Does Your Lawn Mower Stop Running After A Few Seconds?

Over the last few posts we have discussed a few possible solutions for a small engine that stops running after a few seconds. From using fuel stabilizer to prevent gas separation, to cleaning the carburetor. But there are two other common problems that could prevent your engine to lose power after starting; Bad spark plugs and the lesser known clogged gas cap.

Sparks plugs, as their name might suggest, provide the spark that ignites the gas in your engine.  When they go bad the engine won’t be able to run properly. Replacing spark plugs in your small engine is as easy as it is cheap. You simply remove the wire covering, and use a socket wrench to unscrew the spark old spark plug. Replace it with the new one and you should be good to go.

Another possible reason your engine won’t stay running is a bad gas cap. Gas caps have tiny vents in them to allow airflow to the gas tank. When they get clogged the engine can’t breathe, so to speak, and shuts down. To check if your gas cap is bad, try loosening it before starting the engine. If it runs better like this, the cap needs to go.

While there are many things that can cause your small engine to stop running after a few seconds, spark plugs and gas caps are cheap and easy to rule out. It is best to try the easy and inexpensive solutions before moving on to more complex repairs like disassembling your carburetor. Of course, if you are in Salt Lake City or surrounding areas, you can always give us a call and we can help you diagnose the problem. 

By: Kyson Crowell