Troubleshooting Lawn Mower Starting Problems
The air is warmer and the grass is growing – time to break out the lawn mower. Unlike your car, your lawn mower and other lawn and garden equipment are not used regularly and the time spent sitting in storage can lead to problems with them running properly.
When you take your mower out for the first time, you may encounter a variety of situations. If you are lucky, the lawn mower will start with the first pull of the cord. Unfortunately, after months of sitting around, it is likely your lawn mower may not run smoothly, or even start at all. Before you give up, here are some things you can do to troubleshoot the problem.
Causes of engine trouble
If your engine starts but does not run smoothly or doesn’t start, the culprit could be air intake or fuel system related. The problem could be the age of the fuel in the tank, dirt or debris in the carburetor or an obstructed fuel tank vent. Other causes could be a fouled spark plug or a dirty or clogged fuel filter that restricts the amount of fuel getting to the carburetor.
Change the gasoline
If this is the first time you have tried to start the engine since last fall, fresh fuel may be in order. Gasoline will go bad in as few as 30 days, especially when fuel is mixed with ethanol as it is in many areas. Ethanol attracts moisture and over time the moisture will dilute the gas.
If the fuel is old, it should be dumped into a container for proper disposal and fresh fuel should be added. Fuel additives are readily available wherever auto parts are sold and may be helpful in not only starting your engine, but also in cleaning out any gum or varnish deposits in your carburetor while the engine is running.
After adding new fuel, check the gas cap. In many small engines, the gas cap also has a vent that serves as the fuel tank ventilation. In order to work properly and supply a sufficient amount of fuel to the carburetor, the vent must be open and free of any debris.
Check the air filter
The job of the air filter is to remove dirt and debris from the air before it enters your engine. The filter may become clogged and not allow a sufficient amount of air into the engine for it to run smoothly. If the filter is dirty, it should be replaced.
Examine the spark plug
A dirty or fouled spark plug can cause your lawn mower to not start. It can also work itself loose, causing issues. If the spark plug appears to be seated correctly but the engine doesn’t start, a new one may be in order. For a few dollars, this easy fix can get your small engine working again. Be sure to use the correct replacement spark plug designed for your lawn mower.
Check the oil
Check the amount, color and consistency of the oil. If it appears dark black, change it. If the oil level is low, add the proper oil, identified by your owner’s manual, to the engine – but be careful not to overfill it!
Look at the Fuel Filter
The fuel filter keeps dirt and contaminants in the fuel from getting into the carburetor. If it becomes clogged, it can prevent a sufficient amount of fuel from passing into the combustion chamber, preventing your engine from starting. Check the fuel filter, replace it if it is dirty or clogged.
I’m still having issues with my mower – what should I do?
If you are still having problems, it might be time to take it to a small engine repair shop to have a mechanic look at it. With their expertise, they’ll get to the bottom of the problem in no time.
Learn more about Champion parts, find your car part, or find where to buy your auto part today.
Easiest Way To Fix A Common Briggs Plastic Carburetor Problem
The content contained in this article is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of seeking professional advice from a certified technician or mechanic. We encourage you to consult with a certified technician or mechanic if you have specific questions or concerns relating to any of the topics covered herein. Under no circumstances will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any content.
How to Clean Carburetor on Husqvarna Lawn Mower?
To clean the carburetor on a Husqvarna lawn mower, you need to first disconnect the spark plug wire and remove any debris from around the engine.
Next, locate the carburetor and use a screwdriver to unscrew it from its housing.
Once removed, inspect for dirt or grime buildup and then clean with a small brush or rag if necessary.
If there is significant gunk build-up in the air chamber of your carburetor, use an aerosol cleaner.
Then reassemble everything according to manufacturer instructions and reconnect all parts securely.
To finish off cleaning process make sure that all mounting bolts are tight so no fuel leaks out of your engine while running.
