Rebuilt lawn mower starters. How to Repair Small Engines: Cleaning the Lawn Mower Carburetor

Don’t Google small engine repair near me the next time your lawnmower sputters. Learn how to do it yourself. Small engine repair is all about a clean carburetor.

Family Handyman

Introduction

Solve most lawnmower or other small engine starting problems with a simple diagnosis and a carburetor cleaning or rebuilding. It will only take a few hours, and you’ll avoid the minimum 80-plus-parts repair bill.

Materials Required

If you can’t get a small engine started, it takes too many pulls to get it going, or it runs poorly, ask yourself this: Did it sit for a long time with gas in it? Like over the winter? If so, your problem is most likely a corroded or gummed-up carburetor. Small engine repair shops earn about 50 percent of their revenue by cleaning or replacing carburetors sidelined by old gas. Look at your lawnmower carburetor next time you sharpen the blades or complete a lawn mower tune-up.

Before you start taking things apart, take a minute to confirm the carburetor is the problem. We’ll show you how to do that, as well as how to clean, rebuild or replace a lawnmower carburetor. Either way, you’ll save about an hour of shop labor (about 80). You can complete the carburetor rebuild project in a single morning, including the time scouting for parts.

How to Find Lawn Mower Carburetor Parts and Prices

Whether you buy parts from a local small engine repair shop or online, you may need all this information:

• Machine brand (Toro, Snapper, Honda, etc.), model and serial number.
• Engine brand and serial number (Tecumseh, Briggs Stratton, Honda, etc.). The engine model and serial number are usually located on a plate above the spark plug.
• You may also need numbers from the old carburetor itself, usually stamped onto the carb body or its mounting flange.
• You can buy locally, or try smallenginepartswarehouse.com or psep.biz.

Where is the Carburetor on a Lawn Mower?

The carburetor is usually located towards the top of the engine, and is connected to the gas tank.

How To Tell If Your Lawn Mower Starter Solenoid Is Bad?

A Lawnmower starter solenoid is an on/off electromagnet switch installed near the mower battery. It gets a signal from the battery as you turn on the ignition key and delivers a large wave of energy to the starter motor, allowing it to start. But how to tell if lawn mower starter solenoid is bad?

Mower engine starting failure, strange clicking noises, black smoke emission, a dead battery, or incorrect battery/electrical connections are all signs of a bad starter solenoid.

Continue reading this article to learn how to detect a bad starter solenoid and exactly how to replace it.

How To Tell If Lawn Mower Starter Solenoid Is Bad?

If you notice difficulty/complete starting failure as you try to start your mower or a weird clicking sound coming from your lawn mower, it is a clear sign that the starter solenoid on your lawn mower gradually deteriorates or has any issues.

Besides that, you can also notice one or multiple following early signs if your starter solenoid has turned bad so pay attention to ensure whether the starter solenoid is good or bad.

Causes Why A Lawn Starter Solenoid Can Turn Bad

The most common reasons behind your lawn mower starter solenoid turning faulty or bad are:

• Built-up Moisture near the engine bay of your mower
• Corroded/Broken wiring or poor (old or loose) connection
• Mower engine overheating due to warmer weather
• Excess electricity flowing inside the mower starter solenoid for an extended period
• Old or deteriorated starter solenoid

How To Test Your Lawn Mower Starter Solenoid? (6 Easy Steps)

As soon as you notice any of the earlier signs, you should first confirm that the problem is only arising due to the bad starter solenoid and that no other faulty elements are causing this error.

To confirm that you test the solenoid by following these steps.

Check the Battery

Inspect your mower battery to confirm whether it has 12 Volt or not to make sure it is fully charged.

Remember if you notice that your lawn mower battery keeps draining faster than usual, a bad solenoid is not the only driving force, and it can also happen due to other defective parts.

So, you need to test the battery to confirm it.

Take a digital multimeter to test the battery and if the battery is dead or the volt is continuously dropping, remove and replace the battery before moving forward.

Make sure the brake is locked, the blades are turned off transaxle is neutral.

Check if the brake is pressed down and it’s in the locked position.

If not, position the brake accordingly and confirm that the mower blades are turned off.

