Push mower recoil starter. How to Recoil Lawn Mower Spring

15th August 2023

How to Recoil Lawn Mower Spring?

ColumbiaFlorist Staff. 11 Jun 2020

I recently noticed that my lawn mower was not starting even though the pull cord was in good working condition. I also noticed that whenever I tried to start my mower, the pull cord does not recoil back into the housing. I told my neighbor about this problem, and he told me it was not a big issue, he said I should check my recoil lawn mower spring and fix it. He assured me that it was a very easy thing to do, and that motivated me. I decided to fix my recoil lawn mower spring and here are the steps I followed to achieve this:

Our other guides you might also be interested in:

Remove the Engine Cover

The engine cover should be detached by removing the screws on the engine cover. This will give you access to the recoil assembly, depending on the type of lawn mower you have. You might need to remove the engine tank in order to have access to the recoil assembly of some types of lawnmowers.

Remove the Screw from the Recoil Assembly

This will make it possible for you to detach the recoil assembly from which you can remove the pulley either with a screwdriver or a wrench depending on the bolt that is holding it.

Remove the Starter Spring

The starter spring is below the pulley. Remove it and replace it with a new starter spring on the recoil assembly. The next thing is to place the pulley over it and tighten the Screw to hold it in place and secure it.

Re-tension the Starter Spring

This is done by winding it in an anticlockwise direction, after which you securely hold the tensioned pulley with one hand and the starter cord with the other hand. Slowly release the cord to allow it rewind the pulley before you pull the cord several times to ensure that it recoiled properly.

The final thing to do is to reinstall the recoil assembly into the housing before fixing the engine cover. If the recoil assembly is below the engine tank, you would need to fix it first before attaching the engine cover. All screws should be tightened properly during these procedures.

The good thing about these processes is the fact that you do not need so many tools to follow it. All you need is a wrench, a screwdriver and a replacement starter spring. A precaution to take note of during this process is to ensure that you do not lose grip of the pulley as you wind it. This is because it has so many sharp tabs that could easily give you a cut if care is not taken.

Remember that your mower has very little chances if starting if your recoil spring is not properly fixed or completely damaged. The above steps take nothing more than 20 minutes to achieve, and you can get to do it on your own without the help of a specialist.

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Lawn Mower Pull Cord Hard to Pull: Causes and How To Fix It

Having a lawn mower pull cord hard to pull is not an uncommon issue in this mechanical device, and it is worrisome if you have already tried your best to start your lawn mower through its pull cord but did not succeed.

You may consider this a major problem because when your lawn mower does not start, it means that it is not in perfect condition. However, in this article, you will understand that you just have to do a few minor adjustments and it would be an easy fix.

Let’s start to figure out the possible issues that is causing your lawn mower to have problems affecting its pull cord.

Why Is Your Lawn Mower Pull Cord Hard To Pull?

Your lawn mower pull cord hard to pull is because of the way you pull the cord, the area where your mower is located when you are trying to start it, because it has a blade obstruction, or because of a starter mechanism-related issue.

Let’s begin to talk about each of them.

– Wrong Way of Pulling

Pulling the pull cord should be straight away from the mower, and if you are doing it in any other way, then it could cause a problem. It is possible that you are just adding friction when you are pulling the cord without being attentive to the direction your hand is going.

– Having a Blade Obstruction

Blade obstruction occurs when something is blocking or stopping the blade from moving and makes your pull cord hard to pull. This issue commonly occurs when there is small debris lodged between the blade and the mower deck or when you are starting your lawn mower in the yard.

push, mower, recoil, starter, lawn, spring

The height of the grass in your lawn might be causing an obstruction and creating resistance when you make your mower start.

– Broken Handle and Cord

The moment your mower pull cord becomes harder to pull, the handle and cord are the first things you should observe. A damaged handle and cord would make it hard for you to pull, especially because some lawn mower owners just try to reattach a broken cord and put up with a damaged handle.

Remember that it is best to replace the parts with new ones if your mower handle and the cord are already damaged.

