Two years ago I bought a Jiffy ice auger with a 2 h.p. Tecumseh engine. Two years ago, I stored the auger by emptying all of the gas (with Stabil added) and running it dry, and then I removed the plug and added a small amount of oil to the cylinder and pulled it a few times. This seemed to work as I had no trouble starting the auger last year.
At the end of last year, I guess I was a little too lazy, and I just stored the auger away with the remaining gas in the tank (with Stabil). A few weeks ago, I decided to get it ready in case we eventually get some cold weather. Anyway, when I grabbed the auger, I noticed there was a thick, sticky oil-like substance on the auger shaft. I guess the gas leaked from somewhere and evaporated, leaving a thick, sticky residue behind.
My question is, does anyone know whether it is more likely to have leaked from the plastic tank, or would it have leaked out of the carburetor? I remember reading one post on an ice fishing site where someone with a Strikemaster auger (also uses a Tecumseh engine) had a leaking gas tank.
I dumped the old gas and ran it dry, but I have yet to mix up some fresh gas (I'm waiting for ice). Maybe I won't know where it is leaking from until I put in more gas and try to monitor where it is coming from. But I just thought that maybe someone here can tell me if it is "normal" for gas to leak from the carb when a small engine is stored for a year. I never noticed this problem with my weed whacker, which is the only other two-cycle that I own.
Thanks, and Happy Holidays!
Tom
At the end of last year, I guess I was a little too lazy, and I just stored the auger away with the remaining gas in the tank (with Stabil). A few weeks ago, I decided to get it ready in case we eventually get some cold weather. Anyway, when I grabbed the auger, I noticed there was a thick, sticky oil-like substance on the auger shaft. I guess the gas leaked from somewhere and evaporated, leaving a thick, sticky residue behind.
My question is, does anyone know whether it is more likely to have leaked from the plastic tank, or would it have leaked out of the carburetor? I remember reading one post on an ice fishing site where someone with a Strikemaster auger (also uses a Tecumseh engine) had a leaking gas tank.
I dumped the old gas and ran it dry, but I have yet to mix up some fresh gas (I'm waiting for ice). Maybe I won't know where it is leaking from until I put in more gas and try to monitor where it is coming from. But I just thought that maybe someone here can tell me if it is "normal" for gas to leak from the carb when a small engine is stored for a year. I never noticed this problem with my weed whacker, which is the only other two-cycle that I own.
Thanks, and Happy Holidays!
Tom
