Tweak Carb Settings On a New Auger?

[Garry B]

I bought a Nilsmaster auger with Tanaka engine and am VERY happy with it. The little 1.3 HP engine has a lot of power and the transmission does a good job in transferring it to the auger. It just gnarls through the ice and we have to even lift it up ever so slightly when drilling since the blade is that aggressive.

But ... it is not starting on 1 or 2 pulls from cold and puffs a wee bit of blue intermittently when drilling. Also, it seems prone to flood from the start based on the fact that we can smell gas sometimes before it fires. I also feel it could run just a bit more smoothly when under load. I am using Opti-2 oil at their exact recommended ratio. They claim using their oil results in smokeless operation.

Does all this sound like the carb is set a bit rich? I'm by no means a small engine expert but I think a little tuning is needed. Do some engines benefit from a little carb adjustment from factory setting? Thanks.

[tacklerunner]

Quick answer to your question is yes. Engines are seldomly tuned properly when they leave the factory. Plus screws can loosen in shipping and temperature, grade above sea level etc. all can make a difference.

[Garry B]

Thanks - I'm going to play with the idle adjustment a bit. Regards.

[Jwood 456]

Well, I must have gotten off lucky. I have a jiffy white lighting 2hp that is about 8 years old and not one screw ajustment had to be done. BTW the the auger stills runs just as good if not better than when it was bought.