The Reasons Why Your Mower Isn’t Starting

To see how your lawnmower may be able to be fixed if you are determined, let’s look at some of the common reasons why it starts but then stops. We will also look at how it might be restored. In the event you are uncertain this might be the last time you will see your steadfast lawn mower, you might want to consider getting rid of it. Buying a replacement unit is more sensible if your lawn mower is very old and has been breaking down frequently.

Don’t be worried; it’s very common for lawnmowers to start but not run. It is common to fix a lawn mower by emptying the gas tank and cleaning the carburetor and orifice. It is advisable to fix the problem as soon as possible, but it could also have another cause.

A mower can die for any number of reasons. The following are some things you should check if you are having trouble finding the source of your problem. I hope this helps ease your frustration and gets you back to normal The Reasons Why Your Mower Isn’t Starting.

There are a variety of reasons a riding lawn mower may not start and die, including dirty gas, a clogged fuel line, a plugged fuel filter, a clogged air filter, a dirty spark plug, a damaged ignition coil, low engine oil, a plugged cooling system, and faulty engine oil.

The Reasons Why Your Mower Isn’t Starting

Running fresh fuel through your riding mower is the most effective thing you can do. It can take as little as 30 days for gasoline to break down and become less effective.

As gasoline contains ethanol and moisture, clogs may occur in the fuel system due to ethanol and moisture. As a result, your mower may suddenly stop working.

When the wrong fuel is put in your riding mower, it may also die. It is recommended that you use unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87 and a maximum ethanol content of 10% for your riding lawn mower.

Fuels with a high ethanol content can cause significant engine damage and cause your mower to stop after a while. Better if it contains less ethanol.

The addition of ethanol to gasoline reduces the amount of pollution in the environment. In vehicles, it may be okay to use, but in riding lawnmowers, it would not be a wise idea. Interested in finding out what is the most suitable fuel for your riding mower or what ethanol does to your lawn mower? Read this article.

When your riding mower’s tank contains the wrong fuel or old fuel, you should drain it. Fuel works well for this. Make sure you have an approved gas container on hand to drain old fuel.

It is possible for a lawnmower to start and then fail due to a dirty carburetor

Most likely, a dirty carburetor will cause your car to stall. Your carburetor draws air into your engine and mixes it with fuel. You should not believe what movies might suggest; gasoline is not flammable. In the presence of oxygen, it becomes extremely flammable. 

Carburetors draw air from the surroundings and mix it with fuel in exactly the right proportion. You won’t be able to burn gas if your carburetor is dirty, as it will not mix the air appropriately. Sputtering will occur, but no real acceleration will occur.

Clean carburetors are characterized by a few things. The motor may start initially, but then it won’t run. This is because the starter bulb produces a healthy dose of gas, but then the carburetor starves itself of the oxygen it needs. 

A clogged carburetor is likely the result of evaporated gas clogging its pores. Leaving gas in the tank will result in its evaporation over time. During combustion, ethanol settles into the pores of your carburetor, which should channel air through it. It is possible that evaporated gas can condense inside the carburetor, gumming it up and preventing it from performing its function. Most of the time, cleaning the carburetor and resetting it will fix the problem, allowing your mower to operate normally once again. 

Ideally, you should remove and clean your carburetor. To fix it, you will need some tools. 

Keep your lawnmower’s carburetor clean

Taking your carburetor off and cleaning it fairly frequently will keep it from getting clogged. You should clean your carb once every two uses or after you’ve let your mower sit for a long time. 

Investing in a high-quality mower can also help prevent clogging. Straton is a well-known lawnmower brand that has quality parts that resist rusting and gumming. 

Having a dirty ride-on mower carburetor

To allow combustion to occur, you need the carburetor on your riding mower to regulate the air-to-fuel mixture.

When your carburetor becomes dirty from old fuel deposits and gums, it may stop working and your mower may break down. As a result, the engine cannot get enough air or fuel to continue running.

  • A dirty carburetor must be cleaned for it to function properly. These simple steps will help you determine if you have a dirty carburetor so you don’t take it apart when you don’t have to:
  • Take out your air filter housing and remove the filter.
  • Clean the carburetor by spraying it with a carburetor cleaner.
  • Get your riding mower started.

Having trouble starting your mower or if it won’t run, you may need to clean your carburetor.

You don’t have to worry about a complicated procedure if you clean your riding mower’s carburetor. In this article, you will learn how to clean your carburetor if you are a little mechanically inclined and don’t mind working with small parts.

For those not interested in doing it themselves, you can bring your mower to a small engine repair shop to be cleaned or rebuilt.

Air filter plugged in on a riding lawnmower

When the air filter becomes blocked, your riding mower will stop working. It is essential for the engine to run on clean air. While you mow, dirt and grass clippings are stirred up, so your air filter element has a lot to filter.

Regularly checking your air filter will ensure it is clean. Having a clogged filter can cause your mower to run sluggishly, shut down, and suffer costly internal engine damage.

Reattach everything and turn on the lawnmower

As soon as the carburetor has been reattached, put back the fuel line and replace the air filter housing. After everything is back together, throw some gas in your lawnmower and run it for a while to see if it fixes the problem.  

In case your mower still has carburetor issues, make sure all the parts have been properly connected. To resolve the issue, you might want to invest in a new carb. 

How to clean a carburetor

In the case that your lawn mower’s carburetor needs to be cleaned, you may need to remove it. Depending on the type of lawn mower, the carburetor location can vary. On the other hand, it is typically attached to the engine’s top or side. Generally, it’s located below or behind the air filter and attached to the tank.

  • Several tools will be needed before you begin:
  • Three-quarters and five-eighths sockets
  • An adjustable socket wrench and a screwdriver
  • Tools of the trade

Conclusion

In most cases, repairing a mower that does not start is not that difficult. Most of the time, this problem can be fixed by cleaning the carburetor or replacing its air filter. Grease and dirt build up over time, clogging them so they cannot operate properly.

It is worthwhile to maintain your equipment regularly to minimize such incidents. This is not expensive and will save you a lot of time and effort. The carburetor, air filter, and engine oil must always be kept clean for your engine to run smoothly. A spare spark plug should also be kept on hand in case of emergency. The above, though, applies to traditional mowers, not to contemporary electric mowers like the Husqvarna 315x, 115h, and 450x.

Besides following the methods we discussed, getting professional help will make short work of your mower without causing you any headaches. When you take on the challenge yourself, you feel accomplished Reasons Why Your Mower Isn’t Starting.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *