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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > October 2006 > GAS LAWN MOWER TAKES 100 PULLS TO TURN OVER
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GAS LAWN MOWER TAKES 100 PULLS TO TURN OVER
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| MRS. CLEAN 2006-10-22, 9:25 am |
| My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
the gas because I use it over the winter.
Do you think it's the spark plugs?
What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
Can I service it myself?
| |
| Mark D 2006-10-22, 9:25 am |
| I know this can really be a PITA with lawn mowers.
Perhaps a new plug might help you. The plug that is in there might be
really fouled up, and in bad shape. Fresh gasoline wouldn't hurt either.
Do you notice a smell of gasoline when trying to start it after so many
pulls? If so, you're more than likely flooding the engine. If not, then
perhaps you're not getting enough fuel delivery for start up. Many lawn
mowers nowadays have rubber priming bulbs near the carburetor, and these
need to be pushed 3-6 times before trying to start to prime the
carburetor.
If the problem still persists after fresh gas, and a new plug, then the
last option is buy yourself a spray can of Starting Fluid (Ether).
While this isn't the best thing to use on gas engines, a short squirt
into the Carb after removing, and re-installing the carb filter will
most likely get it up, and running lickety split with a pull, or two.
Mark
| |
| hallerb@aol.com 2006-10-22, 9:25 am |
| remove plug, pour a little gasoline in hole replace plug try starting.
it may start fine after a few pulls and might even run great.
chances are its a carbuerator problem
| |
| tmurf.1 2006-10-22, 9:25 am |
|
hallerb@aol.com wrote:
> remove plug, pour a little gasoline in hole replace plug try starting.
>
> it may start fine after a few pulls and might even run great.
>
> chances are its a carbuerator problem
Your lawnmower is fine but you need a shoulder replacement every spring.
| |
| Al Bundy 2006-10-22, 9:25 am |
| "MRS. CLEAN" <goldenmike4393@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1161518262.519328.249170@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
>
If it's just a basic no feature mower, having someone else service it
could cost more than it's worth.
You need to determing first if it is getting spark and gas.
Prime or choke as usual, gas on full as usual then give it a bunch of
pulls. Take the plug out and see if it is wet.
If not wet: it's not getting gas. Take a straw and dip it in gas enough
to fill at least half way. Put finger over the end so it will hold the
gas when you remove the straw. Dump that gas right in the cylinder hole
where the plug goes. Put the plug back in and try to start it. Does it
kick or start for just a short period and stop?
If it is wet: then (for now) clean the plug with fine sandpaper. The gap
is what needs to be really clean. Was it ugly to start with? Connect the
wire to the top of the plug while it is out of the machine. Hold the
metal exterior base where you put the socket on to remove it against an
unpainted area of the engine. Use insulated handle pliers or you will get
zapped. Have a bud pull the starter one or two times. It will pull very
easlily with the plug out of the machine. You should see a small blue
spark in the plug gap. If you don't see spark then need to check if the
plug, coil wire or coil is NG.
If the plug was wet and you are getting spark, take the air filter off.
It's either made of paper or foam on the inside. Is it loaded up with
crud? Try and start it without the filter. If it starts and runs then
fine but don't use the machine without it on. You'll really clog up the
carb.
If you got the machine to run with the above, go get a new plug and air
filter. Take both with you. The new plug needs to be gapped before it is
installed. If the new air filter is foam, they usually recommend you
cover it in motor oil then squeeze out as much as possible. Also change
the oil.
There are other possibilities like water got into gas, gas cap vent
blocked, etc but the above will at least get you started with some
direction.
| |
| Edwin Pawlowski 2006-10-22, 1:25 pm |
|
"Al Bundy" <postmaster@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
> There are other possibilities like water got into gas, gas cap vent
> blocked, etc but the above will at least get you started with some
> direction.
Still another possibility is that the motor is plain worn out after 5 years.
Lack of compression can cause similar problems. I got rid of a mower for
that reason. The guy that took it still has the same problem, but is more
willing to pull the rope 30 or more times while my John Deere starts on the
first pull. (Kawasaki engine)
| |
| MRS. CLEAN 2006-10-22, 1:25 pm |
| It's a Scott Self Propelled Easy Start 6.25 HP somewhat
fancy for me.
