I Can’t Pull My Lawnmower Cord Hard Enough – What To Do. Lawn mower hard starting

8th June 2023

Lawnmower Won’t Start After Sitting? Try These Easy Fixes!

We all face this every now and again: we bring out our lawn mower to get our yard ready for summer and it just doesn’t start. It was perfectly fine the last time you used it, so what changed while it was packed away during winter?

Well, lawn mowers tend to act up when they’ve been sitting for a while, especially if they haven’t been regularly maintained.

In this article, I’ll explain what causes this and what you can do to get your lawn mower started (besides going lawn mower shopping, of course!)

1 What Causes A Lawnmower To Not Start After Sitting?

1.1 Lawnmower Runs Out Of Gas Or Gas Is Too Old
1.2 Check The Carburetor
1.3 Check The Spark Plug
1.4 Check The Main Jet
1.5 Change The Oil
1.6 Check Whether The Air Filter Is Clogged
1.7 Check The Brake Cable
1.8 Check The Flywheel Key
1.9 Clean Out The Mowing Deck

2.1 Proper Storage
2.2 Use Gas That Doesn’t Contain Ethanol
2.3 Get Professional Lawn Maintenance

3.1 Why Is It So Hard To Start My Lawn Mower?
3.2 Why Does It Take 10 Pulls To Start My Lawn Mower?
3.3 Can I Use Vegetable Oil In My Lawn Mower If I’m Low On Money?

What Causes A Lawnmower To Not Start After Sitting?

The number of reasons as to why a lawnmower just won’t start after sitting for a while are endless. This is unfortunately a very common occurrence as everyone gets geared into spring after a chilly winter, especially for those who have forgotten to winterize their lawn mower.

Having an efficient lawnmower is an essential part of lawn care, so check out the following potential reasons that seem to plague lawn mowers that have been out of action for some time.

P.S. Remember to always use protective gear when performing lawn mower maintenance and follow proper safety measures if you notice a safety warning pop up. Be attentive when handling sharp blades and engine parts.

Lawnmower Runs Out Of Gas Or Gas Is Too Old

The first part of this common reason is pretty self-explanatory. Your gas-powered lawnmower needs gas to run – so if it doesn’t have any gas, it’s not really going to be very useful. Fill it up with some gas and you should be good to go.

Now, if your gas is too old, you’re going to need to drain it all out from the gas tank before you can even think about replacing it. How will you know whether it’s “old”? If the gas has been sitting in your lawn mower for longer than a month, it’s considered old. Many people believe that a good old whiff of it is enough to tell whether or not it’s still good.

When dumping out the old gas from the gas tank, you need to drain the fuel tank and bowl and wipe it out to make sure there isn’t any old gas residue remaining. Once the gas tank has been cleaned thoroughly, you can go ahead and replace it with new gas.

If you left gas in your lawnmower over winter and it doesn’t want to start now, check out this video by Nx2overide for easy steps on how to get it to start by dumping out the old fuel:

If you’re looking to purchase some new fuel, TrueFuel comes highly recommended. This gasoline will be available at your local hardware store so it’s easy to come by. This fuel doesn’t contain any ethanol, it runs clean and it doesn’t get “old,” no matter how long it’s been in your lawnmower.

While TruFuel is a bit more expensive than regular fuel, it’s definitely a healthier option that’ll protect your machine in the long run. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather splurge on expensive fuel now rather than buy a whole new machine every couple of years.

If you’re someone who doesn’t need to use their lawn mower regularly and you fear that you’ll need to dump out old gas from the gas tank pretty much every time you need to use it, you can add a fuel stabilizer to it to keep the fuel fresh for much longer, for even as long as two years! This is a great way to avoid wasting expensive fuel when you rarely need to bring out your lawn mower.

When using a gas stabilizer, make sure to only use it on fresh gas. If it’s applied to old gas, it’s only going to prevent it from getting worse, but it’ll do nothing to help it regain its freshness.

Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer comes highly recommended because it’s effective in all types of gasoline, it prevents corrosion to your fuel tank and it’s safe to use in any engine that takes gasoline.

This video by DANDLINC on YouTube does a great job of explaining and demonstrating what you need to do if your lawnmower refuses to start after sitting:

Check The Carburetor

It is extremely important to keep your lawn mower’s carburetor clean, whether you use it regularly or once in a while. One that isn’t cleaned regularly will result in a faulty lawn mower engine, a corroded carburetor and regular replacements of parts.

Routine maintenance of your lawn mower’s carburetor can be done using a carburetor cleaner spray. These sprays are easy to come by and make for quite a cost-effective solution.

To clean your dirty carburetor, you will first need to remove the air filter and then spray it. Leave the sprayed air filter untouched for a while so that it breaks down any grime and dirt. You can then wipe it all off with a clean cloth.