– Hydro Locked

The hydro lock happens when a lot of oil spills into the exhaust area. The engine oil blocks the engine, and it affects the piston by preventing it from moving. This will result in the oil going on the piston as it has nowhere to go, and most of the time, this makes it hard to pull the cord.

To diagnose this issue, you have to detach the spark plug. After doing that, start the engine. As you remove the engine pressure that was released by the spark plug. it will make it easier to pull the starter rope. You will also notice that there is oil and fuel being ejected out of the hole where the spark plug is located when you try to pull the cord.

How Can You Fix It?

To fix your lawn mower pull cord that is hard to pull, you can try improving your way of pulling, removing any blade obstructions, changing the lawn mower handle and cord, or fixing the hydro lock.

These methods will help you fix the mower in no time.

Now that you know the possible reasons that could be causing this issue, you are better equipped to fix your lawn mower pull cord that is hard to pull.

– Improving Your Way of Pulling

Observe your lawn mower and observe the direction in which the rope comes out of the recoil starter. Then, go into a position where you can pull the starter rope without adding resistance. This way, you would end up having a smooth and easy pull.

Here’s an additional technique: brace the mower in its place using your off-hand while your main hand pulls the cord. This action will make sure that as you pull, the energy that you are releasing would apply to the rope alone and not to the mower.

– Removing Blade Obstruction

The next time you start your mower’s engine, observe the length of the grass where your mower is sitting, and compare it to your mower’s height. If you see that the blades of grass can create an obstruction, then try moving your lawn mower to your driveway or any flat surface where the blade can turn freely to prevent the starter rope from becoming hard to pull.

Here’s another tip: try lifting the front part of the lawn mower before pulling out the starter cord, and it will be easier to pull.

– Changing the Handle and Cord

As soon as you discover that the handle and cord are broken, replace them immediately as they are essential components for your lawn mower start engine.

Changing this part requires plenty of steps, so we have below a step-by-step guide on how you can carry it out.

Here are the tools you will need:

Socket Wrench
Needle Nose Pliers
C-clamp
Pair of Scissors
New Cord
New Handle

Here are the steps to follow:

Detach the engine cover: Using a socket wrench, detach the bolt that stabilizes the engine cover.
Detach the Recoil House: Once you have removed the engine cover, lift it up and set it aside.
Tie a Knot in the Cord: In the next step, hold the cord and tie a knot in it. The purpose of this knot is to prevent the cord from returning back into the recoil house in case you accidentally let go of it.
Cut the Cord: Disrupt the starter handle, and set it aside using a pair of scissors. Be careful not to cut off the knot while cutting the cord.
Pull out The Cord: Pull the entire length of cord in the housing until there is none left.
Clamp the Recoil Hub: By this time, get the C-clamp. Use it to keep the fully extended cord in place, and put it on the starter. Make sure that it is tightened just right to prevent damaging the starter.
Remove the Old Cord: In the interior of the starter hub, you will see the end of the cord that has a knot, take a hold of it, and pull the cord out of the interior.
Engage the New Cord in the Starter Hub: Put on the new cord throughout the house, and keep in mind that its length should match that of your old cord.
Tie the New Cord in the Starter Hub: With the brand-new cord in hand, look for the inside end of the cord, and tie a firm knot on it. Make sure to cut the excess cord in the knot using your scissors.
Engage and Tie the New Cord to the Handle: After tying a knot, engage the cord through the handle and tie a knot at its end.
Remove the Clamp: Hold the cord close to the starter hub. Expect the recoil spring to draw back the cord into the housing as you remove the clamp, so get a firm grip on it.
Push in the Cord and Test: Release the cord slowly, and let the recoil spring take it in. Once it is done, do a test run by pulling the handle and letting the spring take back the cord.
Reattach the Recoil: If everything is perfectly fine with the cord, the last step is to reattach the recoil back into your mower and give it a try again.

– Fixing the Hydro Lock

Actually, you are halfway through the process of fixing the hydro lock as you inspect the engine by removing the spark plug. Another thing you have to do is to remove the oil from the engine by removing the spark plug, covering its area, pulling the starter rope, spraying an engine starter, installing the spark plug, and then trying to start the engine.

