Lawn mower wont move. Here’s What To Do If Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start

Learn the reasons why a lawn mower won’t start after winter or during peak season, and how to fix those problems.

Family Handyman

Introduction

Most of the time when a lawn mower won’t start the cause is a problem with the gas or the lawn mower carburetor.

What to Do if Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start

Whatever kind of lawn mower you’ve got, the last thing you want once winter finally lifts and spring has sprung is a lawn mower that won’t start.

If you’ve taken the proper steps to winterize your lawn mower, you’re far less likely to be dealing with such issues. It’s also why you should tune up your lawn mower at the start of every season. However, it’s not out of the ordinary to find your gas-powered lawn mower not starting from time to time, so it’s important to know why your lawn mower isn’t starting and how to fix it.

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Check the Gas Tank

Let’s start with the obvious. Before you have a heart attack pulling on the rip cord, you’ll want to check the fuel. Like any gasoline-powered engine, lawn mowers run out from time to time. Maybe you forgot it was running on fumes when you finished mowing last time. It sounds simple, but we’ve all overlooked the gas tank from time to time.

Even if there is gas in the mower, if the fuel’s been in there more than a month, that could be the problem. Gas sitting around too long in the tank can get contaminated with dirt and extra moisture.

So if your gasoline has been in the mower for more than month, drain the gas properly, dispose of it correctly, and fill up the mower with new gas. It may take quite a few pulls to suck the new gas into the lawn mower carburetor, so be prepared to clean and dry the plug a few more times.

Add fuel stabilizer when you fill up the tank to help protect the gasoline in there from dirt and moisture.

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Check the Spark Plug

Start by making sure the lawn mower spark plug cable is connected to the plug itself. It’s quite possible that it got pulled off there over the winter while the mower was being stored in the garage.

If that’s not the issue, the next step is to remove the spark plug to see if it’s wet. There’s no way the engine will start if it is. So clean the plug with carburetor cleaner and let it dry. Cleaning it with compressed air isn’t enough; you need a solvent to remove oil residue. If it’s really grimy and dirty, it might be best to change the spark plug.

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Check for Debris in the Mower Deck

Grass clippings can get clogged in the mower deck, which can prevent the blade from turning. This is a common problem if you’ve cut wet grass or let the lawn get especially long and bushy between cuttings. If the cord is hard to pull, that’s a good sign that there’s debris clogging up your mower’s deck.

This is a pretty easy problem to solve. With the mower off, flip it on its side or upside down and scrape out the gummed up grass clippings. Once that’s done, you can flip it back over and start it up again.

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Check the Air Filter

The lawn mower’s carburetor regulates the mix of gasoline and air going into the engine where it’s burned to create power. Before air goes into the carburetor it passes through the air filter which prevents dirt and debris from getting into it.

If the air filer is clogged or dirty, it throws the ratio out of whack. Sometimes that results in your lawn mower smoking, and sometimes it prevents it from starting entirely. So take a look at the air filter to see if it’s dirty. If so, you can clean it or just change it outright.

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Check the Carburetor

Another common reason for a lawn mower that won’t start is a clogged or dirty carburetor. It can also cause your mower to run rough or spew black smoke when you’re trying to cut the grass. If that’s the case, you may need to clean the carburetor.

To get to the carburetor, you’ll have to remove the air filter. Once that’s out of the way, you can remove the carburetor in order to clean it.

Once it’s out, check for corrosion. If you see chalky/powdery white corrosion like this, it’s probably better just to replace it. To clean it, take it apart and spray carburetor cleaner on the parts and inside the housing. After that, put the carburetor back together and reinstall it in the mower.

Check the Fuel Filter

Like the air filter, the fuel filter prevents dirt and debris from getting into the combustion chamber of your lawn mower’s engine, taking that stuff out before the gas gets mixed with air in the carburetor. Problems with the fuel filter might also result in the engine sputtering or rough idling, even before it gets to the point of preventing the mower from starting.

To start, tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If that doesn’t work, you might have a clogged filter.

Not all lawn mowers have a fuel filter, but for the ones that do, it’s usually located in the fuel line or the fuel tank. To find out where the fuel filter is at, check your lawn mower’s owners manual, which will also tell you what type of filter it is.

If the filter is in the fuel tank, you’ll need to drain the gas from the mower into a drain pan, assuming you can’t run the engine until it’s out of gas. If the filter is in the fuel line, clamp off the fuel line before removing the filter. Once you have the filter off, you can check to see if it’s dirty and clogged by holding it up the light. If it is, install a new one. Make sure it works with this lawn mower maintenance checklist.

John Deere Riding Mower Won’t Go Forward Or Reverse: Reason Fix

There are various reasons that describe why John Deere riding mower won’t go forward or reverse. And it can be a nightmare! It’s the mowing season but it’s not working!

You are not alone. Apparently, lots of John Deere’s owners face this same issue. But it’s not that bad and there are some easy fixes!

So, in this article, I will talk about those problems and what to do about them. Sure, regular maintenance of the mower can help it to work effectively, but there are other things to learn!

Every riding mower has a significant life span, after which it either stops working or does not work efficiently. Proper maintenance is required for every mower to make it work effectively.

John Deere riding mowers can become stuck and not move forward or reverse due to three main reasons.

The fuel and air filters of the riding mowers may become clogged and negatively impact the mower’s performance.

When a fuel filter is blocked, it keeps away the gasoline from flowing to the mower’s engine in enough supply.

This results in the lawn mower stop working. A clogged or damaged air filter causes the engine to overheat quickly.

This can also prevent a lawn mower from moving forward or reverse.

Your mower engine may get damaged permanently if the fuel and air filters are not changed or cleaned regularly.

When the battery in your mower dies or fails, the mower tends to stop working. A weak battery may start the mower, but it may not have enough power to drive it.

Therefore, the John Deere mower may start but shut down soon once the power demand on the engine increases.

Riding mowers that use carburetors, gasoline to air mixtures may become damaged permanently if the filters are not changed regularly.

Problems related to the transmission of your mower can lead to an inability to shift gears. This, in turn, may prevent the mower from moving forward or reverse.

There is also a possibility of the mower getting stuck in one gear for transmission failure or damage. Shifting problems may also occur due to leaks in the transmission lines or fluid reservoirs.

If not repaired on time, the problem may cascade to the engine components like sticking valves and pistons.

Are you still wondering why won’t your riding mower go forward or reverse? The above are all the possible reasons.

Apart from the above issues, you may face other John Deere mower problems in the future!

Common John Deere Riding Mowers Problems

John Deere has an excellent reputation for producing high-quality commercial-grade mowers and is also considered one of the top lawn mowers’ manufacturers.

But even top-quality items come with some problems.

The John Deere mowers come with a hefty price tag and experience difficulty while climbing hills. However, it is expected that manufacturers will be able to reduce such problems soon.

Here is a list of some problems that are associated with John Deere riding mowers.

• Price- Along with their high-quality products, they are also responsible for setting a hefty price tag. Competitors sell mowers at the price of 1500 or under, whereas John Deere mowers start from 3000. This is a massive drawback for the market of John Deere mowers.
• Safety- John Deere also had a fair share of safety recalls, just like most huge companies. Consumers reported that when the brake was applied to the mowers, it veered left, creating a significant safety hazard. Hence, it is recommended that before purchasing any mower, you must check the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website for any recalls.
• Difficulty while climbing hills- Some consumers complained that their John Deere riding mowers face difficulty in climbing hills. Though some hills are too steep to ride a mower, some consumers have reported that their John Deere mowers cannot climb the small hills.

How To Repair The John Deere Riding Mower?

John Deere riding mower may stop moving forward or reverse due to clogged fuel or air filters, transmission failure, or battery/carburetor problem.

Here are some repairs that may help you solve the problems you face while driving your John Deere mowers.

• Replace the drive belt- When your lawn mower does not move or slows down while climbing the hills, you must reinstall the driving belt if you find it has slipped out of place. If it is damaged, try replacing it.
• Replace the carburetor assembly- It is necessary to replace the carburetor if you notice that the engine is not starting or the engine is running rough. This proves that the gas or air mix is not balanced.
• Rebuild the engine carburetor- Seals and gaskets in the carburetor wear out and leaks gas. Hence, you may use a carburetor rebuild kit to renovate a clogged or leaking carburetor.
• Tune-up the engine of your riding mower- When you witness uneven cuts while mowing the lawn, tune-up the engine of your mower. Replace the engine oil, air filter, oil filter, spark plug, and fuel filter.
• Replace the seat and the seat switch- A mower seat engages the seat switch to keep the engine running when you sit on the seat. Replace a broken or damaged seat as it may not engage the seat switch. As a result, it can cause the engine to shut off when you release the brake. Also, replace the seat switch if you notice it is plugged in but not recognizing your presence on the seat.

Following the above steps, you will be able to restart your riding mower again and drive it as well. Now, watch this video to move your lawnmower again!

John Deere L110 Won’t Move

Well, there could be many reasons behind it.

But if the motor starts okay and the Transaxle Fan drive belt is new but it won’t move, then you have a real problem.

It’s frustrating when you have everything new and yet it won’t move forward or reverse. You don’t even smell any burning smell.

Let me tell you something, it happens sometimes. You are not alone.

Many have already faced the same issue. Sometimes, it starts to move but stops while mowing and refuses to move any longer.

Let’ see how they have solved it. You can try these solutions as well.

Check the pulley splines on the transmission first. This is where most people strip the splines or the center of the transmission pully.

If this is the case, you need to replace the drive pulleys. Another thing you should keep in mind that, L110 is a flatland mower.

Don’t mow in the hills. Hills kill the mower and the pulling carts.

How Long Can A Well Maintained John Deere Lawn Mower Last?

Homeowners use riding lawn mowers to cut a large track of lawns evenly and efficiently without any extra backbreaking effort.

Such machines use similar components to automobiles, and just like automobiles, these mowers can also encounter several problems that may impact the performance.

John Deere produces and sells riding mowers because consumers prefer a lawnmower at a certain price point, and it should work fine for at least 8 to 10 years.

A lawn mower with a smaller horsepower should give 500-1000 hours only if used and maintained properly.

Engines with twin cylinders will last longer than engines having a single-cylinder, just like a V6 truck engine that lasts longer than a four-cylinder mini car engine.

A classic riding mower can clock up 1.5 hours of cutting once every week, almost for eight months. This makes it 45 hours a year.

Therefore, based on this calculation, a well-maintained mower can last for more than 15 years.

Though the average life span of a John Deere riding mower is ten years, still depending on your use and maintenance, it may work effectively for more than the average life span.

Final Thoughts

Not just John Deere, every mower has problems. A mower is just like other vehicles, which, if services correctly, can give you a better life span.

If you have a vast lawn and are planning to buy a John Deere riding mower to cut down the lawn efficiently, this article will help you know everything about riding mowers.

Here we have discussed why your John Deere riding mower won’t go forward or reverse and the process of maintaining your riding mowers so that it works effectively throughout.

Den Hicks

Traveler, food lover, interior designer, and blogger. I love gardening a lot! I designed my home myself with the help of my beloved wife. You are welcome!

John Deere Riding Mower Won’t Go Forward Or Reverse: Reason and Fix

Different reasons depict why John Deere riding cutters won’t go ahead or turn around. Furthermore, it tends to be a bad dream! It’s the cutting season; however, it’s not working!

You are in good company. Loads of John Deere’s proprietors face this equivalent issue. In any case, it isn’t so awful, and there are a few simple fixes!

In this article, I will discuss those issues and treat them along these lines. Without a doubt, standard upkeep of the cutter can assist it with working viably. However, there are different things to learn!

Why John Deere Riding Mowers Will Not Move Forward Or Reverse?

Each riding cutter has a considerable life expectancy, after which it either quits working or doesn’t work productively. Legitimate upkeep is needed for each cutter to make it work successfully. John Deere riding cutters can become stuck and not push ahead or turn around for three primary reasons.

Obstructed Fuel or Air Filters

• The fuel and air channels of the riding cutters might become obstructed and contrarily sway the trimmer’s exhibition.
• At the point when a fuel channel is impeded, it wards off the gas from streaming to the trimmer’s motor insufficient inventory.
• This outcome in the yard cutter quit working. An obstructed or harmed air channel makes the motor overheat rapidly.
• It can likewise keep a grass cutter from pushing ahead or switching.
• Your trimmer motor might get harmed forever on the off chance that the fuel and air channels are not changed or cleaned consistently.

A few Issues In The Battery Or Carburetor

• At the point when the battery in your trimmer bites the dust or falls flat, the cutter will, in general, quit working. A frail battery might begin the trimmer, yet it might not have sufficient ability to drive it.
• Subsequently, the John Deere cutter might soon shut down once the power interest on the motor increments.
• Riding trimmers that utilize carburettors, gas air blends might become harmed for all time on the off chance that the channels are not changed routinely.

Transmission Failure

• Issues connected with the transmission of your cutter can prompt a failure to change gears. It, thus, may keep the trimmer from pushing ahead or inverting.
• Likewise, there is a chance of the trimmer stalling out in one stuff for transmission disappointment or harm. Moving issues may likewise happen because of breaks in the transmission lines or liquid supplies.
• If not fixed on schedule, the issue might lead to the motor parts like valves and cylinders.

Could you say that you are asking if there is any valid reason why your riding trimmer won’t go ahead or switch? The above is generally the potential reason. Aside from the above issues, you might confront other John Deere cutter issues later on!

Normal John Deere Riding Mowers Problems

John Deere has gained notoriety for creating great business-grade cutters and is additionally viewed as one of the top yard trimmers’ makers. In any case, even top-quality things accompany a few issues. The John Deere trimmers accompany a substantial sticker price and experience trouble while climbing slopes. In any case, it is expected that makers will want to diminish such issues soon.

Here is a rundown of specific issues related to John Deere riding trimmers.

a. Cost: Along with their great items, they are additionally answerable for setting a robust sticker price. Contenders sell cutters at the cost of 1500 or under, though John Deere trimmers start from 3000. It is a massive downside for the market of John Deere trimmers.

b. Security: John Deere additionally had a decent number of well-being reviews, much like most enormous organizations. Shoppers announced that it veered left when the brake was applied to the cutters, making a considerable wellbeing danger. Henceforth, it is suggested that before buying any trimmer, you should take a look at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission site for any reviews.

c. Trouble while climbing slopes: Some shoppers griped that their John Deere riding trimmers face trouble climbing slopes. However, a few slopes are too steep even to consider riding a trimmer; some customers have revealed that their John Deere cutters can’t climb the slight slopes.

How To Repair The John Deere Riding Mower?

John Deere riding cutters might quit pushing ahead or turn around because of obstructed fuel or air channels, transmission disappointment, or battery/carburettor issues.

Here are a few fixes that might assist you with taking care of the issues you face while driving your John Deere trimmers.

• Supplant the drive belt-When your grass trimmer doesn’t drop or dials back while climbing the slopes; you should reinstall the driving belt, assuming that you observe it has gotten awkward. Assuming it is harmed, take a stab at supplanting it.

• Supplant the carburettor together- It is essential to supplant it if you notice that the motor isn’t turning over or running harsh. It demonstrates that the gas or air blend isn’t adjusted.

• Modify the carburetor-Seals and gaskets in the carburettor wear out and spill gas. Subsequently, you might utilize a carburettor remake pack to redesign a stopped up or spilling carburettor.

• Adjust the driving force of your riding trimmer. When you witness lopsided cuts while cutting the grass, adjust the driving force of your cutter. Supplant the motor oil, air channel, oil channel, flush fitting, and fuel channel.

• Supplant the seat and the seat switch-A trimmer seat connects with the seat change to keep the motor running when you sit on the seat. Supplant a messed up or harmed seat as it may not connect with the seat switch. Accordingly, it can make the motor shut off when you discharge the brake. Likewise, supplant the seat switch if you notice it is connected; however, do not perceive your essence on the seat.

Following the above advances, you will restart your riding trimmer again and drive it.

John Deere L110 Won’t Move.

There could be many explanations for it.

In any case, on the off chance that the engine turns over alright and the Transaxle Fan and drive belt is new. However, it won’t move, then, at that point, you have a genuine issue.

It isn’t enjoyable to have everything new, but it won’t push ahead or invert. You don’t smell any consuming smell.

Allow me to let you know something, and it happens once in a while. You are in good company. Many have, as of now, confronted a similar issue. In some cases, it begins to move; however, it stops while cutting and will no longer move.

Let’s see how they have settled it. You can attempt these arrangements too.

• Take a look at the pulley splines on the transmission first. It is where the vast majority strip the splines or the focal point of the transmission pulley.

If so, you want to supplant the drive pulleys. Something else you should remember is that L110 is a flatland cutter.

Try not to cut in the slopes. Slopes kill the trimmer and the pulling trucks.

How Long Can A Well Maintained John Deere Lawn Mower Last?

• Mortgage holders use riding yard cutters to cut an enormous track of yards equally and effectively with next to no extra backbreaking exertion.
• Such machines utilize comparative parts to vehicles, and very much like autos, these trimmers can likewise experience a few issues that might affect the presentation.
• John Deere creates and sells riding trimmers since shoppers favour a lawnmower at a specific sticker cost, and it should turn out great for no less than 8 to 10 years.
• A grass cutter with a more modest pull should allow 500-1000 hours provided that it is utilized and kept up with appropriately.
• Motors with twin chambers will endure longer than motors having a solitary chamber, very much like a V6 truck motor that keeps going longer than a four-chamber scaled-down motor.
• An exemplary riding trimmer can clock up 90 minutes of cutting once each week, nearly for a very long time. It makes it 45 hours per year.
• Hence, an all-around cutter can keep going for over 15 years in light of this computation.
• However, the average life expectancy of a John Deere riding trimmer is ten years. Based on your utilisation and support, it might turn viable for more than the average life expectancy.

Conclusion

Not simply John Deere, each cutter has issues. A cutter is very much like different vehicles, which, if you benefit accurately, can give you a superior life expectancy.

Assuming that you have a considerable yard and intend to purchase a John Deere riding cutter to chop down the grass proficiently, this article will assist you with having a deep understanding of riding trimmers.

Here we have talked about why your John Deere riding trimmer won’t go ahead or opposite and the method involved with keeping up with your riding cutters, so it works viably all through.

Lawn Mower Wheel Won’t Turn? – Top 3 causes

Pushing a mower isn’t fun, especially a self-drive model, they’re even heavier. But help is at hand and you are in the correct place for self-drive repair. I’m a mechanic for over twenty years and I’ve repaired a ton of these types of issues.

A mower wheel won’t turn for three common reasons:

In this post, you’ll learn how to diagnose why your mower wheels won’t turn and you’ll learn how to fix them right now.

Mower Drive Belt Worn

Mower drive systems are driven by a belt and two pulleys. The belt is fitted to the engine’s crankshaft pulley which drives a second pulley on the transaxle. The drive belt works really hard, despite this they tend to last years without issue. Belts of course wear out over time, no big surprise there.

A worn belt commonly results in the belt:

Common symptoms of a worn-out drive belt include:

Checking The Belt

To check the belt, the mower will need to be turned on its side. But before we do that we’ll need to make it safe to work on and to that, we’ll remove the spark plug wire and turn the gas off (to prevent accidental starting).

Gas tap – If your mower has a fuel tap, turn it off. You can read all about finding and using your fuel tap here “Mower fuel shut off valve”.

A mower may only be turned over with the carburetor side facing upwards. Turning a mower incorrectly will cause the engine to flood with gas and oil, possibly preventing the mower starts.

Turn over – Mower carburetor side up, need help finding carburetor side? I wrote a post about turning your mower over correctly and you can read about it here, “Which way to tilt your mower”.

Is Belt On Both Pulleys, Loose or Worn Out?

Most mowers are rear-wheel drive and so the transaxle is located at the rear wheels. All mowers employ a shield on the underside of the deck, it protects the belt, pulleys, and transmission from flying debris. You usually don’t need to remove the shield in order to verify if the belt is on the pulleys, your view is obscured but you should see enough. However to replace a belt the cover will need removing. Have your WD40 to hand as old grass eats the shield bolts.

The belt on Pulley’s – With the mower turned over, air filter side up, check the belt is fitted around the transaxle pulley and crankshaft pulley.

Tight – If the belt is around both pulleys, go ahead and check it’s tight. A loose belt won’t transfer power. It may be loose because it’s worn or there may be a missing component such as a tension spring or perhaps the transmission itself employs an adjuster to remove belt slack by pivoting the transmission.

