Lawn mower just stopped. Lawn Mower Stops After Starting a Few Minutes

Why My Lawn Mower Stops Running After A While? Expert’s Interview

The lawn mower market is huge, and it is expected to exceed 23 billion dollars by 2023 globally. The maintenance of lawn mowers is an important task for gardeners. Unfortunately, gardeners often experience several problems while using this cutting tool. Have you ever wondered about this question: why does my mower keep dying?

Why my lawn mower stops running after a while?

Three things are necessary to run a lawn mower smoothly: fuel, air, and a spark. If your lawn mower lacks any of these three things or you failed to mixed them appropriately (not too much nor too little), your lawn mower may stop running after a while.

• Why My Lawn Mower Stops Running After A While?

• Grimy Or Damaged Spark Plugs
• Mower Running On Old Gasoline
• Choking Issue
• Faulty Gas Cap
• Clogged Or Dirty Carburetor
• Excessive Amount Of Oil
• Dirty Air Filter
• Power Supply Issue
• Mower Blockage Issue
• Defective Or Lack Of Sharpness Blades
• Compression Issue

• Fixing Carburetor Issue
• Fixing Gasoline Issue
• Fixing Spark Plug Issue
• Fixing Excessive Oil Issue
• Fixing Battery Powered Lawn mower

• Systematize Your Work
• Never Run Your Mower Without The Blade
• Follow The Instruction Manual

Why My Lawn Mower Stops Running After A While?

Why does my lawn mower shut off while mowing? It depends on various reasons as per your lawn mower. Here are them:

Grimy Or Damaged Spark Plugs

A spark plug does the job of igniting the air/fuel mixture in your engine by producing a “spark.” When spark plugs become grimy or damaged, it fails to do this function properly.

A dirty or damaged spark plug may prevent your lawn mower from starting or die after running for a while.

Mower Running On Old Gasoline

You can operate your lawn mower without gasoline. However, you can’t overlook the quality of the gasoline too.

When the gasoline has not changed for a long time, or the machine sits idle for several months, a damaging residue has probably been created due to evaporation.

Your mower becomes clogged by the residue left by this process. As a result, the gas can’t flow smoothly and freely.

It makes the machine die after running a short period every time you start it. Sometimes, you may even fail to run it even after trying to switching on it.

Choking Issue

Almost every lawn mower comes with a choke to alter fuel-to-air combination. As the mixture warms up, the engine runs continuously.

As long as there is no cooler temperature for some time, it is better to turn off the choke to stop the engine from being overfilled with the incorrect combination of fuel.

However, if you keep the choke idle for a long time, the combustion chamber might be overflowed with fuel. It will ultimately make it frozen and stalls.

Under this situation, you want to leave the lawn mower idea for a few hours. Fuel drains from the combustion chamber when it sits idle.

Turn off the choke and restart it, and check out whether you can run the mower smoothly.

Faulty Gas Cap

Another possible reason could be a faulty gas cap. Though several types of gas caps are available, vented gas caps are most common for lawn mowers.

Using a vent, the gas fumes in the tank can escape while air is allowed to enter. Occasionally, you may see the check valve is not working properly, and it doesn’t support the air to go through the tank. But you will not face any issue running the lawn mower normally.

As you know, mowers run through fuel. Without sufficient fuel, it can’t run for long. So a vacuum slowly forms in the fuel tank as the level of fuel falls. When the fuel is consumed, space is filled with air.

With 15-20 minutes, the vacuum becomes pretty hard. No fuel flow will occur to the carburetor, which will ultimately cause the lawn mower to stop after running a while.

Clogged Or Dirty Carburetor

Sometimes, the carburetor of your lawn mower can be the reason for this question: why my lawn mower stops running after a while?

It is a common scenario in colder areas, where your machine sits idle for several months. As a result, during the warmer months of the year, your mower will work harder.

Whatever the reason, you want to take care of the carburetor properly.

Without the right amount of air and fuel, you can’t run your mower smoothly, and a carburetor ensures this accurate mixture.

If the carburetor becomes dirty or has some clog-up issues, it fails to do its function. Therefore, your lawn mower may stop running after a while.

Excessive Amount Of Oil

Oil is necessary to run a lawn mower smoothly. But that doesn’t mean you will keep more than needed oil in the tank.

So, what is the possibility to determine you have kept too much oil or not? When you do not see any of the reasons mentioned above, it can be associated with this problem.

The engine will emit white smoke when it is overheating due to excessive oil. It’s possible that the mower maybe works if smoke is evaporating in significant quantities.

However, you can only run the machine for a few minutes, and it will stop after a while. Excessive oil breaks down the function of the machine and stops it from working smoothly.

Dirty Air Filter

When you want to know why my lawn mower stops running after a while, the dirty air filter can be one of the reasons too.

You want to make sure the right level of air enters inside the gasoline for the ignition process. Unfortunately, when the air filter becomes excessively dirty, you can’t expect unrestricted airflow.

Power Supply Issue

Sometimes, the question of why does my lawn mower shut off while mowing may be related to a battery-powered lawn mower.

Do you always keep the mower plugged in a while using it or only use it after giving it full charge? Whatever the reason, you want to ensure there is no power as you are not using fuel to operate it.

Mower Blockage Issue

A lawn mower may stop after a while if there is any blockage issue by long grass or grass clippings.

Sometimes, the blades of the lawn mower can be clogged up by grass clipping. When you run the machine for several minutes, grass clippings prevent the blade from cutting grass. It ultimately stops the machine from working.

Similarly, excessive long grasses can also block the mower from running and even break it down.

Defective Or Lack Of Sharpness Blades

Cutting thicker grass requires sharp blades for mowers. If there is no sharpness on blades or they have become defective, you can’t cut the grass properly. As a result, the machine will stop after cutting for a while.

This could also happen if blades are loose. So make sure you attach the blades before cutting the grass.

Compression Issue

Are you still wondering about this question: why my lawn mower stops running after a while? When your lawn mower doesn’t have any of the issues mentioned above, it might have a compression problem.

Under this situation, the mower gets hot, a slight change occurs in the valve’s shape and reduces the engine’s efficiency.

Not everyone can figure out this issue because you need professional knowledge to find out the compression issue.

So, these are all the possible reasons when you want to know why my lawn mower stops running after a while.

How Do You Fix A Lawn Mower That Won’t Stay Running?

Fixing a lawn mower is essential to ensure optimum performance while cutting the grass. You can’t use a lawn mower that often stops while cutting.

So, you have already known what would cause a mower to start but not stay running. Now, let’s find the answer to this question: how do you fix a lawn mower that won’t stay running.

Here one thing you should remember that different lawn mower has different issues. So solutions will be varied based on the problem. That’s why we are going to disclose all possible solutions on what would cause a mower to start but not stay running.

Fixing Carburetor Issue

You have already learned that carburetor may become dirty or clog up. In order to deal with the dirty carburetor, you can use a carburetor cleaner such as WD-40 for super cleaning.

First of all, unscrew the carburetor bowl and then clean each part of it by spraying the solvent on the surface. After spraying the cleaner, use fabric to clean out dirt, grease, or any carbon contaminants.

Fixing Gasoline Issue

Mixing new gasoline with the old gasoline may make formula impure if the old gasoline has a larger quantity than new gasoline. So, you want to add fresh gasoline.

One of the best things you can do is buying a stabilizer to overcome the jamming up of the issue. You will find a wide range of stabilizers are available in the market. You can use the Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment or a decent one you prefer.

over, it will cost less than 10 while using it for up to 2 years. Finally, don’t forget to go through instructions to find the balance between the fuel and stabilizer in your mower.

Fixing Spark Plug Issue

Spark plugs are a handy tool, which you will easily find in nearby hardware shops. If your lawn mower spark plug becomes excessively dirty, you can use a decent cleaner with a stiff brush to clean them. However, avoid using any shot-blasting cleaner as it can lead to serious health issues.

On the other hand, if a tangled heap of carbons appears on your mower’s spark plug, replacement may be a better option. They are low-price and easily accessible, and you shouldn’t struggle to replace a new one.

Most experts suggest replacing the spark plug for each season or at least after two seasons. It will ensure you are using a trouble-free lawn mower.

Fixing Excessive Oil Issue

When your lawn mower oil tank has excessive oil, you may face difficulty running it. In that case, the solution is hassle-free straightforward.

You just remove some oil from the tank using a siphon. One tip is to add oil gradually. Before overfilling the tank, check out the dipstick position and add oil slowly. If you fear overfilling it, avoid making it full.

Fixing Battery Powered Lawn mower

Are you using a battery-powered lawn mower? In that case, you want to ensure sufficient charging while cutting the grass.

For long-lasting charge, you can use a Smart charger. Plus, when you don’t use the mower for several months, remove the battery from the machine and keep it separately in a safe place.

Lawn mower Stops After A While: How To Know When To Hire A Professional?

We have already shared all the possible issues you may encounter on what would cause a mower to start but not stay running. Also, we included several solutions, and we are expecting you have solved the issue by trying each of them.

However, if you failed to deal with the issue, it is best to call for a professional. Some other possible problems could be a faulty choke, gas tank or gas line blockage, etc.

When the problems are too complicated, professionals are the best choice. Unless you are extremely handy, you may end up damaging another part instead of fixing them.

In addition, if your lawn mower has a warranty, don’t forget to seek the manufacturer’s help. After all, it will be cost-free, and you can relieve yourself of mess.

On the contrary, if there is no warranty left for the mower, contact a nearby local shop that is popular in the area. Tell them everything about the kind of problems you are facing.

How To Prevent Lawn Mower Issues?

You have already learned why my lawn mower stops running after a while and what the possible solutions you can apply are.

Though engines are supposed to show issues after a specific time, you still want to take care of them appropriately to delay the problems.

The following tips will help you avoid lawn mower issues.

• Use a carburetor cleaner spray to keep your carburetor clean and efficient.
• You can use an engine degreaser because cleaning your engine will be easier with it.
• The oil tank should not be overloaded. You can use a dipstick to eliminate the issue.
• Don’t forget to clean the air filter regularly to prevent blockage issues.
• Changing lawn mower spark plugs after each season or at least after two seasons is a better follow-up.
• Make sure the gasoline and oil inside the tank are not too old and dirty. Using a stabilizer is a better option to keep gas fresh.
• Always keep the lawn mower engine clean after cutting the grass. It will prevent grease and dirt build-up.
• Make sure no screws or nuts are loose for any parts of the mower.
• It is best not to cut wet grass as it may cause clogged issues.
• As per your cutting frequency, it is better to sharpen the blades for smooth cutting.

Systematize Your Work

Before following a particular solution, you want first to figure out why my lawn mower stops running after a while. If you failed to figure out the type of issues you are having, you might follow the wrong solution.

Nevertheless, you are free to try each solution to remove the issues though it is time-consuming. In that case, apply the simple and straightforward solutions first and then go to complex ones.

You first want to tell yourself whether you are comfortable handling the situation of your own. As the procedure can be complicated, you may not be familiar with the basics. In that case, taking professional help is a better option to save time, effort, and hassles.

Never Run Your Mower Without The Blade

One of the most common mistakes many gardeners made is starting the mower without the blade. Aluminum flywheels are mainly used for lawn mowers, and the extra blade weight is part of the system that powers the flywheels.

As you know the basics of how a lawn mower works, the system will experience an increase in inertia due to this.

You will face difficulty starting the machine without blades due to a lack of spin momentum when switching on the machine.

Follow The Instruction Manual

Different lawn mower functions differently. You may need to follow a different method to take care of your mower.

In that case, following the instructions provided by the manufacturer is the best way to proceed. The more you stick to their guidelines, the better lifespan for the machine you can ensure.

Try to avoid any actions which are asked to. Following wrong guidelines may damage the mower or reduce the efficiency of the machine.

Conclusion

It is not a trouble-free job to maintain your lawn mower. But when you regularly do the maintaining job, you can prevent frequent occurring issues.

Ensure you always wear hand gloves while working on the mower engine to keep your skin safe from oil and gas.

Remember, if you don’t have enough knowledge of what you are doing, you shouldn’t do it. Consider getting expert help to solve the problem. Doing it yourself may damage some essential systems or parts of the mower.

Hopefully, you have gotten the answer to this question: why my lawn mower stops running after a while?

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Last update on 2023-01-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Lee Safin was born near Sacramento, California on a prune growing farm. His parents were immigrants from Russia who had fled the Bolshevik Revolution. They were determined to give their children a better life than they had known. Education was the key for Lee and his siblings, so they could make their own way in the world. Lee attended five universities, where he studied plant sciences and soil technologies. He also has many years of experience in the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a commercial fertilizer formulator.

Thoughts on Why My Lawn Mower Stops Running After A While? Expert’s Interview

Lawn Mower Stops After Starting a Few Minutes?

Some people enjoy mowing the lawn and many don’t. One thing’s for sure, though – if you have to fight with your Lawn mower to even make it work properly, a boring but simple chore can quickly turn into something far more frustrating that will have you pulling your hair out and kicking the machine in exasperation.