If your carburetor has a float bowl, you also need to make sure it is cleaned well. You can do this by first removing the drain plug and dumping out the fuel. Then, you can spray it with the carburetor cleaner spray. If the spray doesn’t work well enough to clear all the dirt off, you might need to take your carburetor apart and give it a deep cleaning.

Carburetor deep cleanings should always be done very carefully because it is very important that it’s put back together again properly. If it isn’t done correctly, your lawn mower will start to leak gas, which isn’t good!

Check The Spark Plug

If your spark plugs aren’t clean or fully dry, the dirt, grime and moisture within them will cause two of their electrodes to malfunction. These electrodes can also start malfunctioning if they’ve been used for a long time. The easiest solution is to simply replace the old one with a new spark plug, and thankfully, they’re definitely one of the most cost-effective lawn mower parts.

To replace your faulty spark plug, first make sure that the mower’s engine is cool. Once you remove the wire from the spark plug, clean it properly to get rid of any dust or dirt, and then clean off any rust from the metal parts.

Using a socket wrench, remove the old spark plug and screw in a new one. It should be firm but not too tight. While you’re at it, you should also replace the spark wire and connect it to the spark plug. When you’re done, run the engine to make sure you’ve done it correctly.

Your spark plugs can tell you a lot about the health of your lawn mower if you examine it properly. For starters, having a lot of dry deposit around the electrodes could suggest that your lawn mower engine seal is broken or that your fuel-to-air ratio is imbalanced. Unfortunately, the spark plug is often the first part of a lawnmower to degrade and require replacement.

If there’s corrosion or discoloration at the end of the spark plug that fits into the mower, you definitely need to swap it out for a new one. There’s no harm in trying to clean it up a bit and reusing the existing one, but if you still can’t shake off the feeling that a thorough clean isn’t good enough, just go ahead and get yourself a new one.

If the mower’s spark plug itself is faulty, you can remove it with a wrench and wipe away the black deposit with a clean cloth. If it has a brown deposit, there’s nothing to worry about because that’s normal. Make sure that it is fitted back into the socket properly so that it doesn’t come loose.

On the other hand, if you notice that your mower’s spark plug is wet, it’s a sign that there’s a gas leak that’s allowing fuel into the combustion chamber. This means that your lawn mower will require a service from a professional to properly investigate.

Remember to remove spark plugs before your conduct any sort of lawn mower maintenance to avoid any accidental starts.

Check The Main Jet

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, but keeping the different parts of your lawn mower maintained is key to having it run well without any hiccups along the way. The same goes for your lawn mower’s main jet. The main jet is one of the most important lawn mower parts and your lawn mower will pretty much not even start if it’s not clean or if there’s an issue with it.

Mower Cord Pulls Back and Won’t Start. Hurts Hand When Starting. Fix Briggs and Stratton Engine

To clean the main jet, you will first have to remove the spark plug cap and turn off the fuel valve. Then, you’ll need to remove the carburetor bowl, drain the fuel tank and then check it for any dirt or old gas.

If you find any blockages in the main jet, you can spray it with carburetor spray and then gently push a wire through it if you suspect there’s more dirt that hasn’t yet been cleared. Apply spray cleaner once again after the wire has been removed and you should be good to go!

Remember that most lawn mowers work by allowing fuel to flow through the main jet to the carburetor and then into the combustion chamber. So if any of these parts require cleaning or changing, you’d need to prioritize them, or else your lawn mower won’t start.

Change The Oil

Checking the oil in your lawn mower is as important as making sure it has fuel to run! When checking the oil, pay attention to whether it contains good quality oil, whether there’s any residue in it and whether there’s enough of it in the lawn mower. Most lawnmowers have small engines so they don’t require much oil at all.

To check whether your lawn mower needs an oil change, first find the fuel cap on the crankcase and clean the area around it before opening. To inspect the oil, you can use a clean cloth or a dipstick.

To change the oil, remove the spark plug and then locate the oil drain plug. Drain the oil by turning the lawn mower onto its side above an oil pan or a layer of newspaper and then wipe it clean with a cloth or tissue paper. Make sure that no dirt or debris falls into the crankcase.

When all the oil has been drained, put back the drain plug and make sure it’s fitted on tightly (you don’t want any new oil seeping through!) You can check out this article and consult your lawn mower’s owner’s manual to check what oil is required for your specific mower. Fill it up and then run the mower’s engine to check for leaks.

While your oil may not be the primary cause of a mower that doesn’t start, it should definitely be considered as a contributing factor.

YouTube user Repairclinic.com does a great job of explaining the many potential reasons why your lawnmower isn’t starting in this video:

Check Whether The Air Filter Is Clogged

A smooth flow of oxygen is an important aspect of a well-running machine. Having a clogged intake filter will have a massive impact on how your lawnmower operates, and it might even cause it to not start at all!

