Reading a spark plug, What do you think.

Hi guys,

So, Iv'e been having a lot of trouble with my Eskimo auger last 2 weeks. Wont start etc….when it does….runs like low power etc. Air filter is clean etc. Had it in twice for repair and last excuse was bad gas. SO I picked it up…..and they started it in the back….with giving it some throttle which i never had to do. Anyway, yesterday take it out to the lake and it dud not start!!!! This time I brought my manual auger to drill holes…..man, its tuff that way!!

So, why won't it start? Too cold? Can't believe it started at the shop and then on the ice, nadda!! Are Eskimo's know for this? All I can think of now is the plug. I mean, there is not much to a small engine like this. Has brand new spanking gas and still, after the shop, no start. Sitting in the cold make a difference?

Here are some pics of the plug with my iPhone….not the greatest but here it is.

As always, thanks much everyone.

Cheers

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Sorry for the quality…..taken with my Iphone…

Friggin auger…..its killing me to figure what the heck is wrong with it!!!!!

I got an 8in, 33cc Eskimo for Christmas and I'm very pleased with it so far.

Starts first pull.

Has the carb been cleaned? Did you get a bit of dirt in there?

Can you get it started in the warm and then take it outside and run it at high revs to flush gas through it?

Is that the original plug? Did you change the plug and not get the right one?
If it is a replacement plug and it is the wrong one, it may not be running hot enough.

If it is the original or a replacement plug is the gap right? Is the plug clean or carboned up?

Just some thoughts.

SDC

I have a Rapala and was having issues staring it and figured out I was not priming it enough.

I was starting it through the summer to keep it in shape and it started so easy I was not doing a fair comparison.

I usually have to give her some gas to get going well. It has been really cold and I wonder what effect it has lying on it's side during transport.

I also would pre start mine before going out so it was ready(ish).

Now, after realizing my priming error it starts really well.

We have one as well... Was about to say the same thing Kevin just said. I figured out that laying it down and prime it a few times helps a lot. One pull after that is all you need.

Also I hope you have the 2stroke oil mixed in the gas... I am sure you do... Just throwing it out there.

Just put a new plug in and see if it starts easyer, it worked on my old jiffy and the plug looked good. And no cheap gas.

Check the gap on the plug if you haven't already
check the gas / oil mixture I know my uncle would say to cut down on the oil mixture a little bit,only use the higher octane/leave it outside for a bit the try to start it when its cold and do this 4 or 5 times remember your trying to get it not to start for you ..
Then try starting it warm and see what happens .
If she doesn't start when its cold take the plug out right away to see what it looks like /maybe flooded out with gas and if its dry maybe its not getting gas .

Plug looks wet could be in the carb change plug check carb and use shell hi tesr gas it has no ethinal

That plug should fire, you have a carb issue. The primer line that sits behind the air filter probably needs to be raised a little so that when you are priming it the gas goes into the throat of the carb not all over the air filter, if that doesn't work hold the throttle wide open while priming, should only need 3 or 4 full primes. Leave the choke off while priming. A little bit of sea foam in the fresh gas may save you from having the carb rebuilt. If that shop already rebuilt it take it some where else.

I had a problem with mine last year.I would prime it put it on full choke and pull it several times and would not start.Then I would pull it over choke open with the throttle pressed and it would finally go.What I determined at least in my case was when I primed it it was soaking the filter thereby actually overchoking the motor.
I was out the other day primed it a few pumps and pulled it a couple times and away it went- I forgot to put the choke on.After about an hour I went to cut new holes and tried the same procedure, it fired then stalled and that is when I put the choke on.Fired up fine after that.
Kerry