As the spring weather warms the soil and wakes up grass, it’s time for homeowners and lawn care professionals to get ready for the start of mowing season. When the grass starts growing again in the spring, you’ll want to have your lawn mower in peak operating condition so it will keep running reliable throughout the mowing season.
Often, the only thing you need to do in the spring is refuel your mower, and maybe sharpen the blades or do a tune-up. Sometimes, however, when you get your mower out in the spring you’ll find that it does not run properly or won’t start at all.
Several of the problems that can keep a lawn mower from starting in the spring are easily fixed. Most come from forgetting to prep the mower before long-term storage. These sorts of problems can be corrected with minimal trouble and easily prevented next year. When your mower won’t start in the spring, here are the first things you should check:
Did you Leave Gas in the Tank?
Leaving old gas in the mower can cause problems that would prevent the mower from starting. Before storing a mower for the winter, you should either drain the fuel or add a fuel stabilizer. If you forgot to drain or stabilize the fuel, then there is a good chance the mower will not start.
Start by draining and replacing the old fuel. Remember to double-check your owner’s manual to see if it recommends any specific tips for this (for example, you may need to keep the carburetor facing up if you tip a walk-behind mower on its side).
Once you’ve finished checking all the fluid levels, try to start the mower. If it starts, let it idle for a few minutes to let oil redistribute through the engine. If it does not start, it’s time to check something else.
Is There a Clogged Filter or Fuel Lines?
If the fuel and oil pass inspection and the mower still won’t start, the air filter may be responsible. Dirt, gas, oil, dead bugs, and grass can all damage or clog the filter and prevent the mower from starting. Damaged or very dirty filters should be replaced. However, you can clean filters if they don’t look too bad. Compressed air can be used to blow particles off a paper filter, and foam filters can be washed in water with grease-cutting soap.
As you’re working on lawn mower maintenance, remember to disconnect the spark plug. That will ensure that your mower cannot start accidentally while you’re working.
If you suspect the fuel filter and/or fuel lines are clogged, check your owner’s manual to see how it recommends replacing the fuel filter and cleaning fuel lines. Before doing this maintenance task, you’ll want to drain the fuel. Replacing a fuel filter is more involved than cleaning or replacing an air filter. This task can usually still be done at home, but if it’s not something you want to tackle yourself you can bring it into Richardson Saw & Lawn Mower for a tune-up.
Does the Spark Plug Need to be Replaced?
Check
the spark plug next. Make sure that the spark plug wire is connected and that the spark plug is screwed in. If you have the spark plug properly installed but the mower still won’t start, you can try replacing or cleaning the spark plug.
Spark plugs are inexpensive and relatively easy to replace, so you might just want to go ahead and change it once a year. However, if the plug is not corroded, you can clean it using a wire brush. When you do buy a new plug, make sure it matches the old one exactly or it might not work with your model of lawn mower.
You can get your spark plugs (and any other parts you might need) from Richardson Saw. We have one of the largest parts inventories in North Texas and we’ll be happy to help you make sure you get the correct parts for your mower.
Do the Cords and Cables Look Alright?
Sometimes, a mower won’t start because a cable snapped or the starter cord is stuck. Before checking this, remember to disconnect the spark plug so your mower won’t accidentally start while you’re working on it.
For mowers with a 4-cycle engine (typically found in larger riding mowers), you should also check the oil. If the oil looks black or “burnt,” replace it. If the oil looks fine but is low, add some more oil.
If your mower has a starting cord, see if dead grass or dirt is clogging the space around the cord or under the mower deck. Clean out any dirt or grass that you see, then reconnect the spark plug and try starting the mower again. If the starting cord has snapped, you can either replace it or take the mower to a repair center.
Walk-behind mowers typically have a “dead man’s handle” that you need to hold down in order to start the mower. If the cable connecting that handle to the rest of the mower is damaged or snapped, it will need to be replaced. The same is true for any other damaged cables you might find on your mower. You can often find instructions for replacing cables by checking your owner’s manual or using Google, but repairing cables is also something you can have a repair center do.
Is the Carburetor Working Properly?
If the lawn mower won’t start after you’ve checked the easier fixes, then it’s time to take a look at the engine. Sometimes, the reason a lawn mower won’t start has to do with the carburetor. If you left old gasoline in the tank, that could cause problems by leaving a gummy residue inside and clogging up the carburetor. The carburetor may also become damaged by corrosion.
You can do carburetor maintenance at home. However, if this isn’t something you want to take the time for or you’d rather not do engine maintenance yourself, you can go to a repair shop or service department. As always, if you’re working on the mower yourself, make sure you disconnect the spark plug before performing any maintenance.
You can find information for locating and removing the carburetor on your mower in your owner’s manual. We do not have space in today’s article to cover carburetor maintenance in detail, but there are many DIY videos on YouTube and helpful maintenance articles that can help guide you through the process. Keep in mind that if the carburetor is damaged or corroded (rather than just clogged), you can often replace it for less time and money than it would cost to attempt a repair.
Final Thoughts
In many cases, checking the fuel, oil, filters, and spark plug will be enough to get your mower running properly again. When those fixes do not work, the culprit might be damaged cables or clogged engine parts. Depending on how mechanically inclined you are and how much time you want to put into working on your mower this spring, you may decide to take the mower in for a professional tune-up or to continue working on it yourself.
Whether you’re working to repair a lawn mower that won’t start or looking for professional lawn mower maintenance, Richardson Saw & Lawn Mower is here to help. When you’re working on the mower yourself, we can get parts for you. We may even already have them in stock so you could pick them up immediately. You can call to find out or stop by and talk with us about what you’re looking for.
If you decide you’d rather have someone else take a look at your lawn mower, our service department is here to help. A professional tune-up from our expert technicians can save you a lot of time and hassle if you’re having trouble with your mower and none of the faster, simpler fixes are working. We do all repairs in-house, and our service department offers convenient weekday and Saturday hours to help get your equipment back to you quickly. We also offer a 30-day warranty on all our work.