The two types of air filters in lawnmowers are called foam only and dual element. The foam filter traps dirt and debris when the motor oil is used and should be cleaned once every three months.

The air filter of a lawn mower has a guard which prevents carburetor debris and dirt from reaching the engine. If this air filter gets too clogged and hasn’t been cleaned for a long time, it’ll affect the engine and the lawn mower won’t start.

Clean or replace the air filters regularly, such as after every 25 hours of use. There’s a different method to changing a clogged air filter on push mowers and riding lawn mowers. To find the correct method, you need to consult your lawn mower’s owner’s manual. The following steps to replace a clogged intake filter can be used as a guideline.

To replace the foam filter, you will first need to remove the screw and the existing clogged filter. Throw out the clogged intake filter and clean the area before inserting a new one. When you’re ready to fit in a new one, soak it in new oil and then remove any excess oil using a clean cloth if it has been exposed to too much oil. Reassemble the filter and reinstall the carburetor.

To replace a dual filter, you will first need to remove the knob and then use foam pre-cleaner on the filter. If the clogged air filter is too worn out or filthy, it may be best to replace it instead. Remember that dirt and debris can very easily slip through air filters that have the slightest perforation, so in my opinion, replacing them with new ones is always a better idea.

Different lawn mower makes will require varying air filters. Many air filters are compatible with multiple lawnmower models.

Check The Brake Cable

Your lawnmower may not start if the brake cable is too loose. You can pull the brake handle and then pull on the brake cable to check the tension on the brake. This way, you’ll be able to determine whether it is properly tense or whether there’s any give.

To check whether this is the reason why your lawnmower isn’t starting, you can hold the brake cable tight while trying to start it. If your mower starts, you’ll know that it’s the brake cable that’s the issue. To set the cable properly, you can use a crescent wrench and some vice grips.

Check The Flywheel Key

The flywheel key in lawnmowers is the wheel that starts spinning when you start it. If a hard object like a rock happens to hit against it with full force, this can result in a broken flywheel key. This, in turn, will prevent the lawnmower from starting when you pull the cord.

To check whether the flywheel key is the issue, you will need to first remove it from your mower. This can be a little tricky because the nut that keeps it in place in the mower is typically very tight, but in order to loosen and remove it, it needs to be completely stationary.

Clean Out The Mowing Deck

The mowing deck is where grass clippings are collected as the lawnmower makes its way through your lawn. When the clippings haven’t been cleared out in some time, they tend to clog the mowing deck. This is especially so if you’re mowing wet grass. A clogged mowing deck will prevent the lawnmower blade from turning.

The main sign of a clogged deck is if the starter rope is difficult to pull or appears to be stuck. Place the mower onto its side and examine the underneath of the mower. Be extra careful if you have a riding mower and try to avoid this step if you can. Use a trowel to loosen up and get rid of any clumps of grass clippings that may be in the way.

To prevent this from happening again, you can do a quick clean of your mower every time you finish mowing so that you prevent build-up.

How To Make Sure Your Lawnmower Starts After Sitting

Proper Storage

If you know that your lawnmower isn’t going to be used for a while, such as over winter, you need to make sure that it is stored in a safe place that’s going to protect it from the elements. For winter storage, a garage or garden shed would be best. Any area that’s away from a furnace or water heater will be suitable.

Use Gas That Doesn’t Contain Ethanol

Ethanol has been known to damage small motor carburetors over time. While gas without ethanol is more expensive, it’s definitely worth the extra investment, as you’ll be saving on replacement parts and regular trips to a lawnmower mechanic.

Get Professional Lawn Maintenance

While there are many things we can DIY at home, some things are best left to the professionals. Taking care of the day-to-day maintenance of your lawnmower is great, but when it comes to annual servicing and major repairs, it’s better to hand it over to a professional lawnmower mechanic to sort it out for you.

You may be incurring a cost by engaging with a professional, but it’s definitely a worthwhile investment that’ll boost your lawnmower’s life span and keep you off the lawnmower market for a good couple of years.

FAQs

Why Is It So Hard To Start My Lawn Mower?

It is so hard to start your lawn mower because it could have a loose or dirty spark plug, a dirty air filter or fuel filter, or fuel may not be reaching the engine. You can clean the spark plug and air filter and tap the side of the carburetor.

Why Does It Take 10 Pulls To Start My Lawn Mower?

It takes 10 pulls to start your lawn mower because the fuel filter is filled with debris, the spark plug is faulty, the battery is damaged or it doesn’t have fuel to run. A faulty engine will take more pulls to start because it won’t combust the oxygen and fuel.

Can I Use Vegetable Oil In My Lawn Mower If I’m Low On Money?

You can use vegetable oil in your lawn mower if you’re low on money. However, this can only be done without any modifications if you have a diesel engine mower. Vegetable oil isn’t recommended for regular use because it can do more harm than good, such as damaging the engine.

Final Thoughts

Let’s face it: lawn mowers are expensive machines. If there’s a chance you can fix your existing mower and restore it back to working condition, you should definitely take it!

There’s nothing worse than wanting to get your yard ready for spring but your lawnmower just doesn’t want to cooperate. I hope my article has helped you figure out why your lawn mower may be acting up after sitting for a while and that these tips help you ensure that your mower runs smoothly!

Leave a comment below if you found this helpful! I’d love to hear from you.

Last update on 2023-05-25 at 06:29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

I Can’t Pull My Lawnmower Cord Hard Enough – What To Do?

Getting a lawnmower to start can be hard. Some people don’t have enough strength to pull the cord and get the blades moving. Others aren’t in good physical health, so pulling the cable has become much harder. Sometimes, the mower won’t start even when strong people are pulling on the cord. Luckily, there are many different methods you can use to make it easier for you to pull your lawnmower’s cord and get the machine working.

Along with making sure the mower is in working order, you can also adjust height settings, so it is easier to start. Other than that, making sure that you are using the correct form while pulling the cord is crucial. If all else fails, you can buy a better pull cord handle, or a specialized pull starter tool.

In the remainder of this article, I’ll list and discuss various troubleshooting tips if you can’t pull your mower’s cord or if successfully pulling the cable doesn’t start the mower’s engine.

If You Can’t Pull Your Mower’s Cord Hard Enough

The following are a few things you can do to easily start your mower if you can’t get your cord to pull hard enough:

Check Out the Mower’s Parts

Sometimes, a lawnmower will become impossible to start after you’ve used it for many years. This quite often occurs because a part of the mower isn’t working correctly.

To start the mower, you need to release the flywheel brake; if this part is broken, the mower won’t start. Other parts, such as a chipped blade, can put more stress on the mower, making it harder to use and making the cord harder to pull.

A small piece not working correctly, such as the recoil spring, can shift the burden onto the cord, requiring large amounts of energy to get the mower going.

Some common issues that can lead to a cord being harder to pull are hydro locking. which usually occurs because of oil spilling into the exhaust area, and a misshapen crankshaft. The misshapen shaft can generally be detected due to the noise it makes.

The off-ness of the shape causes the cord to be hard to pull. In such cases, it is best to replace the crankshaft to make the lawnmower easier to start.

Find Better Cord Handles

Most lawn mowers have cord handles that are in a “T” shape. These handles tend to restrict the amount of energy you can use from your hand; this makes it so that when you pull on the cord, a lot of energy gets wasted.

To make maximum use of your energy from pulling the cable, you need a handle that allows for greater use of the hand.

A popular choice is a ball or other round design that will fit into the palm of your hand. These handles can be bought at hardware shops or stores that sell lawnmowers. Such handles will make it easier to pull the lawnmower’s cord.

Use Tools for Easier Pull

For those who are suffering from a medical condition and can’t pull the lawnmower cord any harder, special tools can be used to make it easier to pull the cord. Tools like a pull starter make it effortless to pull on lawnmower cords.

The hand of the cable is attached to the mechanism, which then pulls the cord up and down repeatedly until the lawnmower starts. The device also works for other cord activated machines such as a leaf blower and edger.

This is the ultimate tool to use if you are unable to pull the cord and don’t see yourself becoming strong enough to pull it anytime soon. The device is also a good pick for those that need to protect their shoulders from injury. However, the tool costs roughly 300, so it is a costlier alternative to pulling on the lawnmower cord or starting it by other means.

Adjust the Height of the Lawn Mower

A typical lawnmower problem that can make it challenging to start the machine with a pulling cord is the height of the mower from the ground. The height of a lawnmower is adjustable, allowing consumers to decide how tall they want their grass to be.

However, if you want your lawn short but start your lawnmower in tall grass, the grass height will get caught in the blades and make it harder to start the mower.

To make pulling the cord easier, shift the lawnmower height up to start the machine, then lower it back down to your desired grass height to begin cutting.

Use The Correct Form To Start Up Your Mower

Using the correct form to start up your mower can make things a lot easier.

Here’s a trick I learned over the years: Grab on to the mower’s handle with your off-hand, while holding the cord in your main hand. Now, quickly pull on the cord while at the same time pushing the mower away with your off-hand.

If done correctly, this can nearly double the amount of force you can put into starting your mower. It takes a bit of practice to get it right, but once you master it things will be much easier.

Ask Someone For Help

When I was younger, me and my mom had a lot of trouble starting up our old lawn mower.

