Skip to Content

How to Fix a Lawnmower That Will Not Start Full Guide of 2023

This site is supported by our readers. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links.

The two simple needs that permit a lawnmower ‘s engine to startup are fuel and a spark. If you are going through fuel starvation (when fuel is not finding to your engine), or if you are not finding a spark at the plug, your engine will not be ready to startup. 

Terrible compression can also be an explanation for going through issues although making an attempt to start the lawnmower ‘s engine. If you pack the lawnmower away for the winter with fuel nonetheless in the tank, the seals, valves, and pumps in the lawnmower ‘s carburetor can come to be blocked up with varnish deposits. Along with this, filth and dust can get collecting and finish up blocking the fuel method or clog filters. 

broken lawnmower fixes

In advance of You Start off Troubleshooting On Your Mower You Must:

  • Keep in mind that gasoline and oil are flammable substances. 

Proceed with caution when doing work with your mower. You have to start with start by getting rid of any sources of ignition. This involves cigarettes, naked flames, sparks, stoves, or other sizzling objects that are in the similar region that you intend on doing work on the tank or fuel lines. 

  • Make certain the spark lead is disconnected.

Be certain to do this if you will need to eliminate any clumps of grass that may possibly be jammed beneath the deck.

  • Make sure the carburetor side of the engine is stored upright.

This is to stay clear of the oils in the mower from spilling, as this is possible to transpire if left on its side.

  • Drain the tank if you approach on placing the lawnmower on its side.

This can be prevented if there is a compact volume of fuel in the tank, or if you do not believe that it will attain the tank cap. Nevertheless, if you are uncertain of this then it would be best to just drain the tank. Yet another trick is to open the cap and then area a plastic bag in excess of the opening and then place the cap back on.

  • Verify the degree of the oil.

You are possible to induce premature engine dress in if the oil degree is minimal. Extra to this, an engine can seize swiftly if there is no oil existing in the lawnmower. 

Major Good reasons Lawn Mower Not Starting up — Lawn Mower Troubleshooting

Checking On The Oil Degree Of Your Lawnmower:

In advance of commencing the course of action of troubleshooting, you must make certain that the oil degree in the lawnmower is deemed acceptable. You can do this by:

  1. Move the lawnmower to a surface that is degree. 
  2. Get rid of the dipstick and wipe it clean.
  3. Area it back in the lawnmower and then eliminate it once again.
  4. Verify to see exactly where the marking is. If it is fairly minimal, prime it up to the essential degree. 

You must make a psychological note that the oil in the tank must be transformed right after every single 25 to 50 hrs of run time or as recommended in your engine guide. 

How to examine your lawn mower’s oil degree

How To Start off A Lawnmower With A Modest Engine:

  1. Set the throttle to substantial revs or the choke place. Flip it on if the engine has a guide choke. 
  2. If the primer button is lifted, you must press it all-around 8 occasions. 
  3. Immediately pull the starter rope. Consider not to yank it as well really hard. 
  4. Make it possible for the engine to attain prime velocity ahead of you commence to use it. Flip it off right after 5 seconds if your engine has a guide choke. 
  5. Do not flip the guide back on once again if you intend to start a sizzling engine.

Ideas To How To Get Your Lawnmower Began:

  • Make certain you are making use of fresh fuel. Do not use outdated gasoline or petrol, as it can induce issues when making an attempt to start your lawnmower ‘s engine. Extra to this, you must make certain that there is adequate fuel in the fuel tank as effectively as examine that the vent in the tank cap is not blocked.
  • Verify to see that the spark lead is securely connected to the plug, and that the plug is tightly screwed in. If not, you can resolve this by changing the spark plug with a new 1. 
  • See that the ‘dead man’s handle’ manage identified on the mower is held totally towards the mower take care of although commencing. 
  • The choke must be turned on if there is a guide choke fitted on the lawnmower. Nevertheless, do not flip the choke on if the engine has been working in the final 5 minutes or so.
  • If a primer bulb is fitted, make certain to press it somewhere around 5 occasions. If the lawnmower runs out of fuel although you are cutting grass, you will will need to repeat this stage as the mower will will need to be primed once again. 
  • Verify to make certain that the air filter is not dirty. Substitute the dirty paper filter or wash and dry the foam kind air filter. 
  • Seem to see if the cable connecting the ‘dead man’s handle’ is not snapped or broken. This take care of can be situated on the frame up coming to the engine.
  • The carburetor must be thoroughly screwed on or bolted to the engine. You must examine to see that this is appropriate.
  • There must be no water, beneath any situations, lodged at the bottom of the fuel tank.
  • If the starter cord is really hard to pull, this could be an indication that there are clumps of grass clippings clogging the underside of the deck. As an end result, this can jam the blades. Nevertheless, ahead of you try to move the blade to eliminate the clippings, you will need to disconnect the spark lead. 
  • Some newer push mowers are operated by starter motors and batteries. If you have a newer push lawnmower, you must examine to see that the battery voltage is in excess of 12 volts as something reduced will not start the engine.