Also, make sure the transaxle is in the neutral position.

Locate the Starter Solenoid on your Lawn Mower

In some lawn mower models, the solenoids are mounted under a panel behind the steering column underneath the gas tank.

But in some other models, you can locate the solenoid under a panel between your legs if you are sitting on the mower, and on other lawn mower models, you will locate the solenoid under the panel below the mower back seat.

The actual solenoid location will depend on which model lawn mower you own, and you can confirm it with the help of your mower’s user manual.

Determine Whether it’s a Three or Four Pole Solenoid

Once you have located the starter solenoid on your mower, you need to determine whether you have a three-pole solenoid or a four-pole.

Now how to identify whether you have a three or four-pole solenoid?

Look at the starter solenoid closely and if you find three places on your solenoid to attach the wires, it is a three-pole solenoid.

But if you can see four spots to connect the wires it means you have a four-pole solenoid.

Disconnect the Bottom Wire(s) and Connect the Multimeter

Now disconnect the little wire, and if it is a three-pole, it’s going to be the only wire on the bottom.

But if it is a four-pole, it will be on the bottom left-hand side.

Now set your multimeter to DC volt 20 or anything above 14 volts.

Then take the positive side of the multimeter and attach it with that disconnected little wire.

Take the negative side to connect to the ground (whether it’s a bolt or engine frame, either one will be enough).

Test the Starter Solenoid to Confirm its Condition

Turn the ignition key to the start position. Check whether the meter reading shows at least 12 volts or something below that.

If it shows something below 12 volts, it means one of the safety switches or grounds has gone bad, and you have to investigate further to confirm that.

But if you see 12 volts, connect the little wire back to the solenoid and take the positive lead to connect to the top right-hand side cable.

Once again, turn the ignition key on and if you cannot see 12 volts, it means either you have a bad starter solenoid ground or a bad solenoid.

How To Replace a Starter Solenoid on A Lawn Mower?

The only solution to get rid of a bad lawn mower starter solenoid is to replace it with a new one _

Required Tools:

Step 1: Turn the ignition switch off to remove the key and lift the seat to remove the bolt connecting to the battery negative cable.

Step 2: Lift the insulating cover to remove the bolt connecting to the battery-positive cable. Then, lift the battery out of the battery box and release the seat switch wire harness clip from the seat bracket.

Step 3: Lift the battery box out of the mower body and set the box on the fender. Note the wires connecting locations to the starter solenoid or take a photo so that you can reconnect them accordingly.

Step 4: Remove the mounting nuts from the terminals and pull the wires from the respective posts. Now pull the wires from coil spades and take off the solenoid mounting bolt.

Step 5: Bring the new starter solenoid and connect the mounting clips. Then, position the new starter solenoid on the frame and install the mounting bolt securely. Re-insert and connect everything else accordingly.

Maintaining a beautiful lawn can be a daunting task, especially if you lack the appropriate know-how and tools to handle the challenges that may crop up. Fortunately, LawnAsk is here to offer you an all-encompassing resource that covers everything you need to know about lawn care.

Recent Posts

Lawn Mower Starter Fluid- Full Guide

It may be difficult to start your lawnmower if it has been unused for a while. Perhaps you neglected some of the maintenance, you missed properly winterizing it, or there is another reason. A regularly used lawn mower should not need starter fluid.

The best simple fix is to use lawn mower starter fluid, so you might start such an engine and diagnose where the problem is.

In this Lawn Advisors guide, we will walk you through a step-by-step detailed guide to using a lawn mower starter fluid to get it started, and it is surprisingly easy! But you’ll first get to know what is starter fluid and the pros and cons of using it.

What is Starter Fluid?

Starter fluid is a volatile and extremely combustible liquid made up of diethyl ether, carbon dioxide, and rich hydrocarbon (fuel). Typically, starter fluid is contained inside a spray can that has been pressurized.

When the trigger is pulled, the starting fluid atomizes itself in the direction of the spray in the presence of carbon dioxide. Thus, increasing its tendency to interact with and properly mix with air.

When to Use Lawn Mower Starter Fluid?

