Your lawn & garden equipment must perform every time it’s used, whether you’re trimming trees or cutting firewood. It is difficult to continue with your task when your power suddenly cuts out. Make sure you listen to the lawn mower when it is running. Occasionally, there can be times when the engine sounds like it’s not working as hard as it should. Your Lawn Mower Loses Power

 when you begin to hear and feel it beginning to do so. When your lawn mower loses power for a variety of reasons, you may find yourself wondering why this is happening.

Clogged air filters, stale gas, blocked fuel filters, too much/too little engine oil, dirty/damaged spark plugs, blocked carburetors, and dull blades are the most common causes of lawn mower power loss. My goal is to make sure you understand why your lawn mower loses power and how to fix it.

10 Reasons Your Lawn Mower Loses Power

In spite of the fact that your gas-powered lawn mower works well when you are cutting grass on level ground, it may not have enough power or sputter when trying to cut it on slopes or when cutting it uphill. It is necessary to perform some troubleshooting when trying to figure out why your mower is losing power on uphill cutting. Many times, a simple solution is all that is needed for the mower to start working again after a few minor adjustments or maintenance procedures are carried out. It is possible that your lawn mower is losing power for one of the reasons listed below.

1. You’re loading your engine too much

Too much load on the engine can result in your lawn mower losing power. An excessive amount of load is when you are requiring your mower to work harder than usual due to you operating under tougher conditions because of either one of the following:

Ground speed is too high

If you want your lawn mower to be able to cut grass with less effort, you should slow down its speed to do that. When operating on inclines, it is also a smart idea to slow down the ground speed.

In the case of wet, tall, or thick grass, mow it

Cut wet, tall, or thick grass with a mower that has to work harder. You’ll get a better cut if you mow dry grass, you won’t build up grass under the deck and the engine will be less stressed.

Generally, a lawn mower shouldn’t be used for cutting very tall grass. By performing regular cuttings, you can keep your lawn in good condition. Your first cut should be done at the highest possible height if your grass is growing too long. Do your next cut by lowering the deck.

The mower deck becomes clogged with grass and dirt –

The blades of your mower can become clogged and not be able to turn freely when grass and debris get stuck under your deck. This causes your engine to work harder.

Make sure you scrape your deck frequently after you mow damp grass in order to avoid grass clippings collecting. In order to prevent grass from sticking to the deck, silicone spray can be applied to the bottom.

Blades that are dull

Your engine can also work harder if you have dull, rounded blades. Your blades should be sharpened regularly. Any blades that are damaged should be replaced. Sharpening and balancing your mower blades can be done using these tips. 

2. The gas smells rotten

There is a very reasonable chance that your lawn mower has faulty gas if you left it out in the rain for a long period without changing it. Take your lawnmower somewhere dark and use a flashlight to check if that is the case. When you reach the gas tank, shine a light into it to see if any bubbles are visible. There shouldn’t be any bubbles; gasoline causes bubbles.

The tank will have to be drained in order to be filled with water. You will need to take a look at the carburetor if the car is still running poorly after you have put fresh gas in it. In a carburetor, water can be a very corrosive substance, and it doesn’t take much of it to cause the carburetor to work poorly.

As the off-season approaches, this problem often occurs when the mower was started over the off-season or when old gas was used that had survived through the off-season. The use of a fuel stabilizer can make a huge difference when it comes to keeping this problem from occurring again in the future. This is especially true when a mower is stored with gasoline in it.  

3. The spark plugs in your vehicle are faulty

Inconsistent ignition is caused by a spark plug that has been pitted or fouled. Over a long period of time, the spark plug can be covered in fuel, carbon, dirt, and oil. Therefore, it cannot spark at all, resulting in a lack of spark. In this way, the ride-on mower may skip or miss, resulting in the ride-on mower losing control and skidding. To perform a spark plug check, it is critical to remove, clean and replace them as soon as possible. A constant point of maintenance when looking over your mower should be its spark plugs, which are often the root of performance problems.

4. Limits on air

Whenever your mower loses power, you need to check the air filter first. A two- or three-screw system holds the filter on. Filter replacement frequency should be specified by your lawn mower manufacturer. Blow dirt from the opposite side while air is flowing through an air filter to clean it.

You can see the carburetor after removing the air filter. Carburetor cleaning is necessary if dirt clumps on the inner surface. A couple of bolts and a fuel line are typically needed to remove the carburetor. Carburetor cleaners are available in auto parts stores. Follow the instructions to clean the carburetor.