Conclusion

Having a lawn mower pull cord that is hard to pull is an uncommon issue, but it is definitely an easy fix.

Just keep these key points in mind:

Use the right technique when pulling the cord.
Make sure that there are no obstructions before you start to pull the cord.
Make sure that the handle and cord are in good condition.
Fix the hydro lock as soon as you diagnose any issue.

While your lawn mower pull cord becomes hard to pull because of a variety of reasons, there are also a lot of ways for you to deal with it. With the problem solved, you can go back to maintaining your beautiful lawn in no time!

Lawn Mower Pull Cord Not Catching (This Is Why)

Without a pull cord, we’re going nowhere. Unlike a car, we can’t boost it. Hey, I know the feeling when your day doesn’t go to plan. Not to worry, you’ve come to the right place.

Why is my lawnmower pull cord not catching? The most likely cause of the mower pull cord not catching and turning over the engine is worn Pawls.

What are Pawls?

Pawls are spring-loaded arms that catch the flywheel and turn over the engine. In this post, we’ll look in more detail at what a Pawl is, what it does, and, more importantly, how you can take action today and get it fixed. Strap yourself in!

This post covers pull cord issues pretty well. However, if you need video help, check out “Pull cord faults video.” It covers diagnosing pull cord problems and their step-by-step repair processes.

Pull assembly pawls

Pull Assembly Components and What They Do

Pull cords work hard and do give their fair share of problems. Having an understanding of how a pull start works will help when repairing. Let’s just take a minute to understand the basic components involved.

The main components of your lawnmower pull start system include:

Pull cord
Handle
Pulley
Pulley recoil spring
Pulley cover
Pawls
Flywheel pawl receiver
Pull assembly housing

The most common pull cord problems listed in order of commonality include:

Pull cord snapped
Broken pull cord handle
Pull cord recoil spring failure
Damaged pull cord pulley
Damaged pulley pawls

The Pull Cord

The pull cord is the most likely component to fail. The pull cord wraps around the pulley, and the pulley lives inside the pull assembly housing. Replacing the pull cord will require removing the pull assembly housing. I wrote a post about it here, “Replacing a pull cord.”

The pull cord is the most likely component to fail. The cord wraps around the pulley, and the pulley lives inside the pull assembly housing.

Replacing the pull cord will require removing the pull assembly housing. I wrote a post about it here, “Replacing a pull cord.”

The Pull Cord Handle

Pull cord handle often breaks as the handle can sometimes fly loose during the starting procedure.

The problem is, the cord may retract back inside the mower. This will require removing the pull start housing to re-tension the spring and fit the new handle.

The Pulley

When fitting a new pulley, best to opt for the spring and pulley combined. Springs can be difficult to handle, and the combo, for a few extra dollars, saves a lot of frustration. The pulley is central to the whole mechanism.

Its functions include guiding, feeding, and storing the pull cord, retaining the recoil spring, and housing the pawls. Pulleys are made from plastic and will often crack, causing the cord to bind. Replacing the pulley will require removing the pull assembly, and it’s better to replace the pulley and recoil spring together.

Pulley Recoil Spring

The pulley recoil spring is responsible for retracting the cord after pulling. The spring lives in the center of the pulley and is anchored against a spud on the pull assembly housing.

To replace the spring (usually replaced with the pulley), the pull assembly housing will need to be removed and also the pulley. If you fit a pulley spring, check out “Replacing a pull cord”

The Pulley Cover

The pulley cover is also made from plastic. Its functions include fixing the pulley axle in place and guiding the pawls in and out.

Pulley covers are made from plastic usually and can simply crack due to wear and tear. Replacing will require removing the pull assembly housing but not the pulley.

The Pawls

The pawls are also made from plastic, but some models use metal. Their function is to fly outwards under centrifugal force caused by the pulling of the pull cord.

When the pawls are flung out, they catch on the flywheel receiver, which causes them to couple. The engine now turns over, and when the engine starts, the pawls retract.

Flywheel Receiver

The flywheel receiver (fixed to the engine flywheel) seen here has four recesses. The pulley pawls will catch two of these (whichever is closest) and turn the engine over.

Best 3 Ways To Install A Recoil Starter Spring On A Small Engine | Lawnmower Etc.

The flywheel pawl receiver is a metal cup fixed to the flywheel. When the pulley pawls connect with the receiver, they couple and crank over the engine. Receivers don’t generally cause much trouble.

Pull Start Assembly Housing

The pull assembly housing (also known as the blower housing) is, as its name suggests, the outer cover that retains the various pull-start components.

The housing is commonly made from plastic and usually doesn’t cause problems. Most repairs will require removing the pull assembly housing. Removing them isn’t difficult.

Some housings will be large and cover the whole engine, while others will be far more user-friendly and just be large enough to house the pulley.

Pull assembly – Housings will vary in size. Yours may be smaller and less work to remove.

Replacing Pawls

A mower that won’t catch and turn the engine most likely has a faulty pawl issue. The pawls are made from plastic, as you know, simply wear out. There are other possible reasons that the engine won’t catch and turn, and we’ll look at them below. Check out the pull start troubleshooting video here, which covers all the main faults and the repairs, and if you need parts, check out the great pull starter deals on the Amazon link below.

Remove plug wire – It’s always best to remove the plug wire before working on your mower; it prevents any possibility of it starting.

Remove Honda housing – The housing on a Honda mower is held with three fasteners and is typical Honda – very user-friendly.

Remove housing – The housing on other mower engines may require a little more work to remove.

Test pull assembly – Test the assemblies by pulling the pull cord – the pawls should shoot outwards from under the pulley cover.

Remove cap – Honda fixed their cap using a Torx head screw. It’s important to know that it is a left-hand thread. Meaning to remove the screw, turn the Torx head clockwise. (right)

Other types may use a clip; the clip just slides off, but I place a rag over the clip when removing as this guy can fly, and you could spend a whole afternoon searching and still never find it.

Remove pawls – Your pulley pawls may be worn, damaged, or just dry. Remove them to examine. The pawls should fit snugly in the pulley; if they’re loose, they’re worn. On the top side of the pawls, you should see a spud; it sits on the track of the cap.

If the spud is missing or worn, go ahead and replace the pawls. If, however, the pawls are just dry, put some silicone grease on them, reassemble and test.

The pulley cap must also be checked for wear and damage. A damaged cap will prevent the pawls from working.

Fitting pawls – Add a small amount of lube on the new pawls and cap, it will help them work smoothly, and they’ll last longer.

Reassemble, test, and refit your plug wire, and you’re all set; nice work you!

Other Possible Pull Starter Issues

So what if my pawls and cap look good? What else could cause the problem? Other possibilities include:

The pulleys are made from plastic; they don’t outlive the engine. A cracked or worn pulley will cause the pawls to bind and stick. Replacing a pulley is a little more work, but it is a job you can take care of yourself. I’ve written a post about it here “Pull cord repair”.

A damaged receiver isn’t very common, but it can happen. Most are made from metal and are durable, but others are made from plastic, and you know what happens to plastic. So if your pawls looked fine, FOCUS your attention on the pulley and receiver.

Flywheel receiver may be plastic or metal – check for damage, wear, or misalignment.

Lawn Mower Won’t Pull (Causes How to Fix)

A stuck pull cord is a problem we all will face from time to time. You’re all set; the mower’s out of the shed, the tank is full, and the blade is sharp. But you pull the starter cord and nothing. It isn’t that your lawn mower pull cord is hard to pull – it’s totally stuck! Trust me; I’ve been there. So let me share the most common reasons why a pull cord gets stuck and what you can do to get back to cutting within the hour.

Why Won’t My Lawn Mower Cord Pull? (The Short Answer)

There are several causes why your pull cord could be stuck. A jam in the deck area, seizing in the engine, or a problem with the recoil starter.

A Closer Look at Why Your Lawn Mower Won’t Pull

You will notice that these problems are not centered in one area. So knowing where to start is going to save you from wasting time trying to fix something that may not be broken. Let’s look at the problems and how to address them.

Diagnosing a Jam in the Deck

First, you want to check for any obstructions in the lawn mower deck and for anything that could be damaged or misplaced. Start by removing the spark plug from the lawn mower and tuck it out of the way. Even though the mower won’t start, there could still be a charge in the spark plug that could fire up the engine. So, it’s best to be safe. With the plug disconnected, tilt over the lawn mower so you can inspect the deck. Just remember to tilt the lawn mower over the correct way.

Debris in the Lawnmower Deck

It’s as simple as it sounds. Something might be stuck in the deck, meaning the lawn mower blade won’t turn. If your blade is bolted onto the crankshaft and the blade is wedged, then the pull rope will not pull. A stick, rock, or garden hose could be the cause.

The Debris Shield is in the Wrong Place

If you ever pull your lawn mower backward, the debris shield that stops the grass from flying all over may be facing the wrong way. First, check to see if the shield is on the inside and coming into contact with the blade. If it is, the crankshaft will be stuck, as will the pull cord.

A Bent Blade

The blade could be your problem if there are no foreign objects in the deck or a misplaced shield. First, check that the blade is in good condition and not hitting the deck. A bent mower blade that is hitting the deck will need to be replaced to get the starter to work.

A Broken Shroud

Many lawn mowers have a metal shroud in the deck that helps guide the grass to the chute. These are usually made of a very thin metal that can easily damage or rust. Look to see if your shroud is hitting the blade and preventing the blade from spinning. If it is, then you’ll need to reach for your tools.

Diagnosing a Seize in the Engine

An engine can seize in three ways, resulting in your lawn mower pull cord being stuck. The first is lack of oil, the second is oil on top of the piston, and the third is fuel vapors.

So to diagnose a seized lawn mower engine, you need to test it. You have already established that the engine might be seized because the pull cord is jammed, and the top of the crankshaft will not spin. As a result, you’ll want to test the other end of the crankshaft. Start by tilting your lawn mower correctly and prop it up securely. Then, with a pair of gloves, take hold of the blade and try to rotate it by hand. You likely have a seized engine if it’s stuck or extremely difficult to turn.

Checking if the Engine is Seized Due to Lack of Oil

Simply checking the oil level on the dipstick will indicate if your mower has low oil. For example, lawn mowers can sit with low oil and become seized; this isn’t a huge problem. However, if you ran your mower on low oil and it seized in the process, the seizure could have caused extensive damage. So, pull out the dipstick and check your oil level.

How to Check Hydro-Locking

Hydro-locking is where oil has moved from the bottom of the crankcase to the top of the piston. This is usually caused by tipping over the lawn mower incorrectly and accidentally pouring oil into the piston. Additionally, using too much oil will result in the piston forcing oil into the cylinder head. Either way, the engine’s pressure stops the piston from moving and the crankshaft from rotating.

To check for hydro-locking, start by removing the spark plug and tucking it out of the way. Then, check if there’s any lawn mower oil inside the cylinder head where you removed the spark plug. If you find oil, then you probably have a hydro-lock.

How to Tell if You Have a Vapour Lock

Vapor locking occurs when fuel vaporizes. For example, the fuel can vaporize if you’re out in the heat mowing the lawn and you have a hot engine. Also, when you run out of gas and completely drain the fuel tank, the mower can suck in fuel vapors and lock the engine. The best way to check for this is to allow the engine to cool down and check if you have gas in the tank.

Diagnosing the Recoil Starter

If you have checked for obstruction under the deck and can spin the blade by hand, it’s now time to inspect the recoil starter. These mechanical manual starters are constructed of several parts that are not always the strongest and can fail quite easily.

Removing and Diagnosing the Recoil Starter

Start by removing the spark plug from the engine and set it to one side. Then, take a socket wrench or screwdriver, depending on your lawnmower, and remove the fixings that hold the recoil starter in place. This could be either directly on the engine or the cover. Then, remove the starter rope from the lawnmower handle if you find yours is attached. Once this is complete, you should have the starter completely removed from the lawn mower.

With the removed starter, give it a pull and observe the mechanism. You may find that the coil spring is broken or the rope is caught up somehow. I suggest being cautious when testing the starter, as they tend to fly apart and uncoil their spring without warning. On the other hand, if fiddling around with the starter doesn’t help it recoil, it will need fixing or replacing.