Many basic drive systems are adjusted by removing slack from the drive cable (see below).

Worn Out – A worn belt is the root cause of many a self-drive problem.

If the belt is in place, tight, and in good condition, then move on to the next section, the belt isn’t the reason your mower wheels aren’t moving.

If on the other hand your belt is loose, broken, or has jumped off, you’ll need to replace it. It’s possible to refit a jumped-off belt, but you’ll soon be refitting again. Belts usually jump off because they are worn out.

New Belt – Fitting a new belt is a job you can take care of, however, some mowers are challenging to work on. Many will require blade removal and some may require partial removal of the rear axle.

You may find this video helpful “Self drive troubleshooting”, which includes fitting a drive belt.

Mower Drive Cable Needs Adjustment

Mowers use a belt and pulleys to get power from the engine to the axle, but all that power is useless without control. Power is controlled by way of a transaxle lever, attached cable, and bail lever at the handlebars. Cables are just like bicycle brake or gear cables, they are a two-part component – black outer casing with a steel braided inner cable, and like a bicycle brake cable, they stretch out and break over time and need adjusting and eventually replacing.

All good drive cables will have a user-friendly adjuster that allows for easy drive cable adjustment.

How To Check If Your Mower Drive System Needs Adjustment?

Test – To check if your drive cable needs adjustment, apply the drive bail lever at the handlebars and drag the mower backways.

If the cable is adjusted correctly, the drive wheels will lock, if they slip, we’ll need to adjust. This whole process is covered below or checks out “Self drive troubleshooting video”.

How To Adjust The Mower Drive System?

Locate – First locate the drive cable, follow the cable from the transaxle to the bail lever to confirm you have identified it correctly.

Now look for an adjuster screw, commonly it’s at the handlebar anchor where the cable fixes to the handlebars, otherwise an inline adjuster may be fitted.

Open – All adjusters incorporate a lock nut. Open the lock nut and adjust the outer cable to remove slack from the inner braided cable.

Adjust – Lengthen outer to remove inner braided cable slack.

Test 1 – Before tightening up the lock nut, check by applying the bail lever and pulling the mower backways (as before). Wheels should lock, readjust until they do.

Test 2 – When it’s adjusted, pull the mower backways again, this time without the bail lever applied.

The wheels should turn freely. If they don’t, back off the adjuster until they do. Now your drive cable is in the sweet spot, go ahead and tighten the locknut.

Check out this post, “Honda self propelled slow” it covers a Honda drive adjustment in greater detail, but all mowers run similar setups. If you need video help check out the “Self drive troubleshooting” which covers many of the common problems.

Mower Wheels Worn

Most mower wheels are made from plastic and many use plastic gear inside the wheel. The axle drive gear which is metal, wears away the plastic wheel drive gear and the mower drive slips at first, before eventually losing drive altogether. The only fix is to replace the wheels, most wheels are inexpensive but some Honda wheels can be spendy.

To check the drive wheel we’ll need to remove them. A single fastener in the center of the wheel removes them. However, a plastic wheel cap will likely conceal the fastener. A flat screwdriver will pry loose the cap. Loosen and remove the fastener and the wheel pulls off.

Check – Check the gears inside the wheel, if they’re worn you’ll need to replace them. Best to replace both axle wheels. This is a Honda wheel and the gear is metal, they last longer than the plastic teeth but will wear out too. Check out “Fitting a wheel video”.

Drive Gear and Pin Wear

Drive Gear – While the wheel is off go ahead and check the drive gear and axle pins. They wear out on older mowers, learn more in this post “Honda mower slow”. or, if you need video help, check out “Self drive troubleshooting”, which covers wheel and drive pin replacing from start to finish.

Axle Pins – Axle pins transfer power from the axle to drive gear and are under constant stress, and are a common drive fault. Replacing is all covered in “Self drive troubleshooting”.

If you need new wheels, check out the Amazon link below.

Hey, I’m John, and I’m a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience.

I’ve worked on all types of mechanical equipment, from cars to grass machinery, and this site is where I share fluff-free hacks, tips, and insider know-how.

And the best part. it’s free!