5. An old fuel source

Have you filled up the gas tank on your mower recently? Many times, when a mower is trying to cut grass, it stops working because of minor fuel problems caused by deadly gas. You will experience engine failure if you use dirty fuel. Almost every 30 days, you can find mold growing on your gas, which is basically a mixture of fuel (fuel + ethanol). The gas standard will stabilise after 30 days, but after that, it will start to decline acutely as the constituents of the gas start to segregate. Over time, it has been observed that ethanol attracts moisture, which results in the dilution of the gas as it acts as an aqueous well. You can also use canned fuel that does not contain ethanol or add a fuel stabilizer to your tank.

Consider this low-quality fuel for your lawnmower. If the fuel system becomes clogged with adhesive accumulations from improper fuel, your fuel system can eventually become damaged. Furthermore, if there is any gas remaining in the lawnmower during storage. This is because if there is any gas left in the lawnmower, it will stale and dry out. This will increase your problem even more. Fuel that has been sitting for a long period of time

Have you filled up the gas tank on your mower recently? Many times, when a mower is trying to cut grass, it stops working because of minor fuel problems caused by deadly gas. You will experience engine failure if you use dirty fuel. Almost every 30 days, you can find mold growing on your gas, which is basically a mixture of fuel (fuel + ethanol). The gas standard will stabilise after 30 days, but after that, it will start to deteriorate acutely as the constituents of the gas start to segregate. The gas is diluted over time due to ethanol’s ability to attract moisture. You can also use canned fuel that does not contain ethanol or add a fuel stabilizer.

Imagine your lawnmower was given low-grade fuel. Eventually your fuel system can be clogged with adhesive accumulations left behind by dirty fuel, which will obstruct fuel flow. In addition, if you manage to store the lawnmower with any gas left in it, it will stale and dry out.

6. Keep it clean

Your lawn mower’s carburetor regulates how much gas and air is required to run. There is a possibility that your lawn mower will lose power if you do not have the right amount of gas or air in it.

When the carburetor becomes dirty, deposits from dirty fuel accumulate on the surface of the carburetor, and this leads to gummy and crusty spots.

The carburetor can be cleaned if you are somewhat mechanically inclined and have the time. A carburetor is usually easy to clean, and you can do so almost every time. Occasionally, the carburetor will need to be replaced because it is damaged, or it is simply too dirty for the carburetor to function properly in the way it was intended to.   

7. Inadequate oil level in the engine  

It is also possible that an inadequate level of oil can result in the loss of power. If the level of lubrication oil in the lubrication system is too high, froth can form. This introduces air into the lubrication system and makes the oil incapable of lubricating the moving parts of the engine. A low level of oil can also have an adverse effect on the ability of the system to provide adequate lubrication. This will result in increased friction and a more demanding load placed on the engine as a result of it. 

8. The exhaust system is clogged up

This is the place where gas is emitted from the mower, along with other vapors produced by the combustion process. Clogged mufflers cause the burned gas to remain trapped within, rather than being expelled. This can lead to a host of serious problems, the most serious of which is a seized motor from debris and fluid. Your lawn mower may be emitting colored smoke if you notice that it is clogged up, which is likely due to a blocked muffler. In order to maintain your lawn mower properly throughout the season, make sure to clean your muffler at the beginning of every season. 

9. Choke or throttle stuck in the closed position

A mower that is left outside for a long period of time will experience this problem. Some objects can prevent the throttle cable from reaching full throttle, such as debris. Make sure it is moving freely by taking a look at it. WD-40 can be sprayed on it and rocked slowly if it isn’t.

The choke mechanism on a manual choke should be responsive to the choke lever. A little bit of choke (or all of the choke) will make it run more slowly and lose power. The air/fuel mixture can be kept too rich if the choke mechanism is not working properly. It might be worth your while to take a moment to check this out.

10. Fins on cooling systems are dirty

Similarly, it is imperative that you clean your cooling fan as often as you clean your engine area. Your engine needs to stay cool by allowing its fan to move freely.

Air movement can be compromised if dust and debris accumulate on the fan. Keep your fan clean and free of buildup by ensuring that it doesn’t have any broken fins. If it is damaged, it may need to be replaced if it is damaged.

In Summary/Conclusion

Lack of air or fuel is the most common cause of Lawn Mower Loses Power. The right time to take your lawn mower to your dealer is after you’ve tried all of these troubleshooting steps and your problem still hasn’t been resolved. It can be very difficult for a mechanic to diagnose the problem unless he or she has a thorough understanding of electrical problems, charging system problems, and internal engine problems.    

In order to ensure the most efficient performance from your lawn mower, you should make sure it is properly serviced at least once a year. Changing your car’s oil is an easy task that you can do yourself. Therefore, you will be able to keep your lawn mower safe from power failures if you follow these steps.

As a result of that, we have put together a list of the ten most common reasons why a mower might lose power when cutting. We have listed them for your reference. I would appreciate it if you could leave a comment in the section below if you find out what happened to your mower. If you help the next person who comes along, you might be able to make a difference in their lives too. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!