Lawnmower won't start; now what do I do? - Page 4 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Biggles · 2011-03-17, 06:39 AM

So it's almost time to pull out the lawn mower.Ours is 6 years old.It's a simple Sears push gas powered mower.The blade need sharpening.Need to change the oil,plug and plug lead ?? .My wife bought it before we met,and I'm not sure where the manual is. Is it worth me trying to service it myself or just take it in to get serviced ?? I don't have tools for sharpening the blade,and I bet you need a special tool to remove it.I'm also not sure what type of spark plug is required.
Guess I could get the serial number and do a web search..

TKG26 · 2011-03-17, 06:43 AM

Simple socket set for the blade and oil plug. replace the blade us under 20$ and Sears sells tune up kits with the right plug.

Biggles · 2011-03-17, 07:15 AM

Thanks !! It was bought at Sears. I'll do some research !

Petee_C · 2011-03-17, 08:20 AM

being cheap, I would say just sharpen the blade. You can just take it off, and use a flat file to hone the edge some.

The amount of running that a lawnmower does each year, I would question the need for plug replacement, unless you're having problems.... starting, running rough etc.

My JD riding mower has 120+hrs on it the last time I looked, and I haven't replaced the plugs yet.

I probably should do an oil change on it. The oil in it's probably had 3 seasons and maybe 50 hrs on it.

38racing · 2011-03-17, 10:13 AM

biggest issue will likely be the carburetor if you didn't use stabilizer in the gas. It can gum up in the off season. If it won't start buy a can of carburetor cleaner and spray a bit in the air intake (take air filter off). If it fires up after a couple pulls then then carb is not getting fuel through it.
For a couple bucks change the plug for sure and the oil.
There are other small engine forums if you have problems. I think this is a heating forum

57 · 2011-03-17, 10:30 AM

Merged into this existing thread. My recommendations are in post 2 and others have contributed in the posts that follow.

ScaryBob · 2011-03-17, 11:34 AM

The spark plug lead should not need replacing unless it is damaged or arcing is visible.

Heyjohn · 2011-04-02, 12:32 PM

You might want to check the plug wire boot connector. Every time I try removing the spark plug wire I seem to rip out the connector, some are just a coil of wire with a fish hook going into the wire. I wish they would make a better boot.

kjam101 · 2011-05-09, 04:18 PM

Hi, I have a craftsman 6.75hp lawn mower that won't start. I used it about 3 weeks ago to cut the grass for the first time this year. I haven't been able to start it in the last week. I replaced the old gas with new gas (completly drained the tank), Installed a new spark plug, checked for spark there is one, changed air filter, and cleaned the carb.

When I pull the cord it makes a backfiring sound and there is smoke that comes out the side with the backfiring sound.

Anyone know what I can do next. I don't want to take it to a mechanic and get charged 200$ to fix it if i can fix it myself. Thank you

Danster · 2011-05-09, 05:02 PM

Backfiring might mean water is present in the lines. What color is the smoke? What color is your spark, blue or orange?

majortom · 2011-05-09, 07:05 PM

did u remove the little nut at the bottom of the carburetor bowl?

http://historymike.blogspot.com/2006...nance-tip.html

That's what I had to do to mine last year, it had a glob of grass clogging it up.
On mine it would start, but just had no "onions" whatsoever and would stall easily
until I cleaned it out.

gzink · 2011-05-10, 02:29 AM

I never use stabilizer or anything. Had to replace mower after 15+ years. I'm on year 10 now and it and the weedeater started after 1-3 pulls, with normal priming bulb and even before adding to last year's gas.
My routine is check oil, looks good, check tank, gas in it, pump primer, start it. Every 3 or so years change oil and clean air filter. After first run and it cools off hose it down. Good for the season!

The backfire could mean it needs a filter cleaning/replacement, or it needs service.

Jake · 2011-05-10, 07:35 AM

Is the throttle wide open when you are attempting to start?

stampeder · 2011-05-10, 11:33 AM

gzink, have you had a chance to try any of the tips and tricks earlier in this thread yet? I think we covered all the bases on testing a non-starting lawn mower so I'm really curious what happens.

gzink · 2011-05-10, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampeder

gzink, have you had a chance to try any of the tips and tricks earlier in this thread yet? I think we covered all the bases on testing a non-starting lawn mower so I'm really curious what happens.

??????????????????? My stuff is fine!

2011-03-17, 06:39 AM	#46
Biggles Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Calgary,AB Posts: 577	Service lawn mower ?? So it's almost time to pull out the lawn mower.Ours is 6 years old.It's a simple Sears push gas powered mower.The blade need sharpening.Need to change the oil,plug and plug lead ?? .My wife bought it before we met,and I'm not sure where the manual is. Is it worth me trying to service it myself or just take it in to get serviced ?? I don't have tools for sharpening the blade,and I bet you need a special tool to remove it.I'm also not sure what type of spark plug is required. Guess I could get the serial number and do a web search.. __________________ KDLW4100,BDP-S550,Wii,PS3,Shaw DCT 3416 HDPVR with 1TB exHDD,ATV2,Mission M2V 5.1 ,Klipsch RW-10D sub,HTR4063)