I do smell gas when pulling, and it says to prime 3 times
and I prime 10, so I must be flooding. You know, if
three's good, isn't ten better? NO!
If reducing priming doesn't work, I will clean the spark
plug and be sure gas is getting through the line. I admit
I am very close to buying the starter spray.
I bet it's operator error!
Al Bundy wrote:
> "MRS. CLEAN" <goldenmike4393@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:1161518262.519328.249170@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
>
>
> If it's just a basic no feature mower, having someone else service it
> could cost more than it's worth.
>
> You need to determing first if it is getting spark and gas.
>
> Prime or choke as usual, gas on full as usual then give it a bunch of
> pulls. Take the plug out and see if it is wet.
>
> If not wet: it's not getting gas. Take a straw and dip it in gas enough
> to fill at least half way. Put finger over the end so it will hold the
> gas when you remove the straw. Dump that gas right in the cylinder hole
> where the plug goes. Put the plug back in and try to start it. Does it
> kick or start for just a short period and stop?
>
> If it is wet: then (for now) clean the plug with fine sandpaper. The gap
> is what needs to be really clean. Was it ugly to start with? Connect the
> wire to the top of the plug while it is out of the machine. Hold the
> metal exterior base where you put the socket on to remove it against an
> unpainted area of the engine. Use insulated handle pliers or you will get
> zapped. Have a bud pull the starter one or two times. It will pull very
> easlily with the plug out of the machine. You should see a small blue
> spark in the plug gap. If you don't see spark then need to check if the
> plug, coil wire or coil is NG.
>
> If the plug was wet and you are getting spark, take the air filter off.
> It's either made of paper or foam on the inside. Is it loaded up with
> crud? Try and start it without the filter. If it starts and runs then
> fine but don't use the machine without it on. You'll really clog up the
> carb.
>
> If you got the machine to run with the above, go get a new plug and air
> filter. Take both with you. The new plug needs to be gapped before it is
> installed. If the new air filter is foam, they usually recommend you
> cover it in motor oil then squeeze out as much as possible. Also change
> the oil.
>
> There are other possibilities like water got into gas, gas cap vent
> blocked, etc but the above will at least get you started with some
> direction.
| |
| MRS. CLEAN 2006-10-22, 1:25 pm |
|
tmurf.1 wrote:
> hallerb@aol.com wrote:
[color=darkred]
> Your lawnmower is fine but you need a shoulder replacement every spring.
LOL
| |
| scott21230@gmail.com 2006-10-22, 1:25 pm |
| Try using a push reel mower instead.
| |
| hallerb@aol.com 2006-10-22, 1:25 pm |
|
> I bet it's operator error!
not if you were using it without trouble for the last 5 years
| |
|
| MRS. CLEAN wrote:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
>
If it's a Briggs & Stratton the carburetor is probably fouled
with "varnish" from the gasoline.
A quick fix to get it started is to spray some cleaner in the
throat of the carburetor. B & S sells their own brand, but others
will work, too.
For a longer term fix, pour about half a can of automotive carburetor
cleaner in the tank and run it out.
JMHO. HTH.
--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.
| |
|
| Good advice in AL Bundy's post, I would just add, if the mower is 5
years old and you have never serviced it in any way, go ahead and
replace the plug, air filter, and change the oil; At 5 years this
should be done whether you test them or not.
--
No dumb questions, just dumb answers.
Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland - lwasserm@charm.net
| |
| indago 2006-10-22, 5:25 pm |
| "MRS. CLEAN" wrote:
>
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
Check out the choke mechanism to see that it is free to move. Sometimes they get stuck, and when
they get stuck open, the symptoms that you have described occur.
| |
| RicodJour 2006-10-22, 5:25 pm |
| scott21230@gmail.com wrote:
> Try using a push reel mower instead.
Right. You'll get a better balance workout that way.
R
| |
| Mr_Bill 2006-10-22, 5:25 pm |
| If you do change the, either have some one with
experience do it or use a torque wrench. The
cylinder head is aluminum and the treads are easily
stripped.
MRS. CLEAN wrote:[color=darkred]
> It's a Scott Self Propelled Easy Start 6.25 HP somewhat
> fancy for me.
