Why Won't My Lawnmower Start?

Now that spring is nearly here, it’s time to dust off your lawn mower and make sure that your yard is looking neatly trimmed and looking good.  Even though winter has been a little mild, to say the least, that lawn mower has still been sitting unused for a few months.  What if you were to fill it with oil, prime the engine, pull the ripcord, and… nothing?  What can you do if your lawn mower just doesn’t start?

The first thing you will want to check on a lawn mower that just doesn’t start is to check the fuel and the carburetor.  In fact, 80 percent of all no-starts come from these issues.  Before you begin, you will need a few hand tools and a socket set.  Also make sure to have a can of carburetor cleaner and an air compressor. 

Before anything, check the air filter to make sure that it’s clean.  If that checks out, you will want to remove the spark plug to see if it’s wet.  If it is, you will want to clean it with carburetor cleaner and let it dry.  The carburetor cleaner serves as a solvent and removes any oil residue.  You will also want to replace the fuel in the engine if it is more than a month old, which is likely if you haven’t used it all winter.  Then reinstall the spark plug, and give the ripcord a pull.  As it may take quite few pulls to suck gas into the carburetor, you will need to be prepared to clean the spark plug again.

If that didn’t correct the problem, you will then want to check your carburetor bowl for gas.  There’s a possibility that your fuel filter is plugged or the carburetor inlet needle is stuck.  To check the fuel filter, you will remove the fuel line at the carburetor.  If gas does not run out, you will want to remove the fuel line ahead of the fuel filter.  If gas then flows, you will need to replace the fuel filter.  If not, the fuel line is plugged or kinked.  Is there any fuel in the bowl?  If it’s empty, the problem is a stuck inlet needle and seat.  Those will need to be replaced.  Please note any corrosion in the carburetor.  If there’s any corrosion, the carburetor will need to be replaced. 

If you are still stumped, you will want to clean the jet.  Simply remove the carburetor bowl nut, and then you can clean it very easily with a spray can of carburetor cleaner.  If the spray shoots into the venture of the carburetor, it confirms the passage is open. 

If you’ve tried all this and continue to be stumped, you will want to contact a repair service.  Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers mobile SaltLake City, UT lawn mower repair serving both Salt Lake and Summit Counties.  We will come to you and our service professional will get your lawn mower running like new in no time.  Give us a call today!

What Size Of Tiller Is Best For You?

Due to the unseasonably warm weather here in Utah, many of us have started to think about getting our gardens ready for spring.  Many of us have gardens both large and small, and yards that are waiting to be cultivated.  It’s important to pick the correct tiller for the job, but it’s also important to understand what size of tiller will be best for your particular project.

When thinking of what type of tiller you will need, think about the size of your garden.  A small garden is considered to be less than 1,500 square feet, a medium garden ranges from 1,500 square feet to 5,000 square feet, and a large garden is anything over 5,000 square feet.  Another consideration is based on the type of garden soil you are dealing with, as well as the size of the gardener! 

Typically, a small garden can be managed by a mini-tiller.  Mini-tillers range in price from $200 to $350.  A medium-sized garden is manageable with a 5 to 6-horsepower front-tined tiller, which range in price from $500 to $800.  Large gardens require at least a 6-horsepower rear-tined tiller, which can run from $800 to $2,000.

If the soil in your garden is very hard or rocky, a mini-tiller will often be underpowered to perform admirably, usually requiring a larger 4 to 6-horsepower tiller.  Keep in mind that if you are looking to till your entire yard, you won’t be able to get by with a mini-tiller either.  A large rear-tined tiller will typically work best when you are covering a large area, and the abundance of room to maneuver will be important. 

There are other cons  Front-tined machines are a little more difficult to manage, but that difficulty is offset by the lighter weight of the machine.  Rear-tined machines are a bit easier to use, due to their increased power, but they are more expensive and take up a great deal of space in your shed or garage. 

iderations when you look at what type of tiller would be more effective for you.

Crowell’s Flying Wrench offers tiller repair in Salt LakeCity, UT for any type of tiller.  Our mobile service will come to you anywhere in Salt Lake County or Park City, and our professional staff will quickly get your tiller running at full speed again.  Give us a call today to see what we can do for you!

By: Kyson Crowell