Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. It’s time to put the snow blower away for the season and break out the lawn mower. After a long, cold winter sitting in storage, however, your lawn mower may be slow to start up. This is normal. Small engine equipment needs to run on a regular basis to start up quickly. In most cases, a few good pulls of the cord will get the lawn mower roaring back into its normal operations. If, however, no matter how many pulls on the cord you give it, your lawn mower won’t start , try these quick troubleshooting tips before you take it in for service.
Check the Fuel and Prime It
Lawn mowers can be temperamental. Use these tips to get it started.
Seems obvious. Seems insultingly obvious. But you would be surprised how many maintenance calls are solved by adding a little gas. So check it just in case. If you let the fuel sit in the tank for the winter, drain it and add new fuel to tank. Consult your owner’s manual to determine how many times it needs priming.
Check the Spark Plug
A small engine needs three things to start: fuel, air and a spark. Now that you are sure that it has an adequate amount of gas and is primed, if your lawn mower won’t start, it’s time to look elsewhere for the problem. Remove the spark plug and check the electrode for wear or excessive carbon scouring. Clean or replace the plug if necessary. In cases where the lawn mower won’t start, it is best to change the spark plug just to be sure.
Check the Air Filter
If, after checking the fuel and spark plug, your lawn mower won’t start, then it may be that air is not getting to the combustion chamber. Without adequate oxygen, the fuel will not burn. You could have a great spark and plenty of fuel, but it is oxygen that keeps the fuel burning and ultimately the engine running. Check your air filter for excess debris and dirt and change it if necessary. This may require you to remove the air filter housing. Check your owner’s manual to determine the location of your air filter.
A good way to test if the air filter is the culprit is to remove the filter and try to start the engine without the filter. If it starts up right away, then the air filter is choking the engine and robbing it of the oxygen it needs. In this case, it will need replacement.
Lawn Mower Won’t Start ? Greg’s Small Engines Can Help!
If you have exhausted all options and your lawn mower is still not running, don’t resort to yelling at it. Studies have shown that yelling at your small engines does not work well to manipulate them into compliance. Instead, call Greg’s Small Engines in Reno and Lake Tahoe. Greg’s Small Engines has the experience and know how to get that cranky lawn mower ready for the summer cutting season. And we’ll even come to you, pick up your lawn mower, service it and return it to you! All you have to do is call! Contact us today!