How to Fix a Lawn Mower That Won’t Pull

Once you have diagnosed why your lawn mower string won’t pull, the final step is to carry out the repair. I have put together my step-by-step guide that will walk you through the repair and a few tips to prevent issues in the future.

By my calculations, the diagnosis should only take a few minutes to complete, so you still have plenty of time to fix your lawn mower within the hour. So let’s get started. With any repair or inspection that includes the blades, you must always remove the spark plug connection and tuck it out of the way. With this done, you can move on to the fix.

Removing Debris in the Deck

First, tilt your lawn mower over the correct way. Remember, the wrong way causes problems. Depending on what you find under the deck, you should be able to just remove it by wearing a pair of gloves.

You may find that rocking the blade back and forth will help dislodge any intruders. If you happen to have something like a rope wrapped around the blade and spindle, then taking the blade off might be the quickest solution.

Start the blade removal by locking it into position so it can’t move. I like to take a 4×2 timber cutoff and wedge it against the blade. Follow this by taking a socket ratchet and removing the blade’s center bolt. Once this is done, the blade should come away from the lawn mower. As a result, you can clear the obstruction and free the crankshaft.

Turn the lawnmower back upright and give the lawnmower rope a pull. You should find the rope will pull now as you have cleared the problem. Next, tilt the lawn mower back over and reinstall the blade using your blade brace and sockets. Finally, upright the mower and reconnect the spark plug, and you’re good to go.

Tools Required to Clear a Blockage

Repositioning the Debris Shield

For this fix, you’ll need to tilt over the lawnmower to gain access to the bottom of the deck. Grab your gloves and see if you can use some muscle to dislodge the shield.

If it’s truly wedged, then a little more power is needed. I prefer to use a rubber mallet over a metal hammer as a hammer can make a mess of the shield. Start by hitting either end of the shield where it’s jammed rather than the middle. I find if you bash the middle of the shield, it ends up getting bent, which creates more work.

Just repeat going from side to side until it is free. Now when you pull the starting rope, it shouldn’t be locked up.

Tools Required to Reposition the Debris Shield

Replacing a Bent Blade

We have already discussed removing and installing a blade, so the only thing to remember is that you’ll be installing a new one this time. But, before you install the new blade, check for damage.

The bent blade could have caused damage to the lawn mower deck that needs repairing before you install the new blade. Just make sure that any damage to the deck will not cause an obstruction and recreate the problem you have just fixed.

Tools Parts Required to Replace a Blade

Repairing a Broken Shroud

Broken shrouds can be tricky to repair unless you have metal working skills and tools. For example, many lawn mowers have shrouds under the deck that are welded on and can not be replaced. However, if you have a big deck on a tractor or a zero-turn, these may be bolted on and can be replaced. In this instance, we’ll tackle a shroud welded on and jamming up the blade.

Start by tilting over the lawn mower and removing the blade. With access to the broken shroud, you can evaluate what can be done. If it’s intact, you can take a mallet and try to knock it back into place.

If a piece of it is hanging off the deck, you’ll want to cut out the section. I use my hacksaw, metal cutters, and an angle grinder if needed for this job. In the end, you want to ensure that the remainder of the shroud is securely attached and does not obstruct the blade.

How to Replace a Pull String on a Push Mower : Lawnmower Maintenance & Repair

With the broken shroud removed and the blade reinstalled, you should have no problem pulling the mower starter.

Tools Required to Remove a Damaged Shroud

Releasing a Hydro-Lock

To release a hydro-lock, start by removing the sparkplug with either a plug wrench or spark plug socket wrench. This will release the pressure in the engine’s cylinder head, and you’ll be able to pull the starter.

Next, you’ll need to remove the oil from the engine’s cylinder head. To do this, you will need to pull the starter repeatedly. This will turn over the engine and force the oil out of the hole where the spark plug goes. Pull the starter rope until nothing is coming out of the hole.

Before pulling the rope, be aware that oil and fuel will shoot out of the hole. This is fine as long as you are in a safe environment. Be careful of where it lands and maybe place something to catch it. I wouldn’t recommend doing this out on the lawn.

