Strikemaster Honda 35cc

[HybridHunter]

I am getting pretty fed up. Last season my first auger broke a ring and allowed the base to fill up with gas. I'm on my second one now which is less than a year old and the air filter is saturated with oil. When I checked the oil it's all grey and milky. I'm sick of spending big money on equipment to end up with junk. I purchased the Honda motor because of their reputation but it's not living up to it's name on an auger. Anyone else have issues?

[Bonawitz07]

Going on the third season with mine with no issues. I've read of people having issues but I think it was a fuel line issue, haven't seen anything related to the oil problem. Maybe somehow condensation is getting in or too much/too little oil?

[HybridHunter]

There is a problem with people overfilling these engines with oil. If you google " Honda GX35 oil level problem" you should find a "notice" which will be from Strikemaster. It says to check oil, you level the drill before checking it, check the oil with the dipstick not screwed in and the oil should just touch the end of the dipstick when checking it. The bulletin also explains how to get excess oil out of the engine since it is contained in an internal bladder.

Thanks for the info. I put 3.4 oz in per instructions. I'm going to change it tonight. I'll look up the bulletin, thanks!

[mikey ice fish]

I brought back 2 of them to cabelas for the same reason

[HybridHunter]

I brought back 2 of them to cabelas for the same reason

Which one. Them blowing up or for the oil issue? lol

[4Buck]

Mine seems to smoke a lot when first started, is that what yours has been doing? Once warmed up no smoke at all, it does run good though.

[Shawn.H]

I have used your auger and it nice but i was expecting the Honda to produce more power and was kinda of disapointed to say the least although it is a 10" cut but still.. I have had my 2 stroke SM Solo 137 for going on 4 years and i am convinced that the 2 stroke proformes better and has more power then the 4 stroke Honda or Jiffy Propane in colder weather.  Im not knocking the Honda SM by no means just hope they figure out the issue
Sooner then later.

[ice dawg]

I have used your auger and it nice but i w6as expecting the Honda to produce more power and was kinda of disapointed to say the least although it is a 10" cut but still.. I have had my 2 stroke SM Solo 137 for going on 4 years and i am convinced that the 2 stroke proformes better and has more power then the 4 stroke Honda or Jiffy Propane in colder weather.  Im not knocking the Honda SM by no means just hope they figure out the issue
Sooner then later.

You're right. The solo 137 is 2hp and the Honda is 1.6hp. The 2 stroke really should out perform the 4 stroke.

[Shawn.H]

You're right. The solo 137 is 2hp and the Honda is 1.6hp. The 2 stroke really should out perform the 4 stroke.

  im just saying that little diffrence in motor size felt like going from a harley davidson to a moped. Might just be me. Love my 137 

[ice dawg]

Lol I like my Honda, but my first hole maker was an axe. 

[HybridHunter]

I have used your auger and it nice but i was expecting the Honda to produce more power and was kinda of disapointed to say the least although it is a 10" cut but still.. I have had my 2 stroke SM Solo 137 for going on 4 years and i am convinced that the 2 stroke proformes better and has more power then the 4 stroke Honda or Jiffy Propane in colder weather.  Im not knocking the Honda SM by no means just hope they figure out the issue
Sooner then later.

I'll take the .4 less HP than have to mix gas any day. The time savings drilling 10 holes between the two would hardly be noticable and wouldn't make me think twice about smelling two stroke exhaust and mixing fuel. Also, my blades are about 90%, not 100%. When the blades are brand new is does not bog down. Also, we were drilling into the hardest type of ice there is. Lots of factors.

[HybridHunter]

I changed the oil. We will see how it runs tmrw. I plan to change it again after running it for a day to get the remainder of milky oil out that I'm sure will show up.

[Shawn.H]

 4 gallon container of fuel lasts me a season so I only have to mix gas one time. Im not knocking the Honda by no means.. if I had to buy one brand new id get the Honda for sure.

[HybridHunter]

Auger ran excellent today. I'm going to drain the fill the oil one more time and hopefully she will be good to go for the season.

[bluefin75]

I'm having a different problem. Mine is extremely hard to start in the morning when it's 32 or colder out. Im not sure but it seems like it's too lean I wish these carbs had adjustments on them. If anyone has any info please let me know. Thanks Bluefin

[Shawn.H]

I'm having a different problem. Mine is extremely hard to start in the morning when it's 32 or colder out. Im not sure but it seems like it's too lean I wish these carbs had adjustments on them. If anyone has any info please let me know. Thanks Bluefin

have you tried priming the heck out of it and chocking it?.. Sometimes you gotta really push the gas to the carb.

[Bonawitz07]

have you tried priming the heck out of it and chocking it?.. Sometimes you gotta really push the gas to the carb.

+1, try priming it 8-10 times when first starting. I also had an issue when I first bought one, didn't want to start well and even after letting it warm up for the recommended 1-2 minutes, it would die quickly under load. I read somewhere that they turned the idle screws down on these for safety reasons. I adjusted mine up and haven't had any issues since.

Could also be spark plug, I had to change mine last year.