2011-03-17, 06:43 AM	#47
TKG26 Veteran Join Date: May 2007 Location: OTTAWA Posts: 2,904	Simple socket set for the blade and oil plug. replace the blade us under 20$ and Sears sells tune up kits with the right plug. __________________ Licenced HVAC TECH: "Without seeing your problem i can only offer suggestions, no warranty is included with my advice"

2011-03-17, 07:15 AM	#48
Biggles Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Calgary,AB Posts: 577	Thanks !! It was bought at Sears. I'll do some research ! __________________ KDLW4100,BDP-S550,Wii,PS3,Shaw DCT 3416 HDPVR with 1TB exHDD,ATV2,Mission M2V 5.1 ,Klipsch RW-10D sub,HTR4063)

2011-03-17, 08:20 AM	#49
Petee_C Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Heidelberg,ON Posts: 1,236	being cheap, I would say just sharpen the blade. You can just take it off, and use a flat file to hone the edge some. The amount of running that a lawnmower does each year, I would question the need for plug replacement, unless you're having problems.... starting, running rough etc. My JD riding mower has 120+hrs on it the last time I looked, and I haven't replaced the plugs yet. I probably should do an oil change on it. The oil in it's probably had 3 seasons and maybe 50 hrs on it. __________________ Panny 47wx52, DMR-e80*C DSR500x2, XBOX 360, Toshiba 26hf84, LG 37LC2D

2011-03-17, 10:30 AM	#51
57 Moderator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Toronto, Rogers, 8300HD, eHDD, Panasonic TCP65S1, Denon AVR4310Ci; 8300HD, eHDD & Sony KDL40W3000 Posts: 50,339	Merged into this existing thread. My recommendations are in post 2 and others have contributed in the posts that follow. __________________ 57's Home Theatre (Latest equipment & photos) 57's Optimization Services (Home Theatre Optimization) Last edited by admin; 2011-03-18 at 07:30 AM. Reason: Removed link since two threads have been merged

2011-03-17, 10:13 AM	#50
38racing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 213	biggest issue will likely be the carburetor if you didn't use stabilizer in the gas. It can gum up in the off season. If it won't start buy a can of carburetor cleaner and spray a bit in the air intake (take air filter off). If it fires up after a couple pulls then then carb is not getting fuel through it. For a couple bucks change the plug for sure and the oil. There are other small engine forums if you have problems. I think this is a heating forum

2011-03-17, 11:34 AM	#52
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	The spark plug lead should not need replacing unless it is damaged or arcing is visible. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2011-04-02, 12:32 PM	#53
Heyjohn Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North of London, Ontario Posts: 58	You might want to check the plug wire boot connector. Every time I try removing the spark plug wire I seem to rip out the connector, some are just a coil of wire with a fish hook going into the wire. I wish they would make a better boot.

2011-05-09, 04:18 PM	#54
kjam101 Rookie Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1	Craftsman 6.75 Lawn Mower wont start Hi, I have a craftsman 6.75hp lawn mower that won't start. I used it about 3 weeks ago to cut the grass for the first time this year. I haven't been able to start it in the last week. I replaced the old gas with new gas (completly drained the tank), Installed a new spark plug, checked for spark there is one, changed air filter, and cleaned the carb. When I pull the cord it makes a backfiring sound and there is smoke that comes out the side with the backfiring sound. Anyone know what I can do next. I don't want to take it to a mechanic and get charged 200$ to fix it if i can fix it myself. Thank you Last edited by 57; 2011-05-10 at 12:19 AM. Reason: Post moved to existing thread. Please read some of the earlier posts for suggestions.

2011-05-09, 05:02 PM	#55
Danster Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lincoln.NB Pop 465,123 Posts: 5,342	Backfiring might mean water is present in the lines. What color is the smoke? What color is your spark, blue or orange? __________________ Home Theatre: Yamaha HTR-6190, Klipsch Speakers, SANYO PLV-Z4, TOSHIBA HDDVD, LG BD555C, Cerwin Vega HTS12 Sub, VIP2300, XBox 360, HTPC.

2011-05-09, 07:05 PM	#56
majortom Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 2,613	did u remove the little nut at the bottom of the carburetor bowl? http://historymike.blogspot.com/2006...nance-tip.html That's what I had to do to mine last year, it had a glob of grass clogging it up. On mine it would start, but just had no "onions" whatsoever and would stall easily until I cleaned it out. __________________ uhf/vhf combo rotor chimney mount homebrew vhf hi hpf ap-8700 preamp 4way split lg lcd dtt901 pctuner mythtv

2011-05-10, 02:29 AM	#57
gzink Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 949	I never use stabilizer or anything. Had to replace mower after 15+ years. I'm on year 10 now and it and the weedeater started after 1-3 pulls, with normal priming bulb and even before adding to last year's gas. My routine is check oil, looks good, check tank, gas in it, pump primer, start it. Every 3 or so years change oil and clean air filter. After first run and it cools off hose it down. Good for the season! The backfire could mean it needs a filter cleaning/replacement, or it needs service.

2011-05-10, 07:35 AM	#58
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,234	Is the throttle wide open when you are attempting to start? __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2011-05-10, 11:33 AM	#59
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	gzink, have you had a chance to try any of the tips and tricks earlier in this thread yet? I think we covered all the bases on testing a non-starting lawn mower so I'm really curious what happens.

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