How To Fix A Lawn Mower That Has Been Sitting

So your lawn mower has been stored in the shed or garage all wintertime long. Now you lot're having trouble getting it started and you lot're wondering how to start a lawn mower that has been sitting.

Or maybe you institute or inherited a backyard mower second hand that hasn't been used in years.

Well, yous've come to the right identify. Here's your introductory guide to lawn mowers and how to start a lawn mower that has been sitting!

Start and foremost, proper safety measures are of import when working with a backyard mower. Think to apply some safety gloves, safety spectacles, and to be aware of the sharp blade and engine parts.

Utilise this article as your guide. You lot tin can too detect how-to videos on Youtube specifically for your brand or model of mower

This article volition provide you lot with the data you need to get your mower started.

Information technology should help regardless of what type of backyard mower you ain.

Permit's go started.

How to Start a Lawn Mower that Has Been Sitting All Winter

Check & Change the Oil

For a mower that has been sitting for quite a while, information technology'southward definitely a proficient idea to check the oil. The best fourth dimension to alter the oil in your mower is about an hour later you lot finish mowing. But if it has been sitting all winter, check the oil earlier you lot even endeavour to start it.

First, check that the oil is proficient quality, doesn't have residue in information technology, and that at that place is enough of information technology.

If the oil is very dark or black, it's time to modify the oil so your mower runs smoothly and lasts a long time.

I change the oil in my mower twice a year – once at the beginning of the season, and once just before I put it away for the winter.

If you lot oasis't done it recently, just give the lawn mower an oil change. Even if this isn't the primary issue that's preventing your mower from starting, it's probably a contributing factor.

Mowers are small engines that don't require a lot of oil at all. This makes information technology a pretty inexpensive melody-up to do yourself at dwelling. With a walk-behind mower you're looking at 10 minutes or less.

Disposing of Your Lawn Mower Oil

Exist certain to collect the oil in an appropriate container (I use an empty Gatorade bottle). Yous desire something that caps tight and that won't spill. I bring it to my local auto shop for disposal.

Your local mechanic or oil change shop will normally take your used motor oil. Only if not, there may be disposal programs at your city dump.

If fume is coming from the mower, that'south some other sign that the oil needs to be checked and changed.

A mower that won't start obviously is not going to smoke. Still, it's worth mentioning as something worth watching for so you can stay on top of mower maintenance.

A smoking mower could betoken that there is an oil leak somewhere. The leak causes the oil to burn as it comes into contact with hot metal.

It could also indicate that there is not enough oil, which can permanently impairment your engine.

Check the Gas Tank, Genius

Lawn Mower That Has Been Sitting - Check and Replace Old Gas

Accept you always called tech back up and the beginning thing they ask you is if your estimator/TV is plugged in?

Same goes for your lawn mower.

Make sure you take gas in the tank!

Gasoline isn't very stable. If the gas in your mower is more than 30 days one-time, yous'll demand to empty the tank. You may be able to dump the tank by tipping the mower. If not, you will demand to siphon it.

Later you lot're done, put fresh gas into the mower.

The exception to this fix would exist if you personally put fuel stabilizer into the gas tank before storing it.

My Recommendation for No-Hassle Gas

Personally I employ a product called TruFuel (you lot tin get it at your local box store and nigh hardware stores conduct it). This production is pure, "erstwhile school" gasoline without whatsoever ethanol added.

You don't take to add fuel stabilizer, it runs clean, and it tin sit in your mower all winter and your mower will start up first pull. I utilise it in my mower and snowblower and information technology'south awesome.

Information technology'southward expensive compared to regular gas, just it'southward cheaper than replacing your mower or buying a new carburetor every few years.

And I'm the Lawn Chick! My mower deserves the best. 🙂

If you practice have to siphon out old gas and supplant it, remember that mowers have the same gasoline that goes into your car. Rather than trying to dispose of it, yous can normally simply top off your automobile's gas tank. Just make sure that it's not contaminated gas – if that'southward the case then make sure to dispose of information technology properly according to your municipal guidelines.

