Lawnmower won't start; now what do I do? - Page 5 - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

stampeder · 2011-05-10, 07:43 PM

ahem... too much celebrating the Canucks win last night!

kjam101, 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.

38racing · 2011-05-10, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjam101

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

did you possibly run it with the blade removed or hit something? You may have sheared the flywheel key. You will still get spark but not at the right time for it to start/run. Does the cord have a real kick back to it when you try to start it?

timcat · 2011-05-15, 02:36 PM

Don't replace it with a Toro garbage.
I paid top dollars for a key start Toro...it was a nice mower until a wheel fell off and I ran over the wheel. Bent the main shaft and destroyed a whole bunch of other parts from the vibrations after that.
Not to worrie it won't be long before I have no grass to cut since the weed and feed ban here.

gabagoo · 2011-05-15, 07:12 PM

I have had my homelite 4hp lawnmower for 20 years and it takes a few pulls in the spring to get it going and the odd time it sputters but I have never maintained it outside of topping the oil maybe 3 times. Never changed the oil and never changed the spark plug and I leave gas in it each fall and the damn thing just wont die so I can go buy one of these new self propelled babies....sigh

99semaj · 2011-05-15, 10:11 PM

I'm just starting my first mowing season on a larger, rural property, so the ride-on mower thing is new to me.

I have an 18hp 42" ride-on. Is there anything particularly special I should consider doing for spring maintenance?

Also, I just found out that my wife dumped my mixed chainsaw gas in it and ran it for a couple hours, but I'm thinking that's probably OK. Better than straight gas in my saw....

Jake · 2011-05-16, 08:16 AM

Yeah mixed gas won't hurt a 4 stroke. Just might smoke a bit more.

Remove and blow out the air filter.

My mower has an oil filter so I just swap out the filter and oil every two years. Mine is from Sears so parts are reasonable and available. You can run a summer grade of oil like 5W30 or 0W30 if you can find it in jugs.

I removed my blades and sharpen them with a grinding wheel. Don't be fussy. Just a slight edge is enough to make a clean cut. Think butter knife.

I lub the steering gears and the zerks on the wheels and that is it.

Oh and top up the tires with air. Later on the fuel filter will need to be changed.

Korak · 2011-05-16, 08:43 AM

I had a local company do a spring tune-up on my 17.5 HP 42" yardworks tractor mower. The first in 6 years and it cost me $400 (incl. tax). That included new blades, battery, spark plug, oil and air filters, oil change, lubrication, welding at the discharge chute, deck levelling and pick-up/delivery(10 miles away). Now if it would stop raining here for a day or two, I will be able to see if the tune-up was worth it. I swear it's been raining or drizzle since the first of May!

stampeder · 2011-05-16, 11:53 AM

Riding mowers can be fitted with light duty snow plow blades for long driveways and sidewalks, so over the winter it is good to dump about 20ml of Gas Line Antifreeze (methyl hydrate) into the gas tank first at every fillup so that the added gas blends with it to help the mower start in the cold. When the warm weather comes around the methyl hydrate won't adversely affect anything as it is used up and you go back to 100% gas.

99semaj · 2011-05-16, 06:10 PM

Thanks for the pointers, all. As for the plow, that's already taken care of...a 60" Warn plow on the Foreman 500 ATV

mrvanwinkles · 2011-05-22, 10:01 AM

I'll just add a few points quick about lawnmowers - I've had my experiences.

The Lawn-Boy's - 2 cycles - are good when they start and work well.
(A nightmare when they do not.)

They smoke a bit - but get the mix right - measure carefully.
I even got a plastic graduated cylinder / correct size / to do it right.

- You sometimes need to clean the carbon build up from the exhaust ports / holes in the side of the cylinder wall. To get at it requires some disassembly. (important - loss of power, won't start easy )

(sometimes even as often as once every two years. depends on usage)

- An older lawn-boy we had, actually had Points ignition. Underneath the flywheel. Definitely change the points with a good quality set, if you have that (very old now).

- Gap between flywheel magnet and High Tension transformer in the "magneto" ignition is important.

- some get old and wear out the top crankshaft bearing in the casting - then there is too much play at the top, at the flywheel - then the ignition becomes very "difficult" because it's loose and the gap varies too much. Not much you can do when that happens. They just become difficult mowers. Not sure if there is an easy fix for this trouble.

- Newer models have electronic ignition module - and I had one that was "intermittent". I literally had to take it back to the repair place a second time - and INSIST they change the ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. Sure enough - that was the problem.

I still have a newer Lawn-Boy 2-cycle commercial mower. It's pretty good.

But I've also purchased now, last year - a self propelled 4-stroke SNAPPER, with an excellent Briggs & Stratton 6.75 hp Quantum engine.

Expensive but good quality.

That is a very good unit for a larger lawn.

The self propelled helps alot.

Yes - service properly all mowers - each spring. Try to buy where they'll service them and get parts. Do spring tuneup, change oil, filters, plugs always.

Use the BEST fuel you can in a small engine. PREMIUM fuel. Always.
Get fresh fuel each season. Use up the old stuff end of each season.
(someone gave me that advice ... makes sense... seems to help alot)
(the demands and small consumption on a small engine make it worth it to use the very best fuel.)

Buy a quality mower if you can. Will save alot of headaches.

yu130960 · 2012-05-09, 10:56 AM

I know the post is old, but I just had to thank this forum and post in helping my lawn mower buying decision for a lawn mower purchase in Toronto. I was going to buy a big box store mower, but went with a Toro lawn mower at a Toronto lawn mower store.

It worked out great, and I was told that the two cycle lawn mower are not going to be made any more because of emissions, but they are so easy to look after with no oil changes.

Coop · 2012-05-23, 08:46 PM

I gave up on a gas mower last year and bought a Black&Decker 36V rechargeable. So far it's handled everything I've thrown at it.

Nuje · 2012-05-24, 02:39 PM

As the starter of this thread, I thought I'd come back and report that after getting mine running (2years ago now), it's still running. To say it's "running strong" would be hyperbole, though, as it's an adventure every time out.
It's to the point where it's a battle of wills between me and it (although being inanimate, it's only "will" is to not start, but still...), and I'm not giving in.

The latest skirmish is perplexing: everything seems to run OK, but occasionally, it just dies. First thought was it was out of gas, but there was still some in the tank and topping up didn't do anything. Cranking and cranking it wouldn't start.
Took off the air filter - started up on first pull. (?) Put a new filter on there and merrily proceeded on my way.

Next time out, same thing: It just died out of nowhere with plenty of gas. It's like the spark plug isn't getting a spark, although sparkplug looks fine. Took all the covers and shrouds off, found an errant wire (ground maybe?), tucked it into a the block somewhere, tried pulling on it again, and started no problem. And ran fine for over another hour. Freed up the wire and it kept running. Killed it and started again with the wire just pointing in the air - no problem starting (?).
I have zero idea what I "fixed".

Your guess is as good as mine as to what's going to happen next time - like I said, it's an adventure every time I mow.

Coop · 2012-05-24, 06:49 PM

I recently used Seafoam on my gas grass trimmer and it started on the second pull with last years gas in it, nest up is my generator if it stops raining.

mrvanwinkles · 2012-05-25, 09:22 AM

Nuje,

Sounds like something in the ignition is failing, or breaking down as the mower gets hot.

I've seen that before in a few choice mowers.

Get half way done the Lawn - and it dies ... and no idea if or when it will re-start. Wait 20 minutes, and mysteriously - the mower starts again ( ! ) Abra-Cadabra ... what did I do ? Frustrating and hard to solve.

Hard to diagnose the exact ignition part that is failing - cause it fails only when it feels like it, intermittently and probably when it gets hot.

Could be as simple as a spark plug - or as complex as an electronic ignition module gone intermittent. ( bad coil and/or step up transformer? in older ignitions: capacitor, points, wires? HT wires? "high tension wires" / spark plug wire ? breaking down with heat and sparking / arcing / shorting out somewhere - and causing the ignition to fail )

Best of luck. The intermittent problems are usually the hardest to solve.

Might have to take it to the experts - if it's worth it to do that .

2011-05-16, 08:16 AM	#66
Jake Moderator Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gatineau and Ottawa Posts: 10,236	Yeah mixed gas won't hurt a 4 stroke. Just might smoke a bit more. Remove and blow out the air filter. My mower has an oil filter so I just swap out the filter and oil every two years. Mine is from Sears so parts are reasonable and available. You can run a summer grade of oil like 5W30 or 0W30 if you can find it in jugs. I removed my blades and sharpen them with a grinding wheel. Don't be fussy. Just a slight edge is enough to make a clean cut. Think butter knife. I lub the steering gears and the zerks on the wheels and that is it. Oh and top up the tires with air. Later on the fuel filter will need to be changed. __________________ Tip: See an offending post? Don't reply, report it by clicking on the 'Report Post' icon.

2011-05-16, 11:53 AM	#68
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	Winter starting Riding mowers can be fitted with light duty snow plow blades for long driveways and sidewalks, so over the winter it is good to dump about 20ml of Gas Line Antifreeze (methyl hydrate) into the gas tank first at every fillup so that the added gas blends with it to help the mower start in the cold. When the warm weather comes around the methyl hydrate won't adversely affect anything as it is used up and you go back to 100% gas.

2012-05-23, 08:46 PM	#72
Coop Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calgary, Bell Posts: 828	I gave up on a gas mower last year and bought a Black&Decker 36V rechargeable. So far it's handled everything I've thrown at it. __________________ Pioneer PDP-6020FD, Denon 3808CI, OPPO BDP-83, HB HTPC, HP MSS, Mirage FRx 7, S10 Sub

2012-05-24, 06:49 PM	#74
Coop Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Calgary, Bell Posts: 828	I recently used Seafoam on my gas grass trimmer and it started on the second pull with last years gas in it, nest up is my generator if it stops raining. __________________ Pioneer PDP-6020FD, Denon 3808CI, OPPO BDP-83, HB HTPC, HP MSS, Mirage FRx 7, S10 Sub

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2011-05-10, 07:43 PM	#61
stampeder OTA Forum Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Delta, BC (96Av x 116St) Posts: 23,338	ahem... too much celebrating the Canucks win last night! kjam101, 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.

2011-05-15, 02:36 PM	#63
timcat Rookie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 14	Don't replace it with a Toro garbage. I paid top dollars for a key start Toro...it was a nice mower until a wheel fell off and I ran over the wheel. Bent the main shaft and destroyed a whole bunch of other parts from the vibrations after that. Not to worrie it won't be long before I have no grass to cut since the weed and feed ban here.

2011-05-15, 07:12 PM	#64
gabagoo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Richmond Hill Posts: 129	I have had my homelite 4hp lawnmower for 20 years and it takes a few pulls in the spring to get it going and the odd time it sputters but I have never maintained it outside of topping the oil maybe 3 times. Never changed the oil and never changed the spark plug and I leave gas in it each fall and the damn thing just wont die so I can go buy one of these new self propelled babies....sigh

2011-05-15, 10:11 PM	#65
99semaj Veteran Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: /dev/null Posts: 2,685	I'm just starting my first mowing season on a larger, rural property, so the ride-on mower thing is new to me. I have an 18hp 42" ride-on. Is there anything particularly special I should consider doing for spring maintenance? Also, I just found out that my wife dumped my mixed chainsaw gas in it and ran it for a couple hours, but I'm thinking that's probably OK. Better than straight gas in my saw....

2011-05-16, 08:43 AM	#67
Korak Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Eastern Canada Posts: 311	I had a local company do a spring tune-up on my 17.5 HP 42" yardworks tractor mower. The first in 6 years and it cost me $400 (incl. tax). That included new blades, battery, spark plug, oil and air filters, oil change, lubrication, welding at the discharge chute, deck levelling and pick-up/delivery(10 miles away). Now if it would stop raining here for a day or two, I will be able to see if the tune-up was worth it. I swear it's been raining or drizzle since the first of May!

2011-05-16, 06:10 PM	#69
99semaj Veteran Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: /dev/null Posts: 2,685	Thanks for the pointers, all. As for the plow, that's already taken care of...a 60" Warn plow on the Foreman 500 ATV

