Well, I went to Cascade Saturday. I caught 5 smallish trout and one that was a bit nicer (16-18 inch range, but didn't measure). I also brought home just enough perch for a meal for the whole family. Ice was still good, but is definitely getting weaker and softer. I'm out for this weekend, so I'm going to put the ice gear away.
Anyone have any recommendations on how to summer-ize the ice auger. This was my first season with a gas powered auger, so I'm not sure how to store it. I'm thinking I'll just drain the gas and start it up and let it run until it dies. I don't use ethanol gas, so I'm not overly concerned, but I'm open to suggestions.
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HNH,
It sounds like you are already one up on me as far as using the ethanol free stuff. I have been using a Strikemaster for about 15 years and have done virtually nothing in terms of being smart. I actually would put it away with regular (premium) gas mixed with the correct oil ratio and not worry about it until the following year in which I would drain it then put new gas in and fire it up. It progressively ran worse and worse and the "nearly" final straw came this year when I actually started it up with the old gas in it. Even pulling the air cleaner and using large quantities of starter fluid didn't bail me out of this stupid move so I researched some of the ice fishing boards other than ours. It would seem that the smart people use ethanol free gas and always mix in the proper amount of Seafoam motor treatment. Since this has stabilizer in it, keeping it full over the summer and dumping then refilling before the following season would seem a reasonable course. Some of the guys add Stabil before layup but I am not sure that would be any different. For your information, I recovered from my problem without rebuilding or mechanic help by running some Seafoam Deep Creep through it although it still is not quite right and will probably need some actual mechanical attention before next season. You can get the Seafoam motor treatment almost anywhere (e.g. O'Reillys) but in the Boise area, only Kaps Auto Wholesale carrys the Deep Creep.
As far as your suggestion of keeping it dry through the layup, I do not know the answer to that. Paranoid boat owners do that with their outboards but I never have and have not had a problem with my boat but I often take it out late fall and early spring. For ice augers, I just wonder if there are seals that might dry out in there. I think that I would lay it up wet with stabilizer since I know that it works....
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HnH,
I'm with you, put my stuff up yesterday, I run mine dry, and stow it in the shop, I use fuel stabalizer in my gas oil mix, but store it dry, world for me,
Matt
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You might pull the plug and either fog it or put a tea spoon of 2cycle oil in it and pull the cord a few times to keep the rings/cylinder from rusting.
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I've always run mine dry. The auger I have now is 15 years old and still going strong.
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I always run mine dry also . And have never had any trouble . Curt G.
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I always run Stabil thru mine and drain the tank, I run Stabil in my gas tank all year for both motors on my boat. I know some of my friends like Seafoam and use that to treat their gas. I don't know of any one around here that sells gas that doesn't have ethanol in it.
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sorry to hijack.... Pack, run down 1900 towards the north, across the street from Cal Ranch there is a small gas station, they take cards only, they have pure gas there no ethonal
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Thanks for all the replies. I drained the tank last night and ran the carb dry. My guess is that should do it.
Now that I've put everything away, I got an email from my brother, and he is canceling on our plans for Saturday. Now I'm wondering if I should pull my stuff back out for one more trip. Probably just head over to CJ for a few hours instead (if the forecast for wind looks favorable).
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Thanks for the info Zach, didn't realize you were back. A bit out of the way but I may have to check it out. Welcome home.
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