Table of Contents
Your Mower Won’t Start: Loose, Dirty or Disconnected Spark Plug in Your Lawn Mower: Check it out, clean off debris, re-connect and tighten. Dirty Air Filter: Clean or replace. Fuel Not Reaching the Engine: Tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If this doesn’t work, you might need a new fuel filter.
What do you do when your lawn mower won’t start?
If you run into problems getting your lawnmower ready for spring, try the following: Use fresh gas. Old gasoline can cause starting difficulties. Check the spark plug. Use the choke. Prime the mower. Check the air filter. Check the cables. Check for water in the fuel tank. Clear the starter cord of blockages.
What causes a lawn mower to stop working?
The most common cause of a mower failing to keep running is a clogged air filter. Take the cover off the air filter compartment and remove the filter to see if it is dirty, or clogged with oil and dust. If it is a dirty paper filter, buy a new one; these cannot be cleaned.
Why does my mower crank but not start?
The most common reason for a riding mower cranking over but not starting is bad gas, but other possible reasons include: Gas Valve Off. No Gas. Choke Fault.
Why is it so hard to start my lawn mower?
The fuel filter might be clogged. A clogged fuel filter is most commonly caused by leaving old fuel in the lawn mower. Over time, some of the ingredients in the fuel may evaporate, leaving behind a thicker, stickier substance. This sticky fuel can clog up the fuel filter and make the engine hard to start.
How do you start a lawn mower when its cold?
How to Start a Cold Lawn Mower Brush the tip of the spark plug with the wire brush to remove any carbon and oil debris. Spray the tip with starter fluid. Press the primer button near the air filter cover three times with you thumb. Take your thumb off and allow the primer button to raise back out. Start your lawn mower.
Can a dirty air filter cause a lawn mower not to start?
Your lawn mower’s air filter guards the carburetor and engine from debris like grass clippings and dirt. When the air filter becomes clogged or too dirty, it can prevent the engine from starting.
Why does my lawn mower run for a few minutes then stops?
If your lawn mower starts, runs for a while, then dies, check the ignition coil, gas cap, and spark plug. If your lawnmower starts up but then dies in the middle of mowing your lawn, you could have a bad spark plug. The spark plug works with the ignition coil to create a timed spark in the cylinder, causing combustion.
How do you start a choke lawn mower?
Open the choke all the way if you notice that it has been closed. If it has been open, the carburetor may be flooded. Close the choke, and pull the starting cord a few times. When you get the engine to sputter, open the choke, and try starting the mower.
Can a bad spark plug cause a mower to stall?
A bad spark plug often causes an engine cylinder to misfire or sound like it’s struggling. The engine might even stall out completely while you are mowing. You may also notice that it becomes increasingly more difficult to restart the mower each time that it dies.
How do you prime a lawn mower?
How to Prime a Lawnmower Carburetor Remove the cap from the lawnmower fuel tank. Fill the tank with gasoline and replace the cap. Locate the primer bulb on the side of the lawnmower engine. Press and release the primer bulb three times with your finger to prime the lawnmower carburetor.
Will lawn mower not start if oil is low?
A standard lawnmower will start without oil but will not run for long. You are a lot more likely to hear a knocking noise coming from the engine immediately after starting. This will give you a 30-second window to shut it off without causing irreversible damage.
How can I make my lawn mower pull easier to start?
You can, alternatively, stengthen the muscles that are involved by taking the spark plug out of your lawnmower. This will reduce the resistance of the engine and allow you to pull the cord as a kind of exercise that will strengthen your muscles, and especially, your muscle memory.
How do I know if my lawn mower carburetor is bad?
Dirty Carburetor Symptoms The lawn mower engine has trouble starting. The engine starts but stalls while you’re cutting the lawn. The engine runs rough during mowing. Black smoke is seen coming out of the muffler. There is a noticeable increase in fuel consumption during normal lawn mower use.
Where is the choke on a lawn mower?
There’s a variety of lawn mowers, but for an internal combustion engine, the choke valve is usually located on the body of the engine or a lever on the handle. Most choke valves are butterfly valves mounted in the manifold up from the carburetor jet.
Where do you spray starter fluid in a lawn mower?
Spray a light dose of starter fluid directly into the carburetor chamber of your mower. Set the engine speed to the midpoint, if the idle is adjustable, by hand. Set the engine choke to full choke, if equipped.
Why won’t my mower start when its cold?
Keeping your mower clean will also go a long way toward helping your mower start in cold weather. Clean the spark plug with a brush to remove any carbon or oil debris. If your lawn mower won’t start and the gas inside is from last fall, try changing the gas. Finally, another handy tip is to warm up the carburetor.
How do I know if I need a new spark plug for my lawn mower?
Any damage to the spark plug requires its replacement. If the spark plug is in good shape but is black with carbon or wet with gasoline, then a good cleaning with a wire brush and adjusting the gap between the electrodes may be all that’s needed for the spark plug to restore power to the mower.
Can a lawn mower get flooded?
Flooding a lawnmower is easy to do. Priming it too many times by pushing the primer bulb can also cause flooding. The most common cause of flooding, however, is too many attempts to start the engine by not pulling the starter cord firmly or quickly enough to spark the mower into engagement.
How often do lawn mower spark plugs need to be changed?
For standard lawn mower and small engine maintenance, you should check and/or replace spark plugs: once a season. every 25 hours of use. if your lawn mower our outdoor power equipment won’t start.
