Post by joebill on Jun 12, 2021 21:23:02 GMT
If it will not start, you should be able to follow these steps and soon know why.
1. If it is a rotary mower, first make sure that the blade is firmly bolted on. Sometimes a user will leave a blade loose when trying to service a mower, then give up on getting it started....just take a few seconds to check.
2.Remove spark plug, put plug back on plug wire, ground the base and crank the engine. If you can SEE the spark across the electrodes, good enough. If not, clean or replace plug and try again. If no spark, that is your problem. You can also leave the wire off and hold onto it, grounding your hand to the engine and GENTLY crank the engine, and if you get shocked, then the engine is delivering spark to the plug.
3.With the spark plug installed, give the starter rope a light pull and watch the engine turn. If it always just coasts to a stop, it lacks enough compression to run. It should....at least SOMETIMES, reverse direction slightly before stopping as the piston begins to make the compression stroke, then bounces back slightly.
4.open up the air cleaner and with a small pump oil can, put one "squirt" of gasoline into the carburetor as far back as it will go, then try cranking the engine up. If it starts and runs briefly, then dies, try it a few more times. Sometimes the fuel ports will be lightly gummed up and can be flushed out this way, but not often. If it won't keep running, the carb is most likely too gummed up to let it run, and you are going to have to clean it and the tank out with aerosol choke cleaner, have the job done or replace the carb.
If a small engine is getting spark and fuel and has enough compression to run, the vast majority of times it will do so. Easy enough to do these quick tests instead of spending a hot afternoon in the sun wearing out your starter rope to no avail.
There can be other issues like water in the gas tank or an air filter plugged up tight so no air gets through, and sometimes a rotary mower will run over a huge rock and shear a flywheel key, throwing off the timing, but the above steps will most likely at least direct you to your problem if not tell you how to fix it, and you can ask questions here if you need advice on THAT....Joe
1. If it is a rotary mower, first make sure that the blade is firmly bolted on. Sometimes a user will leave a blade loose when trying to service a mower, then give up on getting it started....just take a few seconds to check.
2.Remove spark plug, put plug back on plug wire, ground the base and crank the engine. If you can SEE the spark across the electrodes, good enough. If not, clean or replace plug and try again. If no spark, that is your problem. You can also leave the wire off and hold onto it, grounding your hand to the engine and GENTLY crank the engine, and if you get shocked, then the engine is delivering spark to the plug.
3.With the spark plug installed, give the starter rope a light pull and watch the engine turn. If it always just coasts to a stop, it lacks enough compression to run. It should....at least SOMETIMES, reverse direction slightly before stopping as the piston begins to make the compression stroke, then bounces back slightly.
4.open up the air cleaner and with a small pump oil can, put one "squirt" of gasoline into the carburetor as far back as it will go, then try cranking the engine up. If it starts and runs briefly, then dies, try it a few more times. Sometimes the fuel ports will be lightly gummed up and can be flushed out this way, but not often. If it won't keep running, the carb is most likely too gummed up to let it run, and you are going to have to clean it and the tank out with aerosol choke cleaner, have the job done or replace the carb.
If a small engine is getting spark and fuel and has enough compression to run, the vast majority of times it will do so. Easy enough to do these quick tests instead of spending a hot afternoon in the sun wearing out your starter rope to no avail.
There can be other issues like water in the gas tank or an air filter plugged up tight so no air gets through, and sometimes a rotary mower will run over a huge rock and shear a flywheel key, throwing off the timing, but the above steps will most likely at least direct you to your problem if not tell you how to fix it, and you can ask questions here if you need advice on THAT....Joe