If your Lawn mower starts then stops after a few minutes, there could be several reasons. Here, we’ll look at what could be causing the problem and give you some suggestions for how to fix it.

Be systematic

If your Lawn mower is playing up, the key to fixing it is being systematic. To be able to repair a problem, first, you need to locate and identify the problem. To do this, you need to work through all the possibilities one by one to eliminate them until you find the cause of the issue.

Once you identify the problem in this way, you can then begin to think about what to do to rectify it.

Here, we’ll work through the different possibilities, starting with the most basic and common before moving onto the more complicated issues that can arise. In this way, you can eliminate each one until you discover what’s wrong with your machine.

Here’s a video that shows you how it’s done.

Lawn Mower Possible problems

Are you out of gas?

Since we said we’re going to begin with the most basic issues and work from there, we’ll start with this. Sometimes, people see their mower stop working and automatically assume the worst – but you could just be out of gas.

Check to see that your Lawn mower has not run out of fuel. If it has, you’ve already found your answer.

Is there another problem with the power supply?

The same is true if you are not using a gas-powered mower. Is the battery out of charge? Or if it is a corded model, has it come unplugged? Is there a power cut? You need to eliminate these kinds of possibilities before you move onto more technical areas.

If you have a self-propelled Lawn mower, an electric cordless Lawn mower or anything else that doesn’t run on gas, don’t forget to check the power supply before you look at anything else!

Are the fuel lines clean?

One problem can be that when you run out of fuel, if there is any debris in the tank, this will be sucked into the fuel lines and stop it from restarting. If your mower doesn’t restart after running out of fuel, make sure the fuel lines are clear and try again.

Is it a problem with a spark plug?

The next thing to check is the spark plug. Is it clean? Is it old? Is it properly attached?

If it is not properly fixed in place, simply make sure it is attached correctly and try again. If it is dirty, this will also prevent it from working correctly so give it a quick clean.

If your spark plugs are old, they may also begin to fail – in this case, you should replace them. In fact, changing your spark plugs is not expensive and should be part of your annual early spring maintenance schedule before the growing and mowing season gets underway.

Is the air filter blocked?

Another reason a mower might start and then stop is that the air filter becomes blocked. If this is the problem, then it’s good news because it’s easy to fix since most mower filters are cleanable.

Check to see if the filter is blocked and clean as necessary – then try again to see if this has solved the problem.

Is the mower blocked by grass clippings or long grass?

These are two related problems. First, if grass clippings clog the blades, this may cause the engine to stop after running for a while. After checking the problems mentioned above, the next thing to look at is whether the blades are clogged with grass.

If you see that a build-up of clippings is preventing the blades from turning properly, this is another easy problem to fix. Simply clean underneath the mower and remove all lumps of grass and try again.

Sometimes mowers can also stop because the grass you are trying to cut is too long. If your mower stopped as you attempted to cut a longer patch of grass, this could well be what was to blame for the mower breaking down.

Again, check that no grass is clogging up the blades and then adjust the cutting height to a higher setting. You may find that this resolves the problem.

Dull, damaged or loose blades

If your blades are not sharp, are damaged or are not properly attached, this may also cause the engine to stop, especially when cutting thicker grass.

Making sure the blades are in good condition and are properly attached should also be a part of your annual mower tune-up in the spring. Even if they don’t cause the engine to stop, dull blades tear grass rather than cutting and can damage your lawn.

Low oil level

Another quick fix is to check the oil level. If you are running a Lawn mower that is low on oil, this could cause it to cut out after running for a while. If you check the oil and find it is low, simply ensure it is topped up properly and you’ll be good to go.

Compression problems

If you have checked everything above and still can’t discover the problem, you may have a compression problem. This may be because as the mower heats up, the valve changes shape slightly, making the engine less efficient.

This kind of problem is more difficult to diagnose, and unless you are comfortable tinkering with engines, you might be better off having a professional have a look at your mower for you.

With specialist equipment that you probably won’t have available at home, a professional can identify the problem – and can then resolve the problem. The fix will usually involve realigning the valve lash, something that not everyone is capable of doing by themselves.

Be systematic – work from obvious and simple to more complicated

The key to identifying the problem is being systematic. Start with the most obvious answers – like running out of fuel – and work from there. By eliminating each possible issue one by one, you will eventually be able to find the problem. Once you identify why your mower stopped you can start to think about how to rectify the problem.