Starter fluid is used to start a difficult-to-start engine. It’s beneficial when the engine is not used frequently and for cold starts, such as in the fall or early spring. You can use it in these cases:

Engine Cold Starts

It is possible to improve engine starting in cold weather by using starter fluid. It might be very difficult to start your lawnmower in cold temperatures.

Diagnosis of a Starting Problem

Starter fluid can be used to help identify any underlying issues causing your lawnmower to not start and saves a lot of time for you.

Pros of Using Lawn Mower Starter Fluid

– It is beneficial when starting the engine, especially in the winter or cold mornings.

– It extends battery life and reduces costs for you.

– It works for a more extended period for a lawnmower.

Cons of Using Lawn Mower Starter Fluid

– It is combustible and highly likely to damage your engine.

– Your gasoline engine could become damaged if you use starting fluid frequently. The engine’s cylinder can reach an exceptionally high temperature from the starting fluid.

– Their high compression rate frequently results in the engine igniting too early.

Materials and Tools Needed

You should keep these tools and materials in hand if you want to use the starter fluid on your lawn mower:

• Wrench set
• Screwdriver
• Grip Pliers
• Collector Pan
• Cleaning cloth
• Starter fluid

How to Use Lawn Mower Starter Fluid?

Follow these steps to start your lawn mower with using starter fluid:

By using a screwdriver or Torx driver to loosen the mounting screw, you can remove the air filter housing cover from the mower.

You’ll need a 3/8-inch drive ratchet and socket to remove the upper plastic engine cover on some models. From the housing, remove the air filter.

Use a ratchet, screwdriver, or Torx driver to remove the mounting hardware from the air filter housing. Completely remove the air filter housing from the mower’s engine.

Make sure not to damage it as the filter is quite delicate!

Clean the foam air filter if you have one. First, carefully tap on any visible debris and mud to remove it. The air filter can be washed or dried-cleaned.

You can use a vacuum to dry clean it if you are in a hurry. Be careful not to damage the air filter. Use some dishwashing soap or detergent to wash it if you have more time. Before applying it, let it thoroughly dry out.

Be careful if you use an air compressor because strong air can quickly damage the air filter. If the foam air filter is damaged or has a paper air filter, it needs to be replaced if you have one.

Locate the carburetor where Gas and air from the air filter are combined before being sent to the engine.

Then clean the externals of the carburetor by spraying the carburetor cleaner and cleaning them with some cleaning cloth.

Using a clean cloth and some all-purpose cleanser, clean and dry the housing’s backplate.

Then, locate the intake duct where air enters the carburetor.

It’s now time to use the starter fluid! Start your mower by gently spraying starter fluid into the carburetor chamber.

If the idle may be adjusted, manually set the engine speed to the middle point. If available, turn the engine choke all the way up.

Pulling the starter string or turning the electronic starter key will start the lawnmower. The carburetor has to be adjusted, cleaned, or changed if the lawnmower starts for less than three seconds before stalling.

If the mower starts after three seconds but before 30 seconds, you may be looking at a case of bad fuel or water-saturated fuel.

Here’s how to use lawn mower starter fluid properly.

Lawn Mower Starter Fluid FAQ

No. Starter fluid cannot be used in diesel engines since they use a different method to ignite the fuel. It can even lead to major damage to the engine.

A gas-powered lawn mower has an average lifespan of 7 to 10 years.Your mower’s lifespan can be extended with the proper maintenance. Once a year, replace the spark plug and air filter, and after nearly 24 hours of use, replace the oil. When the mowing season is over or if you won’t be using your mower for a time, add a gasoline stabilizer.

An alternative to starting fluid is pre-mixed gasoline. The cylinder wall will dry up if the gas is not premixed, which could result in damage. You can also use WD-40 or carburetor cleaning, but those products have bad emissions.It is always recommended to use the right starting fluid per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Spraying starting fluid into the engine’s intake near the air filter or into the spark plug’s bore are two ways to add it.

Simply said, YES, it can be applied to the throttle body or used as a starting fluid. Even if there is a specific engine-starting spray, a car by cleaner can be used if you find yourself in a sticky situation.

To Wrap Up

Using lawn mower starter fluid will help you get the engine started quickly and easily, according to our Lawn Advisors research.

