Why Your Push Mower Starts Then Dies
Are you having trouble starting up your lawn mower, but then it just shuts off? A lawn mower that starts then dies can not only cause your lawn care chores to be delayed, but it can also be embarrassing to have to deal with when you are trying to complete your lawn care chores.
The first step to starting the car is making sure it has spark and compression. Fuel issues such as a dirty carburetor are likely to cause this, but air filters, blocked gas lines, and flywheel problems can also cause it.
There’s no need to worry; this is a very common problem. It is very common to find that mowers can be fixed simply by emptying the gas tank and cleaning the carburetor and orifices. However, there can also be other reasons for this, and it is wise to get it fixed as early as possible to make sure it doesn’t occur again.
A lawnmower checkup might be your first reaction if something is amiss with your mower. However, that can be quite costly and you might have to pay a couple hundred dollars for a professional to diagnose the issue with your mower. Besides, there may be other solutions that can be used to solve the problem. Maybe the problem is something common that you can handle on your own and solve, so you don’t have to speak to a professional.
The Reason Why Your Push Mower Starts Then Dies
Mowers with no gas
I am sure that you are aware of the fact that a gasoline mower must be started using gas. The reason I mention it is that sometimes, out of frustration, we do not pay attention to things that are obvious. As a result of the fuel gauge breaking down, or if the fuel leak started leaking, or even if you simply forgot to put fuel in the mower, you may not have noticed that you were running low on gas.
The fix
If you run out of fuel or your tank is low on fuel, fill it up.
The use of old fuel
It would be easy for a drop of gas in the tank to jam up the carburetor when it sits for a couple of years. There is no precise way of determining just how long gas can be left before it “becomes unsafe”, because it will depend on the type of gas that you use. Premium gas lasts longer than regular gas, and non-oxygenated gas lasts the shortest time.
The fix
If you add a fuel stabilizer to your gas, it can also prevent it from deteriorating due to oxidation, but it will not make it last forever. It is wise to check the fuel level and the carburetor of your lawn mower as soon as possible if you haven’t used your mower for quite some time.
The carburetor is dirty
The lawnmower engine is present in etc. It is equipped with a carburetor, which is responsible for mixing air and fuel in a precise ratio. This is in order to ensure that the engine generates the proper amount of power for operation.
Having completed this process, the crankshaft is then rotated by this combustion, which, in turn, drives the engine. There is a possibility that the carburetor may be clogged with dirt or become slack. This will make the engine less likely to run efficiently if the fuel supply is not constant.
The solution to this problem is much simpler than you might think. Ensure that the carburetor is securely mounted to the engine before proceeding. This will help to maintain proper gas flow to the engine from the carburetor.
When you have made sure that that has been done, the carb would need to be cleaned, preferably with a carb cleaner. In most cases, carburetor cleaners come in aerosol cans that you can buy for just a few dollars. However, it is always a smart idea to find one with a jet spray if you want to make it easier on yourself.
The fix
Using a carburetor cleaner, you can easily clean the bowl, screw, and orifice of the carburetor by simply dropping the bowl and unscrewing it. When everything has been sprayed, firmly reassemble everything, but do not over tighten the screws.
As long as you are able to thread the plug into the hole with your fingers, it should not have to be pushed if it meets some resistance. During the process, there may be a few threads that get stripped or some seals that need to be replaced. In this case, you will need to replace those seals.
It is also not necessary to put the air filter on yet since you haven’t put it on yet. Test whether the engine starts without it and if so, insert the air filter and restart the engine again. Air filters need to be cleaned or replaced if a lawnmower starts but then dies. You may need to look at a faulty carburetor if it still doesn’t work. If you can’t find a solution like that, you might be looking at another issue mentioned below.
Spark plug defects
During the combustion process in your engine, spark plugs provide the spark that ignites the mixture of air and fuel. Your engine produces power as a result of this small explosion.
There is no doubt that spark plugs play a vital role in the ignition system of your lawn mower. Your mower may not start if the spark plugs are dirty or defective. Alternatively, the mower may start but then fail to run as quickly as it was supposed to.
The fix
There are usually two spark plugs in a lawn mower, and it is not difficult to find them. They’re usually hidden at the front of your mower, covered with a black cable, and you’ll see them on the majority of walk-behind mowers. The correct size socket wrench will be required in order to remove your spark plug (you can check your manual to find out what size socket wrench you actually need for your mower/spark plug).
There is a chance that you can try cleaning your spark plugs if they do not have a lot of build-up on them. The use of shot-blasting cleaners on spark plugs is something you should never do to clean them. If the plug is dirty, just use a wire brush and an appropriate cleaner.
There are circumstances, however, in which you may want to replace your mower’s spark plug. This is if it appears filthy or if it seems to have dark carbon residue left on it.
Cap on the fuel tank is blocked
What if even the cap that you put on your lawn mower’s gas tank plays a role in why the mower won’t run or won’t start? Did you know this? There are holes in most lawn mower gas caps in order to help stabilize the pressure within the gas tank of most lawn mowers.
Excessive pressure will develop a vacuum in this hole when it has been clogged with dirt. When this hole becomes clogged with dirt, it will stop the flow of gasoline into the carburetor. You should always check the hole thoroughly before filling the gas tank since fine dirt can easily penetrate this hole when it is filled with gas.
The fix
There is a thin wire that can be used to clean out the hole easily. There is nothing wrong with buying a brand-new cap from the manufacturer of your lawn mower if your old cap has already seen better days.
In Summary/Conclusion
There are several reasons why your lawn mower may not run properly, but it may start because of a fuel restriction, an excessive amount of oil in the crankcase, a plugged air filter, a dirty spark plug, a clogged carburetor, or you may be running it too richly.
It is up to you whether you want to work through the whole procedure of troubleshooting the problem, cleaning the carburetor, or applying any of the other fixes and repairs. Therefore, you don’t have to read anything.
In this case you might want to consider taking your lawn mower to a shop for repair and maintenance. This will enable them to have a look at it for you. A lawn mower repair service can determine why the lawn mower will start but will not run properly, and then they can fix the issue for a fee.
It pays to be aware, however, that before you pick up your lawn mower from a repair shop, you should look on the internet and make sure they get positive reviews and ratings, that they are known for being fair and honest with their customers, and that they do not charge too much for unnecessary services.
