Strikemaster solo

Just bought a 8in lazer pro with the 2hp solo. 1st trip out it leaked gas. Took it in to dealer to have it looked at. They figured it came out of the vent couldn’t find an issue. Now the next time I had it out on Saturday. Once I let it warm up for a min or so I hit the throttle and the engine bogs down like its starving then it picks back up to full rpm? Carb adjustment? Vent hose kinked or blocked?

I’d rather look at it myself then wait a week for the dealer to get around to looking at it…..

Thanks

Start the auger, get it warmed up, crack the gas tank fuel fill cap, hit the throttle. If the auger doesn’t bog down the issue is a plugged vent hose. If the vent is the issue there’s a small canister that is plugged in to the end of your vent hose. It can become blocked. Clean it or replace as needed.

Exchange it for a new one if you just bought it new. If you bought it used,you will have to try what James stated and start troubleshooting.
Side note I have had me SM for 17 years no problems just the every 5 year carb kit and blades.

I don’t remember what it was called, but mine had problems right away as one of the gas line tubes was slightly too wide, it wouldn’t fit snug on plastic nipple thing it was supposed to. It would just fall off all the time. I emailed strikemaster and they sent me a new one that fits a lot tighter and doesn’t fall off.

Yeah, if its used you will need to check the gas lines to make sure they are not rotted through. After one season mine rotted completely through and it was leaking gas like a sieve. The vent line also must extend high up into the gas tank. It should be higher than the level of the fuel. I have it all the way up the fill cap, but just below the cap.

Mine is leaking gas also. Just picked up a new grommet and gas lines today, they were nice at the service shop to show me an example motor and hopefully it will be fairly easy. Mine is probably 5-6 years old.

Yep I think you’re on the right track. This same issue happened to me several years ago. It was the air pressure relief fitting off of the fuel tank. I took mine to ‘D-rock’ in the twin cities and they said there were issues with many of those with the same issue. They also replaced the fuel lines at the same time. I think if they are stored in a hot area with fuel and the gases expand without proper venting it put a ton of stress on the lines and made cracks and leaks throughout the lines. Its a pretty easy fix

I picked one up this weekend, Strikemaster Chipper Mag for 150$. I had a lazer after breaking a blade and having the pitch effed up I picked up a chipper for a steal. Leaked gas, $2.58 I had a new tank grommet and it runs like new now! Blade has less than 50 holes on it when I bought it. After this weekend it’s up to a couple hundred

Sounds similar to the issue I have had with my 3hp solo. Make sure to not fill the gas tank up to or above where the vent hose comes into the tank. On mine the portion of hose inside the tank is probably too short so filling the tank up to it can block the vent hose.

Thanks everyone. I tried cracking the cap like James recommended and it worked flawlessly. I removed the cap and looked none of the houses were kinked the canister looks fine but I’ll look at it more closely this week. I only needed to drill 6 holes this weekend so it wasn’t a big deal.

Can someone take a picture, or post a link of the o-ring part that can be replaced. I’m not sure mine has 1.

Westley wrote:

Thanks everyone. I tried cracking the cap like James recommended and it worked flawlessly. I removed the cap and looked none of the houses were kinked the canister looks fine but I’ll look at it more closely this week. I only needed to drill 6 holes this weekend so it wasn’t a big deal.

Can someone take a picture, or post a link of the o-ring part that can be replaced. I’m not sure mine has 1.

Attached a pic of the grommet that holds both the fuel pickup line and the vent line. The vent line can be clogged or as I mentioned, if you fill the tank too high, the fuel will block the road fill the portion of the vent hose inside of the tank.

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