Change the Air Filter (it's easy)

After checking the gas tank and changing the oil, check the air filter on your mower. These can get clogged.

Oxygen is a vital component for combustion in an engine. If your mower's air filter is dirty your mower won't run well (or at all).

It is best to replace a clogged filter as opposed to trying to clean information technology. Fifty-fifty a small perforation in the filter can allow in grit or residual that will ruin your engine.

A particularly telling sign of a clogged air filter is if your mower starts but then stops while you are mowing the lawn.

Also, you can look at it. If information technology's muddy, you'll be able to tell because, well, it will await dirty.

Where to Become an Air Filter for Your Mower

Most box stores virtually yous will probably carry the right size air filter for your mower. You can expect to pay around $10 for a new ane.

I recommend replacing your air filter annually as part of your regular maintenance.

If you lot tin find the air filter on your mower, then y'all can replace it. Don't be intimidated. Replacing the air filter is as simple as removing the onetime ane and placing the new ane in its place).

A chock-full air filter may not be your only issue. Simply it's a good idea to replace your filter when you lot're fixing upwards a lawn mower that won't start.

Replace Your Mower'southward Spark Plug

You lot will find your mower's spark plug at the front end of the mower (peculiarly with a walk-behind mower). Information technology is easy to locate because it has a wire that attaches to it. This is unremarkably black prophylactic and covers the spark plug to keep clay and droppings out.

Make sure that the wire is in adept shape and that there is a proficient connection in that location.

The next thing to check is the spark plug itself.

Yous can remove your mower'south spark plug using a socket wrench. You may need to experiment to find the right size. Or yous tin look it up online. The old spark plug should come up out with a few simple twists.

When yous remove the spark plug it will be obvious if yous need a new ane. Look for corrosion or discoloration at the business end of the spark plug. That's the stop that was in the mower (the 1 with the threads and the pocket-size metal slice sticking out). There should non exist any corrosion on information technology.

You lot can try to make clean it up and reconnect it to run across if information technology will work. Simply, when in uncertainty just replace the spark plug.

How to Replace a Lawn Mower Spark Plug

Like the air filter, this is non a complicated chore. You simply need to observe the correct socket wrench for your plug and be careful not to over-tighten information technology when installing the new i.

My advice is to replace your spark plug, even if your spark plug looks relatively new. I replace mine every other twelvemonth.

In my experience if your mower isn't starting upwards after sitting over the winter and you lot've checked the oil and replaced the gas, it's normally a trouble with your spark plug. Parts tin often exist found at your local hardware shop or on Amazon, and a new spark plug is only a few dollars.

Speaking of spark plugs. This is a skilful time to remind you that information technology'due south always best to disconnect the spark plug if you decide to troubleshoot anything with the backyard mower's engine.

This is a safety measure to ensure that the engine doesn't start while you're working on information technology. Just unplug the blackness wire/cablevision that runs to and covers the end of the spark plug.

Tighten the Mower's Brake Cable

If the brake cable is loose on your lawn mower, then the mower may not start. To bank check the tension on the brake, pull the brake handle and then employ your hand to pull on the brake cable to run across if it is properly tense or if at that place is any give.

One trick to check to come across if this might be your problem is to try starting the mower while you old the restriction cable tight. If the mower starts then yous'll know your brake cable needs tightening.

This is usually an easy task. Yous can complete it quickly with a crescent wrench and a gear up of vice grips.

What a Dirty, Muddy Carburetor

Problems with the carburetor (or the carb, as it is affectionately known in the biz) are an incredibly common reason for a faulty mower.

Subsequently you check the gas, oil, filter, and spark plug, a dirty carburetor is probably the culprit if your mower still won't beginning after sitting a long time.

Oft, y'all'll find that the carb is corroded or that information technology has clogged if fuel was left in the engine and left to evaporate leaving behind a sticky residue inside the mower's carburetor.

It's possible to endeavor cleaning the carb by giving information technology a good, long soak in a carb cleaner or in vinegar.

If this doesn't piece of work, carburetors for lawn mowers are not incredibly expensive and they are too relatively easy to discover online.

Can I Do This Myself?

Of all the repairs y'all can tackle, this is the i that people get most intimidated about, but if y'all're handy, you can probably find and follow a YouTube video for your model mower that will show yous the steps involved.

Are there Other Options?

One work-effectually if yous don't accept the time right away to take your lawn mower engine apart to clean out the carb is to utilize some starting fluid spray.

A can will only cost a few bucks, and you spray it into the engine right backside where the air filter is (don't spray it on the air filter). This will typically get your mower running until you have fourth dimension to get information technology properly serviced.

Replace Your Fuel Pump?

The fuel pump does exactly what information technology sounds similar … information technology pumps fuel from the gas tank into the engine via a series of 3 ports.

If there is likewise much oil in the engine, then the oil tin can leak into the fuel pump (specifically into the pulse port line) and make your mower's fuel pump defective.

To see if the fuel pump isn't working anymore, check the pulse port line, valves, and the diaphragm inside the pump.

If you've tried about of the other potential problems in this commodity and your mower still won't start, replace your fuel pump.

Unfortunately it is non possible to repair the fuel pump, it must be replaced. Information technology's a lot cheaper than buying a new mower, though.

Check For a Cleaved Flywheel Fundamental

The flywheel is the big horizontal spinning bike in the mower.

This is the part that begins spinning when you pull the starter cord on your walk-behind mower.

Sometimes hitting a difficult object with the mower can break the flywheel cardinal, which prevents the mower from starting when you lot pull the cord.

While this probably isn't the issue if y'all're wondering how to start a lawn mower that has been sitting over the winter … if you hit a root, rock, or a large felled tree branch on your last mow of the flavour then this could be the culprit. So I thought it was worth mentioning.

To check the flywheel key, you will need to remove the flywheel on your mower.

Removing the flywheel is a tedious process because the nut keeping it on is very tight and the flywheel needs to remain stationary in order to loosen the nut.

What Not To Do When Replacing This Function

Virtually guys and gals trying to DIY this will stick a broomhandle or some tool between the blades of the wheel, simply this is a bad idea. This can easily break the blades, which are expensive to supervene upon.

I recommend that you use a clench – which is secure and safe.

To detect a method that will piece of work with your mower, discover a YouTube video. If your mower'south flywheel key is indeed broken, then you can replace it in less than an hour once you have the new flywheel key.

The fins of the flywheel itself can as well get clogged with grass or clippings – this is easy to determine just by uncovering the flywheel itself. If there is any debris, utilise a make clean paint brush to brush it away.

Don't Give Up On Your Lawn Mower, it's Probably Worth Saving

I cannot tell you how many people give up on a 3-year old mower that won't start after the winter, sending information technology along to the land fill and shelling out big bucks for a make new model.

There are exceptions, simply most of the time a backyard mower that won't start after sitting is non defective, it has simply lacked proper maintenance.

Don't surrender on that old mower simply however!

Fixing a Lawn Mower That Has Been Sitting

Troubleshooting nearly lawn mowers tin can effectively get them working again, and usually once you exercise resolve the issue with your mower successfully, you'll be and then much more than knowledgeable about maintaining them that you won't take any problems once more.

Cost effective repairs are easy to practice at dwelling house in your own garage, fifty-fifty if it's your showtime time doing them. Y'all can observe the parts you need at the hardware shop or online.

Non only does repairing your mower save it from the landfill, but it saves you money and can bring yous dandy satisfaction.

However, if all else fails and you lot practice end up needing a new mower, meet if your former mower could be useful for spare parts earlier taking information technology to the dump. There are probably plenty of small engine repair shops nearby that would be happy to pay a few bucks for it, or take information technology off your hands for free.

Yous May Also Savour: