailed me Monday to say I probably needed a carb adjustment… ummmm doubt that is going to fix the locked up issue, though it may have helped before it bogged down… still not sure why the auger would run like crap on one outing, perfect on another outing, and then like crap on another outing… I ordered a Nils on Monday, what the hell… may as well give one of those a try while I am at it….. wishing I had kept my Lazer Mag Express..

    Travisroell
    West Bend, WI
    Posts: 33
    February 18, 2013 at 2:49 am #1142929

    Finally got a weekend of use out of mine no issuses what so ever -7 this morning started right up and ran great all day. The more I use this thing the more I love it!!

    Vandy
    Central Iowa
    Posts: 59
    February 18, 2013 at 11:24 pm #1143215

    Ran mine up at LOTW all last week and had zero issues.
    Drilled around 150-175 holes thru 30-36″ of ice.

    Travisroell
    West Bend, WI
    Posts: 33
    February 24, 2013 at 7:39 pm #1145364

    Quote:

    Finally got a weekend of use out of mine no issuses what so ever -7 this morning started right up and ran great all day. The more I use this thing the more I love it!!


    Well here’s my update I as well as a couple mechanic friends believe that mine has blown up! I had a hard pull after a back fire and then ran poorly for a few more hole now nothing. It will not start has spark, gas, clean air filter, no pinched lines, is getting fuel, oil is grey and little to no compression. Best of all it was 2 days before the battle on bag fishing tournament. Had to barrow a buddies back up for the weekend. To say I’m upset would be quite the understatement! And yes I put in the provided 1.7oz of oil.

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