We managed to start it with team effort – she would hold onto the mower’s handle, while I used my full body weight to kinda “jump into” the pulling move, eventually starting up the mower.

This is not optimal by any means, but it can work fine if you are out of ideas.

If All Else Fails—Build Up Your Arm Muscles

If you’re still struggling to pull the lawnmower cord due to strength alone, it could be a good idea to consider building up the arm muscle to pull the cord more easily. You can do this in multiple ways.

Lots of gyms have specific machines that are designed to build muscle in the same places in the arms that are necessary for pulling a lawnmower cord.

If you can’t make it to the gym, you can just pull out the spark plug in the lawnmower and practice pulling ; taking out the spark plug keeps you from wasting gas in starting the mower up.

If Your Mower Still Won’t Start After Pulling the Cord Hard Enough

In some cases, it may be that you are pulling your lawnmower’s cord hard enough—it’s just that something is preventing the machine from starting at all. Here are a few final troubleshooting tips to try in these situations:

Check the Spark Plug

The kind of spark plug you have in your lawnmower can determine whether you can start the mower or not. Spark plugs that are old or don’t function well make it harder for the engine to start.

This usually results in the person using the lawnmower needing extra muscle to get the machine running.

Make sure that you invest in good spark plugs that will hold up well over time. NGK spark plugs are high quality and perform well in most situations.

Be careful while installing the new spark plug. Plugs that are screwed in too tight don’t work correctly, rendering the lawnmower unusable.

If your spark plugs seem to be in good shape, they may only need to be cleaned of any residue on them that could be preventing a spark from happening.

Check the Valves

Valves that are not adequately looked after usually lead to problems with starting lawnmowers.

In fact, valves that aren’t set up correctly in the first place will make it nearly impossible to start the machine. The valve usually causing the trouble is the overhead valve.

Make Sure There’s Enough Gas

While keeping a full tank of fuel in your lawnmower seems like a given, a lot of people forget to fill the tank after mowing their lawns. For a lawnmower to be able to start, it needs to have fuel for the engine to run on.

While the addition of fuel is a rather obvious step, it’s essential to recognize that forgetting the fuel can cause lots of problems for the lawnmower. Trying to start a mower without gas multiple times is likely to damage the mower.

In addition, if you’ve been using the same fuel in your mower for months, the problem could be that it simply needs to be replaced with fresh gas.

In Conclusion

A lawn mower’s cord can be difficult to pull for a variety of reasons. If the cable is hard to pull because something is wrong with a lawnmower part, it is best to fix the piece to make pulling the cord easier. If you are unable to pull the cable due to a lack of physical strength, there are multiple ways you can make it easier to pull the cord.

These ways include adjusting the lawnmower to better suit your needs as well as buying special tools to make starting the lawnmower easier. You can also make starting the mower easier by simply working on becoming stronger.

However, don’t rule out that you could be pulling your mower’s cord hard enough and that there could be something wrong with your mower that’s making it difficult to start at all. By following the above troubleshooting tips, you can get your mower started and going in no time.

Hi! I’m Peter, the owner of BackyardGadget. Working around the house has always been a big part of my life. I’ve created this site to share my experience, and to help people choose the right tools for the job. Thank you for stopping by!

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Lawn Mower Hard To Start When Cold – Why?

At the opposite ends of the season – in early spring and late fall – you’ll likely have to start up your mower when it’s cold outside. Colder conditions often cause problems for power tools and other outdoor equipment, and lawn mowers are no different. If your lawn mower is hard to start when cold, you’re probably wondering if there’s anything you can do about it. Am I right or am I right?! I’m going to cover a few things you can try and a number of things you should check if you’re having problems.

The Main Reason Why Lawn Mowers Can Be Hard to Start When It’s Cold

There’s one main reason why a lawn mower can be harder to start when the weather is colder – the oil. As the temperatures drop, oil flow is poorer than usual and that makes life tough for your mower’s engine.

You see engine oil is very important as it lubricates all of the internal engine components. In the colder periods of the year, it might not do its job quite as well, and that’s when you might see that your mower is either harder to start or sputters initially after starting up. After the engine warms up the oil will start flowing better and it’ll run smoother.

For this reason, I’d recommend you be really vigilant of your oil level during colder periods of the year and keep it right on the “max” level that is recommended for your mower. This will make it easier for the mower to get the oil flowing than it will if you only have the reservoir half full.

Check Your Oil Level and Quality Before You Try to Start Your Mower

During the colder weather, it’s important you get into the habit of checking your oil level before you try to start your mower up. You need to do this while your mower is on a level surface, otherwise the reading you get might not be accurate. Pull out the dipstick, see what level it’s at and add some more if necessary. You can even check it twice just to make sure.

Another thing to be vigilant of when you’re doing this is whether your oil looks dirty. Dirty engine oil is going to affect your mower just the same as too little oil; it’s going to be harder to start. If you notice the oil is dirty, remove it and add some fresh oil.

The Type of Oil You Use Matters: Some Function Better in Colder Weather

There are lots of different types of oil that can be used in a lawn mower, and some work better in colder temperatures. Using a 5W-30 or 10W-30 oil if your mower manufacturer states it’s safe to do so (check the user manual before you go ahead and buy some), will likely improve things if your lawn mower is hard to start when cold.

These oils remain thin even in lower temperatures, which means they’ll flow into the engine right away when you start it up, thus ensuring the engine runs smoothly.

Other Things to Check If Your Mower is Hard to Start in Cold Weather

If you have your oil topped up and you’re still finding your lawn mower hard to start when cold, there are a few other things you can check.

Has Your Gas Gone Stale?

This will be more applicable in early spring than it will in late fall. If you’ve just started using your mower again after the winter break and forgot to winterize your mower, it’s possible that the gas you have in your tank has gone stale. Gas starts breaking down in as little as 30 days and this process can coat the inside of your tank and the carb in a gummy substance. When you try to start your mower up with this still inside, it could get into the engine.

You’ll need to drain the gas and give the tank a thorough cleaning. You could also try adding some fuel stabilizer and see if that will allow you to get it started.

Is the Spark Plug Dirty or Damaged?

The spark plug is super important, but I think a lot of folks don’t realize that it needs to be maintained just like other parts of your mower. At least once per year you should remove it, check it and clean/replace it if necessary. It’s possible you could have flooded the engine at some point (here’s how to start a flooded lawn mower by the way) or that the spark plug just needs replacing as you’ve been using the same one for so long.

If it looks black and there’s a build-up of carbon, take a wire brush and give it a thorough cleaning. If that doesn’t work or it’s obvious that it’s broken when you inspect it, you need to buy a new one and install it. If this was the problem, your mower will be up and running again in no time!

Check the Fuel Line Filter

If your fuel lines are clogged (quite likely if the gas in your tank went stale), your mower is going to have a hard time starting no matter what time of year it is.

Check both your fuel line and the fuel filter to make sure this isn’t the case and sufficient fuel is able to flow into the carb. If it’s been a while since you last did this (or maybe you’ve never done it?), you might want to replace these parts to be on the safe side. It’s very cheap to do so and your mower will thank you!

Is the Air Filter Clogged?

One other part of your mower that can make starting it difficult (although not just when it’s cold) is the air filter. Your gas mower needs enough air to burn the fuel and a clogged filter can prevent that.

So remove it and check that it’s clean enough. Replace it if necessary.

Summary: A Process of Elimination

I think you’ll most likely find that the reason your lawn mower is hard to start when cold has something to do with the engine oil. Either that there’s not enough, it’s contaminated or that it’s not suitable for use in cold temperatures as it becomes thicker and doesn’t flow to the engine as easily.

But honestly, it’s just a process of elimination. Do those checks on the oil first, and if that doesn’t improve things, check the gas and the gas tank, the spark plug, the fuel line and filter, as well as the air filter.

You should see some improvement if you’re willing to invest a bit of time.

About Tom Greene

I’ve always had a keen interest in lawn care as long as I can remember. Friends used to call me the “lawn mower guru” (hence the site name), but I’m anything but. I just enjoy cutting my lawn and spending time outdoors. I also love the well-deserved doughnuts and coffee afterward!

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I have 2 Snapper tractors with 44R Briggs engines. When they sit idle for a few days, I have to crank and crank to start. I use only non ethanol gas. The chokes are fully closed. A good flow of gas comes out the fuel pump. If I squirt a shot of ether into the carb both start immediately. They both crank good. Been that way since new. Any ideas?

Hi Carl, Well, if the lawn mower runs fine once you have sprayed starter fluid into the carb and you don’t have any issues, then this would rule out a lot of problems. The carb jet, the spark plug, the fuel system, and the fuel are good. So, I would be looking at the choke. Unfortunately, you didn’t mention the model number of your lawn mower engine, but I am pretty sure that it has an auto choke. I wrote an article about problems with auto chokes and how you can fix them. https://lawnmowerguru.com/lawn-mower-automatic-choke-problems/ I hope this helps! Tom.

Lawnmower won’t start when hot, what to do

On a nice day you take your trustworthy lawn mower outside with the intention to trim your lawn. But somehow your Lawnmower is not running smoothly. You discover that it starts and runs fine when cold. However, starting it again when it is hot is an awful experience.

So the question is why is the mower difficult to start when hot? The main culprit is presumably a failing coil, but there can be other reasons as well. In this article, we will look at the various reasons and how to resolve the situation.