- Step 1: Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug
- This is to prevent accidental starting of your lawn mower while you are working on it
- Step 2: Drain all fuel from the tank and remove it, if possible
- The carburetor may be clogged with old fuel so removing and cleaning or replacing it will help clean out any sediment or dirt buildup in the carburetor
- Step 3: Remove the air cleaner assembly located above the carburetor housing, then unscrew and remove the main jet and idle mixture screw that are attached to it
- Step 4: Use a small brush such as an old toothbrush to clean off any dirt or debris from inside of the carburetor housing, then rinse by spraying some carb cleaner into it (follow directions carefully)
- Step 5: Reassemble everything in reverse order ensuring all connections are secure before moving onto reattaching your fuel tank for refilling with fresh gasoline
How Do You Clean a Lawn Mower Carburetor Without Removing It?
Cleaning a lawn mower carburetor without removing it is an important task, as this helps to keep your lawn mower running smoothly and efficiently.
The first step in cleaning the carburetor without removing it is to check the air filter for dirt and debris.
If there are any clogs, these need to be cleaned out before continuing with the process.
Once this has been done, you can then begin by spraying some cleaner into the various ports of the carburetor using a small spray bottle or aerosol canister.
This will help loosen up any deposits that may have built up within the system over time and should make them easier to remove when wiping down afterwards with a cloth rag or brush.
After all of these steps are complete, you’ll want to use compressed air (or shop vacuum) on each port of the carburetor in order to blow out any remaining dirt and debris from inside.
Finally, reassemble everything back together and give your machine a test run – if all goes well then you’ve successfully completed cleaning your lawn mower’s carburetor without having removed it!
Can You Clean a Carburetor Without Removing It?
Yes, you can clean a carburetor without removing it from the vehicle.
The process is relatively simple and can be done with a few basic tools, such as a can of carburetor cleaner, an adjustable wrench or socket set, and some rags or paper towels.
First, make sure that your engine is off and cool before beginning – this will help keep any solvent fumes away from the engine’s hot parts.
Next, locate the carburetor on top of the engine – most vehicles have them in plain sight near the air filter housing.
Once you’ve identified it, use compressed air to blow out dirt and debris from around where it’s attached to the intake manifold.
Then spray down all accessible parts of the carburetor with some carburetor cleaner – take care not to get any on painted surfaces!
Follow up by wiping away any excess dirt or gunk with a rag or paper towel until everything looks clean and free of grime.
Finally, adjust any screws that may need adjusting for optimal performance before starting your vehicle again; if done correctly your car should be running like new again!
How Do I Know If My Lawn Mower Carburetor is Dirty?
If you think that your lawn mower carburetor is dirty, there are a few signs to look for.
First, if the engine is running rough or not at all, it could be due to a clogged or dirty carburetor.
Another sign of a potentially dirtied carburetor would be black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe while the engine is running.
When this happens, it means that too much fuel is being burned and not enough air is entering the motor.
If either of these symptoms occur when starting up your lawn mower, it’s time to inspect and clean out your carburetor as soon as possible before more damage occurs.
To properly clean out and inspect the carburetor on your lawn mower, make sure you have an appropriate cleaning kit available so that you can take apart each part of the unit safely and efficiently.
Once everything has been taken apart for inspection, use brushes and cleaners specifically designed for small engines like those found in most lawn care equipment to get rid of any residue buildup within each component before reassembling them back together again correctly.
What’S the Easiest Way to Clean a Carburetor on a Lawn Mower?
Cleaning a carburetor on a lawn mower is an important step in keeping your machine running smoothly.
Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming or difficult task.
The easiest way to clean the carburetor on a lawn mower is by removing all fuel from the tank, disconnecting the air filter.
And throttle/governor linkages, and then using compressed air, gasoline-approved aerosol cleaners, or cleaning solutions to thoroughly flush out dirt and debris from all accessible areas of the carburetor.
Be sure to use eye protection when working with any type of cleaner!