But it shouldn’t always be necessary to use lawn mower starter fluid to start your mower. If the engine still won’t start after cleaning or replacing the gas, air, and fuel filter, spark plug, and carburetor, you could need a new mower.

Did you experience a difficult-to-start engine? Share it with us and tell Lawn Advisors how you dealt with the situation.

Starter Replacement Guide – John Deere Lawn Tractor

The starter on my John Deere LX172 lawn mower finally gave up the ghost. Here is a quick and easy picture guide for replacing the starter on this lawn tractor. I’ve included photos of the steps as well as the socket sizes needed for all the nuts and bolts, I hope this helps make this job go a little quicker for someone out there!

If you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission – at no cost to you. I do not put any other type of ads on this site because I think they are annoying. Thank you.

Part Numbers for Replacement Starters

Check the model number of your John Deere tractor. Depending on the engine and model number, you may need one of the following starters:

• Starter John Deere Lawn Tractors 170, 172, 175, 240, 245, Kawasaki (14HP Engine)

• OEM part numbers: 12498-63010, 128000-4020, 21163-2073, 21163-2073A, AM104559
• Specifications: Type: DD, 12v, 0.7 kW, CCW rotation, 9 teeth/splines

• OEM part numbers: 390838, 391423, 392749, 394805, 491766, 497594, 497595, 693054, AM122337, AM37352, AM39137, LG497595, SM01965, 410-22003, 410-22003R, SBS0001, 5742, 5742N
• SPECIFICATIONS: 12 Volt, CCW, 16-Tooth Pinion, PMDD, 12v, CCW rotation, 16-teeth

How to Replace the Starter on a John Deere Lawn Tractor

Here is a quick summary of the steps, I go into more detail with the photos below, but sometimes it is good to have a summary with the nut and bolt sizes:

• Turn the key to the “off” position.
• Open the hood of the lawn mower.
• Remove the negative battery terminal.
• Locate the starter and disconnect the wiring harness by pressing the plastic tab and pulling it off.
• Disconnect the battery cable going to the solenoid using a 14mm socket.
• Remove the 2 starter mounting bolts (12mm).
• Slide the starter off of the engine.
• If you are only replacing the solenoid, remove the two 10mm nuts to remove it and swap with the new solenoid.
• Put the new starter on by reversing the steps.

Step by Step Instructions for Changing the Starter on a Lawn Mower

The unit I am working on is a John Deere LX172. Here it is with the hood already removed.

Turn the key to the ‘off’ position and raise the hood.

Here is a closer view of the Kawasaki engine.

Disconnect the negative battery terminal.

Locate the starter. This is a closer view of the starter location.

Disconnect the plastic wiring harness. It has a clip you should press, then pull it down and off.

Remove the positive battery cable using a 14mm socket or wrench.

Remove the two 12mm mounting bolts from the top of the starter. Slide the starter down and away from the engine.

Here is a picture of the starter once it is removed.

The part number for the new starter is 21163-2073, and here is the link:

Make sure you order the correct starter.

The correct starter for my tractor was the 21163-2073, which is stamped on the original:

I mistakenly ordered the wrong on originally. Here is a photo of the original starter (top) alongside the incorrect starter (bottom):

The starters look the same from the bottom. The main difference is the mounting hole spacing, and the fitment ring which is too big on the lower one in the picture.

For reference, the starter I needed was the 21163-2073.

The incorrect starter for me (bottom one in the picture) was this style.

Joke Break…

The teenage son walks into the living room and tells his father, “Dad, the car won’t start, there’s water in the carburetor.” The father, knowing that the son is not very mechanical, looks confused, “Water in the carburetor, that’s ridiculous!” But the son insists, so the father continues, “You don’t even know what a carburetor is, but I’ll check it out. Where’s the car?” The son replies, “In the swimming pool.”

Solenoid

If you only need to replace the solenoid, remove the two 10mm mounting nuts, and the 14mm grounding nut at the bottom. The correct solenoid is this one:

Here are some photos of the solenoid.

The solenoid removed from the starter:

To put on the new starter, reverse the steps described.

I hope this helped save you some time and effort!

Replacement Parts and Tools: