Lawn Mower Won't Beginning

Learn the reasons why a backyard mower won't start after winter or during peak flavor, and how to fix those problems.

Introduction

Almost of the time when a lawn mower won't start the cause is a problem with the gas or the lawn mower carburetor.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Carburetor cleaner
  • Carburetor or carburetor inlet needle and seat
  • Gasoline

Lawn Mower Won't First After Winter?

Whether yous've got a Toro lawn mower, a Briggs and Stratton backyard mower, or i of the other popular brands, the last thing you want one time wintertime finally lifts and leap has sprung is a lawn mower that won't start.

Before yous have a heart attack pulling on the rip cord, you'll want to check the fuel, as well as the backyard mower carburetor. They're the root causes of more than than 80% of all lawn mowers that won't start (plus snow blowers and most pocket-sized engines in general). Below, we'll walk you through the steps of how to first a lawn mower when it's giving you grief. Check out how to tune up a backyard mower, as well.

Yous'll need hand tools and a socket prepare, a can of carburetor cleaner and your air compressor to begin fixing a backyard mower that won't start. And y'all'll probably have to make a trip to the modest-engine parts store. But after an hr of attempt, yous just might have an operational engine, and yous'll salve a bundle by fixing it yourself. Allow'due south dig in to see what to practise when a mower won't showtime.

Check the plug

I'll assume you lot've cleaned the air filter, so the adjacent step is to remove the spark plug to see if it'south moisture. If information technology is, there'south no way the engine will start. Then make clean the plug with carburetor cleaner and let it dry. Cleaning it with compressed air isn't enough; you demand a solvent to remove oil residue. If the plug was wet, move on to Pace 3. If information technology was dry out, skip to Step iv. If the fuel is more than a month onetime, dispose of it properly and refill the tank with fresh gas. Then reinstall the spark plug and endeavor starting. It may take quite a few pulls to suck the new gas into the lawn mower carburetor, and then be prepared to clean and dry the plug a few more than times.

Project footstep-by-step (5)

Step 1

Check the carburetor bowl for gas

Remove the bowl

bowl

Set a small cup under the lawn mower carburetor to take hold of any spills. So loosen the bowl nut with a socket. Once the nut is loose, unscrew it by paw and lower the bowl. Gas should drip out.

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Step 2

Remove the inlet needle and seat

inlet

Pull the float pin straight out. Catch the bladder, inlet needle and retaining spring with a rag. Remove the rubber seat with a small pick. Reverse the procedure to install the new parts.

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Step 3

Check carb condition

condition

Examine the inside of the lawn mower carburetor. If you see chalky/powdery white corrosion like this, the carb is a goner.

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Step 4

Young man DIYer'south solution for corroded carburetor

An anonymous reader from Oakland, ME took upshot with my argument that finding corrosion in a small engine carburetor means "game over." Instead he advises boiling the disassembled carburetor in vinegar for 30 minutes. He says the pitting will remain, but the vinegar volition remove the residuum of the corrosion. Since vinegar is cheap, you've got nothing to lose but time.

The engine tin can't get gas if the fuel filter is plugged or the carburetor inlet needle is stuck. Check the fuel filter (if equipped) by removing the fuel line at the carburetor. Gas should run out. If it doesn't, remove the fuel line ahead of the fuel filter inlet. If gas flows, the filter is chock-full. Replace information technology. If you still don't get any gas, the fuel line is kinked or plugged. And check inside the tank for any debris that might clog the outlet.

If you're getting gas to the lawn mower carburetor, check to see if in that location's whatever fuel in the basin. Clench off the fuel line with a C-clamp. And so remove the bowl (Photo 1). If the bowl is empty, the problem is a stuck inlet needle and seat. They're like shooting fish in a barrel and cheap to replace (Photo 2). But earlier you purchase the parts, check the condition of the rest of the carburetor's interior (Photo 3). If you see any corrosion, information technology's "game over." A corroded lawn mower carburetor is a dead carburetor. Supervene upon it.

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Footstep v

Clean the jet

Make clean the main jet

Clean

Remove the carburetor bowl nut. Insert the carburetor cleaner straw directly into the main jet passage and squeeze the trigger on the tin can several times until the spray shoots into the venturi of the carburetor. That'll ostend the passage is open. A clogged principal jet is a pretty mutual problem. You can try cleaning information technology with spray carburetor cleaner (Photo 4). And then endeavor starting. If the engine notwithstanding isn't getting gas, replace the carburetor.

Next, learn what yous need to know about lawn mower oil.

If it starts just runs rough

If you got the engine to start by cleaning the main jet, simply it runs rough or the idle speed surges, y'all have ii choices—rebuild or replace the lawn mower carburetor. For rebuilding instructions, come across "How to repair pocket-size engines." Otherwise, disconnect the old lawn mower carburetor from the linkage, remove the two retaining bolts and slap on a new carburetor.

Backyard Mower Won't First

Originally Published: June 03, 2019