Lawnmower won’t start when hot:

A Defective Spark Plug not igniting the fuel
High/Low oil level
Flawed fins foundation of Overheated Engine
Loose nuts and bolts become the basis for leakage of air, causing insufficient air supply to the combustion.
A restricted Carburetor due to a faulty auto choke causing engine flooding
Problematic Compression due to inoperative valve
Presence of alcohol in oil.
Faulty ignition coil.

If you are unsure how to troubleshoot the problem, we have broken down the steps in simple and user-friendly instructions.

Common troubleshooting steps when your lawnmower does not start when it is hot:

We have identified seven reasons why your Lawn Mower will not, or is difficult to start when it is hot.

Defective Spark Plug

One of the most common causes of lawnmower engine not cranking is due to a faulty spark plug. There is a minimal gap between the two electrodes of the spark plug. It ignites across that gap and aids the proper air.gasoline mixture to combust and produce power. If this gap does not fulfill the optimum length requirement, the combusted heat widens the gap enough to shut down the mower. The spark plug’s spacing should be fixed according to the details given in your Lawnmower’s manufacturing manual. over, the electrode can also weaken due to wear and tear.

Secondly, the buildup soot can also affect spark creation, and this incomplete ignition gives a hard time for the engine to start when hot. The hot start failures are mostly due to the wrong plug fitting. As we already know that the lengths and heat ranges are specified for spark plugs. Initially, you must inspect the correct plug code with your engine maker. It is an excellent practice to have a spare spark plug with you as it permits you to fix your problem swiftly by restoring the plug with a good one. After examining the sparking plug, if you find its components are not smooth, you will see that the issue is resolved, and your time is saved just by restoring the plug.

You can also not repair a defective spark plug; it is recommended to replace your spark plug at the start of every season.

Faulty plug wire

Plug wires are copper coils looped around a metal core. They work as the high voltage passes through them, searching for ground; positive voltage bounces from the plug electrode to the ground. The spark plug provides a perfect path to ground the voltage and spark ignites. This process took a couple of milliseconds. If we provide a relatively shorter path to the ground for the coil voltage, it will eventually shut down the mower engine because the voltage is not reaching the plug.

Therefore, when we emancipate the bail lever, the coil voltage achieves an ideal track to ground, the engine shuts off suddenly. And everyone wants a short cut whether it is human or machine. The engine will not run intermittently if any abrasion is faced by coil control wire against the ground source.

When the engine starts, massive combustion occurs; high-temperature values cause’ high resistance to the voltage flow, which is why plug wires generally breakdown when the mower is hot and begins operating again when the engine cools down. A precautionary measure always keeps your lawn mowers in ventilated areas because the greatest enemy of plug wire and electrical components is moisture.

Malfunctioned Carburetor

Your engine requires fuel or is getting too much air in a failing carburetor, which is the biggest obstacle in its smooth running? We’ll try to figure it out here.

– Does the engine gets enough fuel

Let us check whether the engine is lacking fuel or not. Lawnmowers may be fitted with different choke types (auto choke, manual choke, or a priming bulb) to start a cold engine and smoothly enrich the fuel mixture. Usually, the auto choke carburetors are prone to supplying extra fuel to the cylinder when starting hot; this phenomenon floods the spark plug with fuel that leads to a no start. The gummed-up and sticky choke located inside the Carburetor is another cause for the hindrance in the starting engine, as it fails to provide the proper fuel ratio. Because it malfunctions, the engine stops working.

– Does the engine gets enough air

Another origin is the lack of ample air or provision of extra air for the flooded engine. The auxiliary air could be from a vacuum leak somewhere in the engine or a carburetor fault, whereas the air’s absence might be due to clogged air filters. For the appropriate AFR, remove the air filter and clean the air filters and chokes; otherwise, the air-fuel ratio is off. Gas engines perform their best when the air-fuel ratio is 14.7 to 1 that mean 14.7 parts of air to 1 part of fuel.

Most lawn mowers will typically have a lever to sway choke; advanced engines now offer a thermostatically controlled automatic choke system. So if you have an engine (auto-choke) with a hot start problem, go ahead and change the Carburetor. It is good to check the choke linkages, thermostat if exits, and clean the choke and air filters. If any of the elements has gone wrong, then the engine will stop. So, it is better to replace the faulty components if cleaning is not successful.

Low oil level

Engine components like coils and plugs will stall when they are above the optimum temperature limit, and the low rise in engine temperature is observed when the oil level is low. Also, an initial start or push cannot be generated if the engine has a critically low oil level to protect the engine because it serves as a basis of coolant and lubricant in the engine. So, whenever you fill the gasoline, make sure you have checked the oil level.

Overheated Engine

Another frequent cause of motor engines not starting when hot is the overheated engine. The lawnmower engine may look small, but it generates a tremendous amount of heat when in operation. To dissipate such extreme heat, it has cooling fins. The sole purpose of the fins is to scatter the inoperable heat. However, when you mow the lawn, the grass clippings and other debris may clog or block the fins. These fins jammed with old grass stuff and debris for an extended period behaves like an insulation blanket, in return overheating the mower.

It will eventually stop running, and you will have to wait until the engine cools. The shroud or plastic housing can also trap enough dirt, debris, twigs, and clogs that will eventually lead to the engine shut off. Therefore, cleaning the fins and plastic covers once it is cool prevents the engine from stalling. What you have to do is take away the outer casing of plastic and eradicate the twigs and old grass with compressed air; otherwise, they become the prime source of holding heat close to the engine. When the engine cools, fire it up again, but it perhaps will bog down and stop once more after it overheats.

Air leaks

Loose bolts are commonly the source in a mower engine for shutting down when hot. Let me explain how. Loose bolts are source of air leaks that force an engine to sucks in too much outside air, which abandon the appropriate gas-to-air ratio. When the engine gradually heats up, the remote units expand, and all gaps become larger. Ultimately, you came across the hard running of the engine that will sooner or later shut off.

Therefore, periodically you have to tighten the bolts that keep the motor frame and engine components together to avoid this problem; otherwise, these bolts will probably lose after their overtime use and make the engine of your mower shut off. Check and tighten the bolts, especially those that are linked with the air intake to the engine block. An important tip to check at times the bolts that secure the whole lawnmower frame.

Problematic Compression

The compression issue is prevalent for mowers. It is mostly due to faulty valves. There is an easy way to figure out whether your mower is suffering from low Compression or not. If the mower’s starter rope seems to move easier than it used to be, it indicates the Compression is inadequate along with too large valve clearances, which is the foundation for another problem aggravated by a hot engine. If you do not know about mechanical components, you need to call a professional small engine repair person.

You can refer to a video as attached in this URL that explains the entire process:

Additional causes when your lawn mower does not start when it is hot:

Apart from the earlier mentioned reasons there are two additional reasons that can lead to your mower not, pr difficult starting when it is hot.

Presence of Alcohol in oil.

Sometimes, alcohol in oil may be responsible for shut off. Many manufacturers recommend regular gas or e10 ethanol. As E15 and e85, when set on fire, dissipate much heat so, it will damage the engine because of the low boiling point. And it voids your warranty. You can solve the problem by merely placing a riser or non-metallic shim between the engine and the carb.

Troublesome ignition coil

If your Lawnmower is new, though it is rare but possible, the ignition coil may have gone wrong. But if the mower is 10 years old, the chance is high. The ignition coil and condenser control the flow of electricity to the spark plug. They must be in the best state, and if they are not, they should be replaced on a priority basis; otherwise, it can cause severe problems in starting the engine.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Starter does not crank when hot, what to do?

This issue is the case of heat soaked. It is merely a matter of absorbing and retaining heat from under-hood sources, for instance, from the exhaust. This heat adds up the resistance in the starter’s electrical component, which dramatically reduces the current flow. The limited current in the starter results in improper cranking. Diagnose the battery, cables, and starter before the operation.

Why Honda lawnmower won’t start?

First of all, inspect the spark plug to see if it is damaged by using a spark plug tester. When the engine is cranking, if there is a vital spark, then the spark plug terminals are not defective and vice versa. Replace the spark plug if it’s defective.

A clogged carburetor can restrict the engine from starting, so replace it if it’s not working after cleaning. Insufficient or old fuel (gasoline) may be one reason for carburetor clogging; some components may evaporate with time leaving behind a stickier fluid that causes clogging. Old fuel also causes clogging of the fuel filter. You should check the ignition coil with an ignition coil tester for this issue, replace it if defective.

Torro lawnmower is not starting; what to do?

You should do a thorough cleaning of the mower if your Torro lawnmower is not starting. Do clean your mower’s Carburetor, and at the bottom of the float valve, there is a bolt; pull it out. Clean the tiny holes in that jet and make it sure by passing a wire through the holes. Also, clean the very tiny hole at the brass bolt’s top, which often gets clogged.

Final Remarks:

Indeed, a malfunctioning mower can be a significant source of distress. Being impatient in this case will not help you at all. Follow the systematical approach to solve the problem by checking every possibility mentioned above. The troubleshooting in the steps, as mentioned above, thoroughly takes you through all the issues. over, you will be furnished with the knowledge of what a repair person may need to resolve.

Sources:

https://anestwithayard.com/lawnmower-wont-start-after-sitting/
https://backyardgadget.com/i-cant-pull-my-lawnmower-cord-hard-enough/
https://lawnmowerguru.com/lawn-mower-hard-to-start-when-cold/
https://www.gardentoolexpert.com/lawnmower-wont-start-when-hot-what-to-do/

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