If you forgot to properly winterize your lawn mower before storing it for the winter, you may notice that it doesn't start properly. There could be a number of reasons why your push or riding lawn mower won't start after sitting all winter.
A dirty carburetor is one of the most common causes for a lawn mower not being able to start after sitting unused for months or years at a time.
While cleaning the carburetor is a fairly straightforward task, if you're not sure if this is the culprit or you're not mechanically minded enough to clean out the carburetor, you can take your mower to a local mower repair shop to get fixed.
If you're in the southeast Pennsylvania area, come visit us here at Eagle Power Turf & Tractor and our repair technicians will be happy to assist you! We're located in Doylestown PA (Bucks County) near Philadelphia and Allentown PA and Trenton NJ. Click below or call 215-348-9041 to schedule a repair service appointment. We even offer pickup and delivery for our local clients!
Important Things To Check First
While a dirty carburetor is one of the most common issues that causes a mower to not start up, it's not the only culprit. Before going to the bother of removing and cleaning the carburetor, there are a few things you should check first.
First of all, check to make sure the gas tank is not empty. I know, it's the most basic thing to check but you'd be surprised how many people forget.
Also check the oil to make sure it's not too thick, and of course to make sure that there's enough oil in the tank.
Another thing to check is the spark plug. To do this, you'll need to remove it by pulling off the rubber cover, then using a socket wrench to loosen the spark plug and remove it. Once removed, check the end of the spark plug that screws into the mower. If it's very dark, rusted, or has corrosion, you'll need to replace it.
Tried all of the above and the mower still isn't turning on? It's time to either take it into a repair shop or try cleaning or replacing the carburetor. Keep reading to learn how.
Next, Clean The Mower's Carburetor
After you've ruled out the basics (empty gas tank, thick fuel, rusted spark plug, etc), the next thing to check is the carburetor. Why could the carburetor be the culprit? If you left gas in the mower tank over winter, some of it may have evaporated leaving residue in the tank and in the carburetor, which can make it difficult or impossible to start the mower before addressing the problem.
This is easiest to fix on a push mower. In a nutshell, start by unscrewing and removing the carburetor cap, which is near the primer button. Then spray the carburetor with a carburetor spray, and while you're at it spray the cap as well and clean it out with a paper towel or cloth. Screw the cap back on, and you're all set!
It's much more difficult to clean a carburetor on a riding mower, so unless you are already very mechanically minded, at this point you should probably take your mower in for a mechanic to work on. They'll not only be able to clean or replace the carburetor if needed; they'll also be able to continue troubleshooting to find the problem if the dirty carburetor is not the cause.
If you do decide to clean the carburetor on your riding mower by yourself, consult your mower's manual for instructions since it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. It's not just as simple as unscrewing something on the outside of the mower. You'll likely have to pull up the hood, remove some covers and unscrew several parts before eventually getting to the carburetor.
What To Do When Your Mower Turns Back On
Once you've fixed the root issue that was preventing your mower from turning on, it's important to perform maintenance on your mower regularly including oil changes, replacing filters, cleaning and sharpening the blades, etc.
There are many upkeep tasks you can do at home to save some money, including checking the filters and adding oil when needed. Other tasks are best to be done on a routine mower tune-up session at a local mower service center. If you're near our shop in Doylestown PA (close to Philly, Allentown, and Trenton), schedule a time to bring your mower in for a tune up or repair!