Strikemaster Mag2000 not running right -- HELP!

[ThunderCAT]

I got some AMSOil tonight and gassed up my Mag2000. All of a suddent it's not running right. I was meticulous about mixing it correctly. But now it seems to be idling faster, and the auger will spin on it's own (while idling) if I put weight on the blade by resting it on the garage floor. Also, when I go to rev up the motor and goose  the gas a bit, it hesitates and boggs a little.  To top it off, the governor control screw fell out when I was revving it up tonight too.

Anyone know why it might be idling faster than usual? I just got the auger from D-Rock in New Brighton, so I am not sure what oil mixture they had in it prevoiusly.

Any help would be great...I have an outing with some friends this weekend (Saturday) so I need it to work!!

Thanks!

[Spinach]

This doesn't sound like a "too rich or lean" issue.

From what I am understanding from you is: The drill spins freely while idling, what happens when its under load? Does the drill spin at a high speed or does it spin slowly then stop?

Sounds to me like a transmission problem? Broken weld?

[ThunderCAT]

I only noticed the issue tonight when I started it up at home in the garage. And the bit only spins when I rest the bit on the ground, which puts more weight on it. When I lift the blade, off teh ground and let it hang, it doesn't spin on it's own, but it does seem to be idling faster than usual.

When I goose the gas (without and load put on the motor), it hesitates once in awhile, but then once the motor seems to "catch up" it runs really well at wide open. I haven't had a chance to drill a hole with it since noticing this problem, so I am not sure how it will react when I put any sort of load on the motor.

Seems to be more of an idling issue (the motor running too fast) than anything. The governor control screw falling out might be the cause of most of this. I guess I'll give it a try this weekend and if I have any issues on the ice, I'll have to ask one of my neighbors for help.

[Spinach]

Still sounds like an internal broken weld to me. I'm betting that when you drill a hole, the drill wont spin.

How old is it? I believe the serial # will give you the manufacture date? I wouldn't post it here, but what is the last #? I think they went by the last # of the serial # to identify the date???

[ThunderCAT]

I just got it this year -- it was a demo model. Would the bit still spin even without load if the weld was broke?

[Spinach]

Yes it would still spin (sort of) but once the drill has pressure on it from the ice, it will stop.

I am just guessing here, hard to tell without seeing it in person. :) I could be way off......

Anyone else have some input?

[Bufflehead]

 It is running too lean on the low speed jet.

 You have lean bog. that will also cause the engine to run at a fast idle and wont pick up speed when you give it the gas.

 Find the mixture ajust on the carb. some of todays units only have one screw to ajust, others have both a low speed and high speed mixture ajust(jet) they should be marked "L" and "H"

 After you find it, ajust it out a 1/4 to 1/2 turn at a time untill the engine looses the bog and idels normal.

 Normal starting point on the setting is 1 and 1/4 turns out on each the "L" and "H"(jet)...NEVER less than 1 turn out

 Should take care of it.

 What mixture did you mix the Amsoil?

 Do not mix it 100/1 as some types of Amsoil say you can. Mix it at atleast 50/1. Run Non Oxy. gas..no ethanol Prem. ONLY!

 Take Care, Chuck..AKA Bufflehead

[jigglestick]

I',m with buffy on this one.
I think you are way outa whack on this one spinny...sorry.

the part that throws me is the screw that fell out?
I'd say if it isnt to inconvenient, bring it back to Drock and let them fix it back up the way it should be.

[GRIZ]

I don't know much about carbs other than there a head ache. What throws me is why does the auger turn with weight on it and not when it held up?

[Spinach]

I don't know much about carbs other than there a head ache. What throws me is why does the auger turn with weight on it and not when it held up?

Thats exactly what throws me off too, thats where I went with my guess, like I said though, i could be way off. Maybe I'm on to something on my guess, and someone screwed with the adjustments trying to get it to run right? Therfore the screw fell out.

Or I'm way off......

[Dr.Bob]

I can't wait to hear the outcome on this one.  Good thread guys!

I'm w/Griz - the little I do know about carbs is that they are a head ache. 

[WoodChuck]

 :-\  not knowing what the pre owner used for a fuel mix ? it probably was richer with oil and is oil boged ,was oil boged until you mixed fresh gas and oil ? and when the jet fell out ,what usually happens is a piece of carb grit and junk was freed by the richer gas and stuck the needle and seat open witch allows the motor to run at a higher speed ! set the jet at 1 and1/8 turn out  and try that . if that dont work rap the side of the carb with a screw driver handle when its running to free the needle! even with a factory set idle screw the motor can still run faster if the seat is open with crud.                                                                                  
 Â                             woodchuck

[Bufflehead]

If was a stuck inlet needle, it would flood the motor and it would be hard starting and would only start if you held the throttle wide open and pulled the motor over many, many times. Then it would only run on the top end and die as soon as you let up as it would over fuel itself.

-----------------------------------

 Been a small engine Mechanic for more than 25 years and worked 14 years at a Jonsred, Husky, Stihl, simplicity dealership.

 All I can say to the auger only turning once you put pressure on it too the floor. Is the load on the motor causes the motor to try and pull itself but can't gain RPM's because of the lean setting

 Good Luck..Bufflehead

[jigglestick]

this is most likely a tilotson diaphram carburator...they dont have the needle and seat do they?? ???
been a long time since I had one apart. I know they dont have a resevoir.

[burky]

i had the same problem two years ago.  i took it to strikemaster and they but a new clutch that why it spins while on ideal and had to adjust the ideal and now its runs like new.  $50 beatshand drilling

[JohnWester]

thanks for the input burky...  sounds like we have a winning theory here.

[ThunderCAT]

Thanks for all the input, guys! I did mix the AMSOil at 100:1 per the instructions on the bottle....perhaps I do have too lean a mixture. I can adjust the throttle handle to ease on the gas a bit at idle, which might help, but then I am afraid I'll lose some top end power. Two wrongs won't make a right!

I think I'll run it this weekend, and if I am still having problems with it running smoothly I'll bring it back to D-rock and have them take a look at it. I haven't had any issues starting it whatsoever, and Jim at D-rock was nice enough when I purchased it 2 weeks ago and seemed well informed on Tecumseh engines. If we pick our spot right this weekend I'll only need to punch 6 holes.

[Bufflehead]

Quote
"I am afraid I'll lose some top end power.'
--------------------------

 Just a "Warning"

 You run that motor too lean(lots of top end RPM's)

 You can damage the motor(score the piston/cyl)

 Take Care Chuck..AKA Bufflehead

[ThunderCAT]

Fished Prior Saturday and Waconia Sunday, didn't punch too many holes, maybe 15 in all, and the auger seemed to run well. Started 2nd pull pretty much each time and had plenty of power with no stalling out.

It did smoke a little more Sunday night that I thought it would with the AMSOil in it. Could it have been more heat exhaust than smoke since it was so cold out?

[TimL]

Bring it to strikemaster in Big Lake they will have that thing fixed in like 15 minutes can't beat there customer service brought mine to replace the auger the weld broke and to put a new pull rope had the old gas cap needed the little o ring they put a new auger replaced the gas cap new pull rope and muffler gasket and tweaked the carb mine would hesitate when you throttled then take off did it for 10 years never bothered me now no more hesitation the total bill $2.82 still runs like a champ after 16 years