Ice auger and porty storage?

[DDSBYDAY]

   This post should be good for any of you that may have purchased your first new portable ice house or auger this year.  This stuff won't be used for at least 7 months so you may want to be careful how you put it all away. 

     Just curious to what you all do to store your augers and portables.  I just toss some sea foam in the tank and hang it on the wall.  Every winter on the first start I generally need to pull the plug and use a squirt of starting fluid to get it running.  I only have to do this the first start up in the winter.  I don't move it all summer.  I have done this for many years with no ill effects.  I don't think I have even changed the plug for 3 years so I will be prepared to pop one in next winter.

    We have a lot of mice at the cabin where I store the portable.  I use dryer sheets and mouse boards all around the pole barn.  This does not always work.  I think this year I may put  in a couple of pulleys and hoist it up to hang it from the rafters.   The mice are not kind to canvas.    Any other ideas or warnings?   Mice tips would be greatly appreciated because I have not found the answer yet.   

[corny13]

I put some Stabil in my auger, let it run for 3-5 min and then put it up on the wall in my garage.  It hangs on the wall.  Next winter I will pour out the old gas put in new, check the spark plug, replace if crud on it..... and start it.   Never had a problem doing that.  My portable goes in the basement.....mice suck....

[Go Big Red!]

I empty the gas tank with a tiny bit left to run it dry.  Nothing is worse than a gummed up carb on an auger, especially when some people I know don't run it until they hit the ice for the first time. 

As for the portables, we stand them up and let them air dry for a few days in the garage and then tuck them away in the corner.

[guythathunts]

For my protable I keep it in the shed but before I do I tape tin foil over the holes. The mice cant get through the tin foil. There are mice arround but I've nere had a problem.

[DDSBYDAY]

     I have a flip over.  The mice like to climb in and get in the folds and sharpen their teeth and make nests in the canvas.  I have had them get into the motor shroud on my outboard motor and snowmobile.  I hate those little critters.

[icebanger]

I also use stable in my auger I like to run it for a min after I put it in the tank...As far as storage I clean the house out go thru all my gear see what Im gonna need for next ice replace the bags ive used put everthing back in the sled put a few dryer sheets just in case and then beg my neighbor to help me lift it on the big shelf I built in my garage...