Next, take an engine starter spray and spray it directly into the engine via the spark plug hole. This will help get the engine started. Once this is done, you can re-install the spark plug and give the starter a pull. It may take a few pulls as the head will have oil residue inside.

If you have trouble starting the engine, add some more starter spay into it. Once you get the lawn mower started, allow the engine to run for a while to burn off the oil in the cylinder head. Finally, check your oil level and add accordingly.

Tools Required to Release a Hydro-Lock

Freeing a Seized Engine Due to a Lack of Oil

Start by topping up the oil by filling through the oil filler or dipstick. Then with a pair of gloves, rock the blade back and forth. The motion will slowly start to work the oil onto the piston. It will be tight at first, but gradually, it will loosen.

If you are having trouble, you can remove the spark plug and spray a lubricant into the cylinder head. Let this sit for a while, then try rocking the blade again.

Once you get the engine free, you need to spray an engine starter into the cylinder head and install the spark plug. In my experience, a lawnmower that has sat for a while with low oil can be freed up using this method.

If you find that the piston is not loosening despite your best efforts, the piston may be broken due to the lawn mower overheating.

Tools Required to Free a Seized Engine

Releasing a Vapor Lock

You need to let the fuel cool down to release a fuel vapor lock. You may be surprised that fuel can boil in the fuel system and turn to vapor. When there is little to no fuel left in the tank, the small fuel volume can heat up very quickly.

To release the lock, the engine needs to cool down to let the fuel turn back into liquid form. Place the lawn mower in the shade and allow the engine to cool. If you have a leaf blower, you can give the mower a blast to help the process.

Once the mower has cooled down, you can fill the fuel tank and restart the lawn mower. But, depending on your climate, your mower may heat up quickly and vapor lock again.

So what can you do? Well, if you use a fuel stabilizer, you’ll increase the boiling point of the fuel. This means you might get an extra few degrees of tolerance and be able to cut for longer.

Alternatively, try cutting the lawn at a cooler part of the day or splitting your mowing into sections. For example, cut half the lawn and then take an hour’s break. Then, once the lawn mower has cooled down, you can complete the other half of the lawn.

Recommended Approach

Use a Fuel Stabilizer
Cut at the Cooler Part of the Day
Keep a Full Fuel Tank
Split the Mowing Into Sections

Replacing a Recoil Starter

Depending on how good you are with your hands, you may want to replace the recoil starter.

If you have ever changed a rope in a starter, you’ll appreciate how frustrating it can be, especially if the spring pops out. It wouldn’t be the first time a recoil starter has been thrown at a wall. Now, a broken starter shouldn’t be confused with a snapped rope. A snapped rope isn’t going to stop the starter from turning. There just isn’t a working rope.

So, remove the starter from the lawn mower by directly removing it from the engine or the mower engine housing. Also, remove any attachment to the mower handle if there is one.

If you find a twist or knot in the rope preventing the rope from passing through the eyelet of the starter housing, you have found your issue. By untieing or untwisting the rope, you should be able to have it extending and retracting correctly. Additionally, you could find a rock or some other obstruction in the mechanism that simply needs removing. If this is the case, you can go ahead and reinstall the starter.

Unfortunately, if anything is cracked or snapped, you’ll need to replace the starter with a new unit. Exposure to fuel and oil tend to cause the rope to become brittle over time and break.

Tools Parts to Replace a Recoil Starter

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 inadvertently ran over newspaper that was covered by a bunch of leaves. It appears the lawn mower jammed and shut down immediately. Now the pull starter only moves a few inches. What to do now?

Hi Allen, I would start by removing the spark plug and then tilt over your lawn mower. Then try giving the blade a turn by hand. You might find that you still have paper jamming up the engine, or you have a bent driveshaft. But, usually, what happens when a lawn mower is stopped suddenly under the force of operation is that either the flywheel key breaks or possibly the push rods become damaged. So, when you try to pull the starter cord, the compression in the engine can’t be released. So, you’ll want to check the flywheel key first, then take a look at the push rods and valve setup. I hope this gives you a few ideas. Tom.