My Lawn Mower is Not Getting Gas to Spark Plug [5 Fixes that Work]

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It is frustrating when your lawn mower won’t start. I’ve seen this problem even with new gas-powered mowers. After extensive diagnosis and experience, I’ve found the most common cause is that the lawn mower is not getting gas to the spark plug. But that’s not all.

When your lawn mower won’t start, chances are it is not getting gas to the spark plug. Common causes include a dirty air filter, spark plug, and carburetor. To fix these issues, replace the fuel filter, clean the carburetor and spark plug, and replace the fuel if it is old as illustrated below.

What causes my lawn mower not to pump gas to spark plugs?

Gas-powered lawn mowers need gas to be pumped into the carburetor in order to start. Should anything obstruct the flow of gasoline, the engine won’t start. And even if it does, it’s likely to fail after a couple of minutes.

Here’s what causes mowers to not efficiently pump gas to the spark plug and ignite:

A dirty air filter

The air filter on a carburetor cleans the incoming air of dust and other debris that could cause damage to engine parts. Over time, the air filter could get clogged up, thus affecting the flow of oxygen to the engine.

When the engine does not get enough oxygen that helps with fuel combustion when the spark plug ignites your lawn mower won’t start.

Manual choke left turned on

The choke is a shaft-mounted valve within the air intake chamber of the carburetor. Its function is to block the airflow for improved suction and consequently facilitate a more efficient engine start-up.

While some chokes are automatic, some mower motors have manual chokes that the user has to turn on and off by themselves.

If you leave a manual choke on several minutes after starting the mower, the carburetor will likely flood up, leading to starting failures the next time you try to start up your lawn mower.

Clogged filters in the fuel pump

powerful mowers, such as ride-along lawn mowers, make use of fuel pumps to pump gas into the engine – instead of the gravity-feeding system that’s common in most push-along mowers.

If the filters are clogged, your lawn mower won’t start because gas will not reach the spark plug.

Stuck open valves

If the intake and exhaust valves don’t seal fully due to sticking, build-up of debris or normal wear and tear, compression is hampered, consequently creating ignition problems.

If the intake valve becomes stuck, this affects the efficiency of the flow of the air/fuel mixture to the cylinder, resulting in a lawn mower that won’t start.

Signs your lawn mower is not getting gas

There are several issues that could be causing your lawn mower not to run, including electric faults within the spark plugs as well as the causes I’ve listed above.

For instance- if your spark plug is wet, you definitely can’t get your motor to start. However- more often than not- the issue is usually caused by the cutting off of efficient fuel supply to the spark plugs.

Here are a few signs your lawn mower is not getting gas to the spark plug and won’t start due to the inability to pump gas to the engine:

Lawn mower won’t start completely

If you totally can’t get your mower to start, there could be issues with the efficiency of fuel flow to the engine.

• This is usually caused by debris collecting and blocking crucial components of the fuel intake system such as the throttle, primer button, carburetor bowl, and the fuel filter.
• A malfunctioned fuel pump.

Such clogging hampers the efficient flow of gas to the spark plugs.

Riding lawn mower starts then stops running

If your fuel tank is full, but your mower still comes to a stop after just a few seconds, it’s highly likely that the hole atop the tank’s cap has been blocked by dust and debris.

This cuts off the back pressure needed to push fuel out of the tank and into the carburetor – by cutting off air supply into the tank.

No gasoline odor

If you can’t get your mower to start and at the same time can’t sense any gas smell coming from the motor, your lawnmower has definitely run out of fuel.

Most mower brands typically include a dipstick attached to the screw cap. A dipstick is used to check the fuel level within the gas tank. It will typically have low and high-level markers.

• Dip the dipstick into the gas tank to check the gasoline level.
• If the fuel mark is below the low-level mark, it means you’re running out of gasoline and that’s why your mower won’t start.

In this case, refill the gas tank then try starting the mower again to see if the problem will have been fixed.

See also my guide on the type of gas to use with your lawn mower

How to Fix a Lawn Mower that’s Not Getting Gas

Some of these problems can occur when in the middle of mowing. A dirty spark plug, for instance, may cause your lawn mower not to have enough power for mowing. Fuel pump and filter problems too can make it not to start.

Here are simple DIY fixes you can use to correct the problem and start the lawn mower again.