How Do You Start off A Lawnmower With Previous Fuel?

  • Clean out the lawnmower ‘s fuel tank

Whilst, it is proposed to drain the lawnmower ‘s fuel tank ahead of it sits for an extended time period of time without any use. Nevertheless, most individuals do not do this. The end result of not draining the fuel tank leads to residue establish-up. If this takes place, you must refer to your lawnmower ‘s guide for data on how to eliminate this establish-up from the fuel tank proficiently, as effectively as for support procedures.  Or see our guidebook on this dilemma.

  • Get rid of any remaining fuel from the tank

As quickly as the establish-up has been cleaned out, collect all the outdated gasoline and place it in a container to dispose of it thoroughly. This can be performed by working a siphon hose from the fuel tank to the container and then pumping the bulb a handful of occasions. In carrying out this, you are moving the fuel from the fuel tank and draining it into the container, which therefore cleans out the lawnmower ‘s fuel tank. 

  • The spark plug must be checked

If you’re lawnmower nonetheless is not doing work right after you have cleaned out the fuel tank and including new gasoline to the mower, you must make certain that your spark plug is doing work.  There is a significant likelihood that the spark plug wire will come to be loose right after staying stored for extended intervals at a time. 

  • Do not flood the carburetor

A frequent dilemma identified when making an attempt to restart a lawnmower that has been stored in that the carburetor will get flooded. Be certain to note the smells and sounds of the lawnmower although you are making an attempt to start it. A solid gasoline smell could indicate that the carburetor has been flooded, and as an end result, the lawnmower will not start. In this situation, you must wait a handful of minutes ahead of you check out to start the mower once again. 

How to resolve a lawn mower that will not start – 10 Minute DIY Restores

How Do You Dispose Of Your Lawnmower’s Oil?

When cleansing out the oil in your mower, be certain to acquire in a bottle-like container that screws shut. This is to stop any spilling. Your nearby mechanic or oil modify store must typically consider your utilized motor oil to dispose of thoroughly. Nevertheless, if this is not feasible, there may possibly be disposal plans for motor oil at your nearby dump. 

If smoke is coming out of your mower, this could be an indicator that the oil requirements to be checked and transformed. Nevertheless, a lawnmower that will not start certainly will not smoke. Nevertheless, this is an excellent indicator to seem out for as it will permit you to remain on prime of your lawnmower upkeep. Extra to this smoke coming from a mower could demonstrate that there is a leak someplace. The leak leads to the oil to burn up when it lands on sizzling surfaces this kind of as sizzling metal. Along with this, smoke can also indicate that there is not adequate oil in the lawnmower. Not adequate oil has the possible to induce everlasting injury to the engine of the mower. 

What Are The Alternatives For No-Problem Fuel?

One particular type of no-problem fuel is products known as TruFuel and it is out there in most hardware retailers. Regarded to be “old school” gasoline that has no additional ethanol. What is so wonderful about these products is that you do not have to include any fuel stabilizers. It runs clean and can sit in storage all winter and will nonetheless start up quite conveniently. 

Nevertheless, it is a lot more highly-priced than frequent fuel. Nevertheless, when you weigh in that although making use of no-problem fuel you will not will need to shell out to substitute your lawnmower or carburetor every single handful of many years. 

So right after reading through my submit on how to start a lawnmower that will not start and you choose that it is much easier just to obtain a new 1, then be certain to examine out my submit on the best mowers that are beneath $ 300.

References
  • crabgrasslawn.com
Avatar for Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim is a published author and software engineer and agriculture expert from the US. To date, he has helped thousands of people make their yards lush and thick.