Lawn Mower Won't Get-go

Larn the reasons why a lawn mower won't outset after winter or during peak season, and how to fix those problems.

Introduction

Most of the fourth dimension when a lawn mower won't start the cause is a trouble 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 Starting time After Winter?

Whether you've got a Toro lawn mower, a Briggs and Stratton lawn mower, or one of the other pop brands, the last thing you lot want once winter finally lifts and bound has sprung is a lawn mower that won't commencement.

Before yous have a middle attack pulling on the rip cord, you'll want to check the fuel, besides as the lawn mower carburetor. They're the root causes of more than fourscore% of all lawn mowers that won't start (plus snowfall blowers and most small engines in general). Below, nosotros'll walk you through the steps of how to start a lawn mower when information technology'south giving you lot grief. Cheque out how to tune upward a lawn mower, too.

You'll need mitt tools and a socket fix, a can of carburetor cleaner and your air compressor to begin fixing a lawn mower that won't start. And you lot'll probably have to make a trip to the small-engine parts store. But later an hour of effort, you merely might have an operational engine, and you'll save a bundle by fixing it yourself. Let'due south dig in to see what to exercise when a mower won't start.

Check the plug

I'll assume you've cleaned the air filter, so the next pace is to remove the spark plug to see if it's wet. If information technology is, there's no mode the engine will outset. So make clean the plug with carburetor cleaner and let information technology dry. Cleaning it with compressed air isn't plenty; you lot demand a solvent to remove oil residue. If the plug was wet, move on to Step iii. If it was dry out, skip to Step 4. If the fuel is more a month quondam, dispose of it properly and refill the tank with fresh gas. Then reinstall the spark plug and endeavour starting. It may accept quite a few pulls to suck the new gas into the lawn mower carburetor, so exist prepared to clean and dry the plug a few more times.

Project step-past-stride (five)

Footstep one

Check the carburetor basin for gas

Remove the bowl

bowl

Fix a pocket-sized cup under the backyard mower carburetor to take hold of whatsoever spills. Then loosen the bowl nut with a socket. One time the nut is loose, unscrew it past manus and lower the bowl. Gas should drip out.

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Pace 2

Remove the inlet needle and seat

inlet

Pull the float pin direct out. Catch the float, 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 y'all encounter chalky/powdery white corrosion like this, the carb is a goner.

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Stride 4

Fellow DIYer's solution for corroded carburetor

An anonymous reader from Oakland, ME took effect with my statement that finding corrosion in a modest engine carburetor means "game over." Instead he advises boiling the disassembled carburetor in vinegar for xxx minutes. He says the pitting will remain, but the vinegar will remove the remainder of the corrosion. Since vinegar is cheap, yous've got nothing to lose just time.

The engine can't go gas if the fuel filter is plugged or the carburetor inlet needle is stuck. Bank check the fuel filter (if equipped) by removing the fuel line at the carburetor. Gas should run out. If information technology doesn't, remove the fuel line ahead of the fuel filter inlet. If gas flows, the filter is clogged. Replace information technology. If you even so don't get any gas, the fuel line is kinked or plugged. And check within the tank for any debris that might clog the outlet.

If yous're getting gas to the lawn mower carburetor, bank check to encounter if there's any fuel in the bowl. Clamp off the fuel line with a C-clamp. And then remove the basin (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 inexpensive to replace (Photo two). Only before you purchase the parts, check the condition of the rest of the carburetor'south interior (Photo 3). If you encounter whatsoever corrosion, it'due south "game over." A corroded lawn mower carburetor is a dead carburetor. Replace it.

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Step 5

Clean the jet

Clean the main jet

Clean

Remove the carburetor bowl nut. Insert the carburetor cleaner harbinger directly into the main jet passage and squeeze the trigger on the can several times until the spray shoots into the venturi of the carburetor. That'll ostend the passage is open. A clogged main jet is a pretty common problem. Yous can try cleaning it with spray carburetor cleaner (Photo iv). Then effort starting. If the engine still isn't getting gas, replace the carburetor.

Next, learn what you demand to know about backyard mower oil.

If it starts simply runs rough

If you got the engine to commencement by cleaning the main jet, but it runs rough or the idle speed surges, y'all have two choices—rebuild or replace the lawn mower carburetor. For rebuilding instructions, see "How to repair pocket-sized engines." Otherwise, disconnect the old lawn mower carburetor from the linkage, remove the 2 retaining bolts and slap on a new carburetor.

Lawn Mower Won't Start

Originally Published: June 03, 2019