Use fresh or new fuel

I found that for Craftsman mowers, old fuel tends to clog up the carburetors and cause difficulty in the flow of gasoline. As such, you should always ensure that the gasoline in your tank is as fresh as necessary.

• A good way of keeping stored oil fresher for longer is to use a gas stabilization product.
• Use a high-quality fuel stabilizer for small engines such as the Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment.

This solution will prevent fuel degradation by reducing oxidation. Your fuel will stay clean and fresh for longer.

Replace the fuel filter

If you own a Husqvarna mower and it won’t start, the most likely cause would be a clogged fuel filter. This usually happens if you’ve left fuel in your mower for long.

The best fix is to drain off the old fuel from the gas tank and replacing the filter.

Clean the carburetor

For MTD mowers, the most common cause of fuel not getting to the spark plug is a clogged-up carburetor due to the buildup of debris.

To fix the problem, clean up the carburetor by taking out the fuel bowl and spraying the carburetor with some carburetor cleaner.

A clean carburetor will get your MTD lawn mower motor running again.

Here’s a video on how to clean the carburetor on your lawn mower:

My mower won’t start

Starting problems with your lawn mower fall into 2 basic causes: fuel problems and ignition problems. The following is a simple checklist you can follow to help isolate a possible cause. This is not an exhaustive guide and certainly not a repair manual. However, there a few steps you can take before taking it to the repair shop for a thorough fix.

Fuel

This is the first and most obvious thing to check, especially if you weren’t having startup problems last year. Be sure that the machine has an ample supply of fresh fuel. It’s amazing how often people will get their mower out of cold storage the first warm day in spring and find their mower just won’t start. Forgetting that they left the fuel in the tank from the previous year. Today’s fuels don’t age well. In fact today’s gasoline is much like milk and starts to go bad quickly, often in as short a period as 60 days.

Ignition

Make sure that the ignition switch is on, that all attachments are disengaged and that the transmission is in neutral. Most machines have safety mechanisms that will not allow them to start otherwise. Consult your owner’s manual for the starting procedure for your machine.

Make sure the spark plug wire is firmly attached to the spark plug.

If it still doesn’t start, check for a spark by removing the spark plug and grounding the hex part of the spark plug to a bare metal part of the engine. Remove any spilled gasoline that is nearby first, then spin the engine by pulling the rope or turning the key. You should see a blue spark jump across the plug gap. If you have a good hot spark, skip to the carburetor section.

lf the spark is yellow and weak, or there is no spark then the first thing to do is try a new spark plug. Don’t try cleaning the old one. Set the new plug gap to the proper spec (usually 0.030) and check for spark again. If you do see a spark, install the new plug and try to start the machine.

If there’s still no spark, try cleaning and setting the points on older machines, or replacing the electronic ignition module on newer machines. Before replacing the old module test it by disconnecting all the wires from the module terminal that connect to the kill switches and recheck for spark, if you do see a spark then a wire or switch is probably defective. Also check the flywheel key. That affects the spark timing, usually the key will need replacing if you strike something while mowing and the engine stops.

Checking the carburetor and fuel system

If the fuel is fresh, you have a good spark and still won’t start, you must make sure that fresh gasoline is getting to the carburetor. Make sure that the fuel shutoff valve (if present) is opened, and that the fuel line is not plugged or kinked.

Also be sure the fuel cap vent is open and any screens in the tank are clear of debris. If fuel can flow to the carburetor, carefully place 1 teaspoon of gasoline down the spark plug hole (or a add shot of starting fluid into the carburetor throat). Re-tighten the plug and try to start the machine. If it runs for a second or two, then quits, chances are the carburetor needs to be serviced (disassembled and cleaned inspected, then rebuilt) or you have an air leak somewhere.

Make sure all mounting screws or bolts are snug and gaskets are not missing sections. If the carburetor is a bowl-type check for water in the bottom of the bowl (but do not let the float swing all the way down or the float needle will fall out!).

Hopefully, this will give you a little insight in what to look for if your mower won’t start. Most starting problems are fuel related because the previous year’s fuel wasn’t removed. You may have gone years without removing the fuel at the end of the year without having any starting problems. There is a chemical process called varnishing that puts a coating on the inside workings of your fuel system. Over time this process continually worsens until your system becomes inoperable.

Precautions

Gasoline can ignite very easily. Work only in well-ventilated areas and away from sources of heat, sparks, and flames. Always wear safety glasses, and be careful of sharp blades. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.