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!