2011-05-22, 10:01 AM	#70
mrvanwinkles Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eastern Ontario (Ottawa/Kingston) Posts: 1,398	I'll just add a few points quick about lawnmowers - I've had my experiences. The Lawn-Boy's - 2 cycles - are good when they start and work well. (A nightmare when they do not.) They smoke a bit - but get the mix right - measure carefully. I even got a plastic graduated cylinder / correct size / to do it right. - You sometimes need to clean the carbon build up from the exhaust ports / holes in the side of the cylinder wall. To get at it requires some disassembly. (important - loss of power, won't start easy ) (sometimes even as often as once every two years. depends on usage) - An older lawn-boy we had, actually had Points ignition. Underneath the flywheel. Definitely change the points with a good quality set, if you have that (very old now). - Gap between flywheel magnet and High Tension transformer in the "magneto" ignition is important. - some get old and wear out the top crankshaft bearing in the casting - then there is too much play at the top, at the flywheel - then the ignition becomes very "difficult" because it's loose and the gap varies too much. Not much you can do when that happens. They just become difficult mowers. Not sure if there is an easy fix for this trouble. - Newer models have electronic ignition module - and I had one that was "intermittent". I literally had to take it back to the repair place a second time - and INSIST they change the ELECTRONIC IGNITION MODULE. Sure enough - that was the problem. I still have a newer Lawn-Boy 2-cycle commercial mower. It's pretty good. But I've also purchased now, last year - a self propelled 4-stroke SNAPPER, with an excellent Briggs & Stratton 6.75 hp Quantum engine. Expensive but good quality. That is a very good unit for a larger lawn. The self propelled helps alot. Yes - service properly all mowers - each spring. Try to buy where they'll service them and get parts. Do spring tuneup, change oil, filters, plugs always. Use the BEST fuel you can in a small engine. PREMIUM fuel. Always. Get fresh fuel each season. Use up the old stuff end of each season. (someone gave me that advice ... makes sense... seems to help alot) (the demands and small consumption on a small engine make it worth it to use the very best fuel.) Buy a quality mower if you can. Will save alot of headaches.

2012-05-09, 10:56 AM	#71
yu130960 Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	I know the post is old, but I just had to thank this forum and post in helping my lawn mower buying decision for a lawn mower purchase in Toronto. I was going to buy a big box store mower, but went with a Toro lawn mower at a Toronto lawn mower store. It worked out great, and I was told that the two cycle lawn mower are not going to be made any more because of emissions, but they are so easy to look after with no oil changes.

2012-05-24, 02:39 PM	#73
Nuje Veteran Join Date: May 2002 Location: A charted un-desert isle Posts: 2,465	As the starter of this thread, I thought I'd come back and report that after getting mine running (2years ago now), it's still running. To say it's "running strong" would be hyperbole, though, as it's an adventure every time out. It's to the point where it's a battle of wills between me and it (although being inanimate, it's only "will" is to not start, but still...), and I'm not giving in. The latest skirmish is perplexing: everything seems to run OK, but occasionally, it just dies. First thought was it was out of gas, but there was still some in the tank and topping up didn't do anything. Cranking and cranking it wouldn't start. Took off the air filter - started up on first pull. (?) Put a new filter on there and merrily proceeded on my way. Next time out, same thing: It just died out of nowhere with plenty of gas. It's like the spark plug isn't getting a spark, although sparkplug looks fine. Took all the covers and shrouds off, found an errant wire (ground maybe?), tucked it into a the block somewhere, tried pulling on it again, and started no problem. And ran fine for over another hour. Freed up the wire and it kept running. Killed it and started again with the wire just pointing in the air - no problem starting (?). I have zero idea what I "fixed". Your guess is as good as mine as to what's going to happen next time - like I said, it's an adventure every time I mow.

2012-05-25, 09:22 AM	#75
mrvanwinkles Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eastern Ontario (Ottawa/Kingston) Posts: 1,398	Nuje, Sounds like something in the ignition is failing, or breaking down as the mower gets hot. I've seen that before in a few choice mowers. Get half way done the Lawn - and it dies ... and no idea if or when it will re-start. Wait 20 minutes, and mysteriously - the mower starts again ( ! ) Abra-Cadabra ... what did I do ? Frustrating and hard to solve. Hard to diagnose the exact ignition part that is failing - cause it fails only when it feels like it, intermittently and probably when it gets hot. Could be as simple as a spark plug - or as complex as an electronic ignition module gone intermittent. ( bad coil and/or step up transformer? in older ignitions: capacitor, points, wires? HT wires? "high tension wires" / spark plug wire ? breaking down with heat and sparking / arcing / shorting out somewhere - and causing the ignition to fail ) Best of luck. The intermittent problems are usually the hardest to solve. Might have to take it to the experts - if it's worth it to do that .