>
> I do smell gas when pulling, and it says to prime 3 times
> and I prime 10, so I must be flooding. You know, if
> three's good, isn't ten better? NO!
>
> If reducing priming doesn't work, I will clean the spark
> plug and be sure gas is getting through the line. I admit
> I am very close to buying the starter spray.
>
> I bet it's operator error!
>
>
> Al Bundy wrote:
| |
|
| On 22 Oct 2006 08:26:41 -0700, "MRS. CLEAN" <goldenmike4393@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>It's a Scott Self Propelled Easy Start 6.25 HP somewhat
>fancy for me.
>
>I do smell gas when pulling, and it says to prime 3 times
>and I prime 10, so I must be flooding. You know, if
>three's good, isn't ten better? NO!
>
>If reducing priming doesn't work, I will clean the spark
>plug and be sure gas is getting through the line. I admit
>I am very close to buying the starter spray.
>
>I bet it's operator error!
I have two mowers. Depending on the weather one or both won't start
without a starter spray. After that, they run fine and don't need
starter spray to restart unless they've been sitting for a few hours.
It's only 1.19 a can or so at authoparts stores. If you have a
choice, get the one with "upper cylinder lubricant", but I don't think
it makes much difference.
Starter spray doesn't go bad and the nozzle doesn't get clogged. One
can lasts me for 5 or 10 years. I guess it's conceibable that the can
could leak so store it outside, I guess.[color=darkred]
>
>Al Bundy wrote:
| |
| marks542004@yahoo.com 2006-10-22, 5:25 pm |
|
MRS. CLEAN wrote:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
after 5 years clean or replace the air filter and spark plug.
follow the owners manual about starting , more is not better in some
cases.
check service costs, in my area they often run a tuneup special , in
spring for lawn mowers and in fall for snowthrowers. Usually around $30.
| |
|
| Why oh why do people not regularly service small power equipment??????
Do you drive your car for 5 years with no service? A gas engine is a
gas engine, regardless of size. On the bright side, it's a great way to
make money. Take a "broken" lawn mower/weedeater/whatever out of the
garbage, buy 20$ worth of parts, resell for two to three times as much.
MRS. CLEAN wrote:[color=darkred]
> It's a Scott Self Propelled Easy Start 6.25 HP somewhat
> fancy for me.
>
> I do smell gas when pulling, and it says to prime 3 times
> and I prime 10, so I must be flooding. You know, if
> three's good, isn't ten better? NO!
>
> If reducing priming doesn't work, I will clean the spark
> plug and be sure gas is getting through the line. I admit
> I am very close to buying the starter spray.
>
> I bet it's operator error!
>
>
> Al Bundy wrote:
| |
| Joseph Meehan 2006-10-22, 8:25 pm |
| MRS. CLEAN wrote:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
Actually I suspect it is turning over with each pull, it just does not
fire or start. :-)
--
Joseph Meehan
Dia duit
| |
| Mark Lloyd 2006-10-23, 3:25 am |
| On 22 Oct 2006 16:59:22 -0700, "Rain" <rain.howard@gmail.com> wrote:
>Why oh why do people not regularly service small power equipment??????
>Do you drive your car for 5 years with no service? A gas engine is a
>gas engine, regardless of size. On the bright side, it's a great way to
>make money. Take a "broken" lawn mower/weedeater/whatever out of the
>garbage, buy 20$ worth of parts, resell for two to three times as much.
>
I remember someone doing that with TVs. Buying used sets that really
just needed a new fuse, and reselling them.
[color=darkred]
>MRS. CLEAN wrote:
| |
| jeffreydesign 2006-10-23, 3:25 am |
| Out of all these ideas IMHO, only one person gave you the right answer.
You alluded to the correct answer yourself when you mentioned that you
never drained the gas from the prior year.
When gas is left in the carburetor (regardless of the brand of small or
large engine) for a long time, it begins to evaporate, leaving
"varnish" behind which plugs up all those little holes in the
carburetor that need to be open for the correct air/fuel mixture to get
to the engine for both starting and running. It is VERY likely that
your carburetor is nicely plugged up. You may get it working with carb
cleaner however it's more likely that you will need to remove the carb
and clean it thoroughly.