Once you’ve finished cleaning the parts of your carburetor that are visible, reassemble everything and check for smooth operation before replacing any parts or making adjustments.
With regular maintenance like this you can keep your lawn mower running at peak performance for years to come!
Lawn Mower Repair : How to Clean the Carburetor on a Lawn Mower
Husqvarna Lawn Mower Carburetor Problems
Husqvarna lawn mowers are reliable and dependable machines, however they may occasionally run into carburetor issues.
Common problems can include the engine not starting at all, the engine running too slow or fast, stalling after startup, a decrease in power while mowing, or an excess of fuel being delivered to the combustion chamber.
If you are experiencing any of these issues with your Husqvarna lawn mower’s carburetor it is best to take it to a professional for maintenance and repair.
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing how to clean a carburetor on a Husqvarna lawn mower can save you time and money as well as extending the life of your lawnmower.
It’s an important maintenance task that should be done regularly in order to keep your lawnmower running smoothly.
With the steps outlined above, you now have all the information you need to properly clean your carburetor so that it provides optimal performance for years to come.
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.
Lawn Mower Only Runs With Choke On: Causes and Fixes
When your lawn mower only runs with choke on. it is obviously not normal and can be an indication of an issue. The culprit in this occurrence is probably a problem with the fuel or the carburetor.
Let us dive deep and discuss this topic to understand better the possible reasons why this is happening to the lawn mower and how you can fix this issue and prevent it once and for all.
Why Does Your Lawn Mower Only Run With Choke On?
Your lawn mower only runs with choke on because of a problem with the engine fuel-air mixture system, which can be caused by the carburetor, bad fuel, or air leaks. The choke compels more fuel in the combustion chamber to help the engine to turn over when cold.
A choke functions by decreasing the air supply, increasing the suction, and enhancing the air and gas mixture that goes into the engine. There are different possible reasons to consider when trying to identify why the lawn mower only runs with choke on.
There might be an underlying issue with any of the following: carburetor, air supply, and fuel. The lawn mower should be operated with the choke on for no longer than five minutes.
Allowing your lawn mower to operate with the choke on will give rise to several problems like irregularity in engine power performance and excessive consumption of fuel. This may eventually damage the engine, so to address this kind of lawn mower issue, let’s start to examine the possible causes and be prepared to fix them.
Let’s talk through these reasons one by one so you will be familiar about what to inspect and how to troubleshoot the lawn mower.
– Carburetor Problems
Clogging in the carburetor is the most usual problem that your lawn mower might be facing, which is why your mower runs only with choke on.
The carburetor can be easily clogged by rust or debris that are in the fuel because the carburetor has small jets inside with tiny holes in them to enable the gas delivery to reach the combustion chamber.
Another possibility to look at is when the carburetor gets gummed up because of occasional use. The air intake could dry out the gas in the carburetor, which results in a sticky substance, and over time, the gas that was left in stock for so long will coat the walls of your carburetor and build up.
This condition reduces the ability of your lawn mower carburetor to supply the correct ratio of air and fuel as its tiny parts cannot move properly. This would cause the lawn mower engine to only run with the choke on.
over, the reason why your mower starts on choke then dies is because of debris that clogs, at least partially, the fuel passages in the carburetor. When this happens, the choke will provide the extra fuel needed to go into the engine and overcome the lack of fuel that enters through the other passages.
– Bad Fuel
Bad fuel can also cause your lawn mower to run only with the choke on. You may be using an incorrect kind of gas or old gas, especially if you haven’t used the lawn mower for a long period of time.
You may also want to check whether the fuel has an excessive volume of alcohol. As every type of regular fuel is blended with at least ten percent of ethanol in the United States, it contains moisture that can cause your carburetor to rust and be gunked up.
Using the wrong fuel might also be the reason why your lawn mower, even after having a new carburetor, only runs on choke.
– Air Leaks
Air supply plays a significant role in the fuel delivery system. Many issues can be related to air supply. These issues include leaks or cracks that have developed in the carburetor areas like loose hardware or the primer bulb.
The wrong placement of the air screw of the carburetor that controls how much air mixes with the fuel, and a damaged or incorrectly set gasket are also some issues. The above issues may result in an excessive amount of air being delivered and a weak vacuum system.
This condition can cause the lawn mower to only run with the choke on. Having a dirty air filter also prevents the airflow from coming through as needed, so this condition should be attended to as well by cleaning your lawn mower’s air filter.
How Can You Fix Your Lawn Mower?
To fix your lawn mower that only runs with choke on, you can clean or change the carburetor, replace the fuel, or fix the air leaks. While there are lots of reasons why your lawn mower only runs with the choke on, here are several ways to fix it. Lawn mowers take regular gas and you should know how to refuel them properly.
Let’s begin to know each of the solutions and talk about the steps you can take to address the problem.
– Clean or Change the Carburetor
It is an important step to give your carburetor a good cleaning first before you decide to replace it to know whether it just needs a cleaning or if it truly needs replacing. By this time, you may want to observe its appearance.
If you see that it is extremely gummed up or rusted already, you may want to replace it instead of wasting your time cleaning it. Whichever you decide, you will need to detach and disassemble the carburetor first.
For cleaning, you may want to use a carb cleaner for the interior of the carburetor and jets for spraying the cleaner onto the component. However, if you see that your carburetor has plenty of gas residue, soak it for at least a couple of hours using a carburetor cleaner.
Make sure that you know how to assemble and install it again once you have finished cleaning it.
– Replace the Fuel
In the United States, regular fuel works great on large engines. Unfortunately, this is not the case on smaller engines, so make sure that your fuel does not have an excessive amount of alcohol to prevent your carburetor from deteriorating.
Opt for a lower percentage of non-alcohol blended gas, or take a shot at using a non-oxygenated or premium fuel instead. The wrong fuel might just mess with the internal combustion process of your engine.
Also, make sure that you throw away the fuel that has been sitting on your mower for more than a year. Try to observe the fuel’s color to easily identify if it has gone bad. Fuel that smells sour and has a darkened color has already gone bad and has to be thrown away.
Drain out all the fuel in your mower’s tank, and clean the sticky residue that is left behind before you replace it with fresh fuel. Keep in mind that you must clean the tank up before adding newer fuel, as leaving it dirty won’t solve anything.
– Fix the Air Leaks
Once you are certain that your lawn mower carburetor is having an issue with the supply of air, the first thing you can do is pinpoint the specific area where the supply of air is disrupted.
You can start to look for loose connections or any cracks, and inspect the primer bulb as well because it is made of rubber and can be brittle and get cracked as it ages. Examine the mounting gasket, and observe if something does not look right. Any edges that are bulging out or components that appear cracked or dried should be replaced.
Check the fuel cap as well, and ensure that its seal is still on and in good condition. Maintain the cleanliness of the air filter because the dirtier it is, the more issues may occur for your lawn mower. Check for gunk that has built up and is clogging the filter.
However, if you see that the appearance might be beyond cleaning, consider replacing it with a new one instead. Lastly, scan your carburetor and ensure that every piece of hardware is properly tightened and secured.
Conclusion
Though it seems difficult to determine the problem of your lawn mower that only runs with choke on, a bit of hard work, perseverance, and plenty of insights from this article will help you and your lawn mower work properly again.
- A lawn mower that only runs with the choke on might be having problems with the carburetor, air supply, or bad fuel.
- Maintaining a clean carburetor will make the fuel delivery system run smoothly.
- Use high-quality fuel to extend the lawn mower’s life.
- Make sure that there is no disruption to the air supply as it is critical to the process happening inside the lawn mower.
Here’s a thought to ponder: if you invest a good amount to buy your lawn mower, make the most out of it by providing it with the care and maintenance requirements that are essential to it. This way, you have a fully functional mower to help you maintain a well-manicured yard.