Changing the spark plug after five years wouldn't hurt anything, but
unless it appears worn it's probably not needed. These little engines
are pretty tough, but do yourself a favor and change the oil
frequently, change the plug every few years and ALWAYS drain the gas if
you're not going to use it fr the next few months. If you don't want to
drain the gas, you can use a product called "StaBil" that is designed
to stabilize the fuel. It's also not a bad idea to spray an oil fog
into the cylinder prior to putting it up for the winter. Of course, do
that only if you really want the engine to last for a very long time.
-Jeff
MRS. CLEAN wrote:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
| |
| PaPaPeng 2006-10-23, 3:25 am |
| On 22 Oct 2006 06:33:09 -0700, "hallerb@aol.com" <hallerb@aol.com>
wrote:
>remove plug, pour a little gasoline in hole replace plug try starting.
>
>it may start fine after a few pulls and might even run great.
>
>chances are its a carbuerator problem
I had a similar problem with my weed whacker. The final solution was
I had too low a mixture ratio two stroke engine oil.
| |
| Bennett Price 2006-10-23, 1:25 pm |
| It is likely that you've got water in the bottom of the gas tank. The
same dew that you find on the lawn in the morning gets into the gas tank
and settles to the bottom of the tank (as it's heavier than gas).
As others have suggested, drain the tank thoroughly, and then put it out
in the sun to evaporate any water that remains.
Refill it to the top after each use, thus allowing less room for dew
to get into the tank.
MRS. CLEAN wrote:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
>
| |
| Stormin Mormon 2006-10-24, 9:25 am |
| In the automotive world to "turn over" is to rotate the crankshaft.
So, if it doesn't turn over in 100 pulls, you have a problem with the
recoil mechanism. Different brands have different styles of mechanism.
How about take it to a mower repair shop?
--
Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..
"MRS. CLEAN" <goldenmike4393@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1161518262.519328.249170@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
the gas because I use it over the winter.
Do you think it's the spark plugs?
What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
Can I service it myself?
| |
| Stormin Mormon 2006-10-24, 9:25 am |
| Should turn over, unless there is large ammounts of water in the
cylinder itself. Might not start and run, but it should turn over.
--
Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..
"Bennett Price" <bjpriceNOSPAM@itsa.ucsf.edu> wrote in message
news:OF5%g.13622$TV3.12183@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
It is likely that you've got water in the bottom of the gas tank. The
same dew that you find on the lawn in the morning gets into the gas
tank
and settles to the bottom of the tank (as it's heavier than gas).
As others have suggested, drain the tank thoroughly, and then put it
out
in the sun to evaporate any water that remains.
Refill it to the top after each use, thus allowing less room for dew
to get into the tank.
MRS. CLEAN wrote:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
>
| |
| MRS. CLEAN 2006-10-24, 9:25 am |
| If I can't DIM, I'll replace it with an electric.
There's not much lawn to mow.
Stormin Mormon wrote:
> In the automotive world to "turn over" is to rotate the crankshaft.
> So, if it doesn't turn over in 100 pulls, you have a problem with the
> recoil mechanism. Different brands have different styles of mechanism.
> How about take it to a mower repair shop?
>
> --
>
> Christopher A. Young
> You can't shout down a troll.
> You have to starve them.
> .
>
> "MRS. CLEAN" <goldenmike4393@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1161518262.519328.249170@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
| |
| NickySantoro 2006-10-24, 5:25 pm |
| On 22 Oct 2006 04:57:42 -0700, "MRS. CLEAN" <goldenmike4393@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
>It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
>the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
>Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
>What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
>Can I service it myself?
New spark plug and air filter should do it.
| |
| MRS. CLEAN 2006-10-30, 5:25 pm |
|
Thanks, everyone.
I primed it only three times and it started on the third pull.
I was flooding the engine.
MRS. CLEAN wrote:
> My gas mower doesn't turn over without 100 pulls.
>
> It's 5 years old never tuned or anything. Plus, I never drained out
> the gas because I use it over the winter.
>
> Do you think it's the spark plugs?
>
> What can I do to remedy this pain in the butt and arm?
>
> Can I service it myself?
|
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