Mower starting trouble. - SV650.org

svsam · 14-02-11, 09:45 PM

having trouble starting one of the mowers

(not a bike i know).
never heard it run for more than 5 seconds, it'll start every now and again, but wont run for more than 5 seconds.
took the spark out and cleaned it, it was a bit oily, it does spark well (got a good shock off it).
also took the carb off it and gave it a real good clean, and checked the filters on the ends. the "diaphram" seems fine too.
still think it could be carb trouble, but i dont know what else to look for???
and help appreciated.
cheers,
sam.

Bibio · 14-02-11, 09:58 PM

had a mower do this and it needed a new plug. spark looked fine but the plug was kaput.

14-02-11, 09:59 PM

Push or ride-on?

Oil can get everywhere if tipped on their side!

14-02-11, 10:17 PM

Is there any contamination in the petrol?

Any crap in the fuel line?

yorkie_chris · 14-02-11, 10:19 PM

Tried it at night? See if you can see any arcing. Is the plug wet when it dies? Does it restart straight away or need to cool down first (rich)?

embee · 14-02-11, 11:11 PM

I'm with Bibio on this. I've had a couple of these.

One stumped me, it'd start and run fine, but if you stopped it, it wouldn't restart. Seemed like fuel problems so drained carb, blew out the jets etc, and it started again OK. Must have been fuel then? No. The plug cooled down and would start it again, but stop it and with a hot plug it wouldn't restart. Fitted a spare plug and it was perfect, so a new one went in.

Second one with similar symptoms I just fitted a new plug and all problems were solved.

Both of them sparked fine out of the engine.

I assume the fuel is reasonably fresh, that's the other simple fix come spring time after a winter lay-up.

mattSV · 15-02-11, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by embee

I assume the fuel is reasonably fresh, that's the other simple fix come spring time after a winter lay-up.

Mine used to be a bugger to start for the first cut of the year, and ran like a dog unless I replaced the fuel. Then it would start first pull, and ran sweet as a nut.

15-02-11, 10:21 AM

Petrol does go off after a while!

Sir Trev · 15-02-11, 05:23 PM

It's good practice to let petrol mowers run dry after the last cut of the year so you don't have any fuel going off in the tank/lines/carb. I forgot one year and it was a sod to start in the spring.

How long has your one been stood Sam?

svsam · 15-02-11, 10:10 PM

normally dont have a problem starting them, as we buy them as non runners.

the result: thank you and well done to all that suggested the simple spark plug, it started second pull

an i have learnt something

14-02-11, 09:45 PM	#1
svsam Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Shropshire Posts: 195	Mower starting trouble. having trouble starting one of the mowers (not a bike i know). never heard it run for more than 5 seconds, it'll start every now and again, but wont run for more than 5 seconds. took the spark out and cleaned it, it was a bit oily, it does spark well (got a good shock off it). also took the carb off it and gave it a real good clean, and checked the filters on the ends. the "diaphram" seems fine too. still think it could be carb trouble, but i dont know what else to look for??? and help appreciated. cheers, sam. __________________ SL0 jack up kit-yoshimura can-tial tidy-(so far)

14-02-11, 09:58 PM	#2
Bibio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: here as devil's advocate Posts: 11,541	Re: Mower starting trouble. had a mower do this and it needed a new plug. spark looked fine but the plug was kaput.

14-02-11, 09:59 PM	#3
Sally Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mower starting trouble. Push or ride-on? Oil can get everywhere if tipped on their side!

14-02-11, 10:17 PM	#4
Ed Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mower starting trouble. Is there any contamination in the petrol? Any crap in the fuel line?

14-02-11, 10:19 PM	#5
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Mower starting trouble. Tried it at night? See if you can see any arcing. Is the plug wet when it dies? Does it restart straight away or need to cool down first (rich)? __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

14-02-11, 11:11 PM	#6
embee Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 2,801	Re: Mower starting trouble. I'm with Bibio on this. I've had a couple of these. One stumped me, it'd start and run fine, but if you stopped it, it wouldn't restart. Seemed like fuel problems so drained carb, blew out the jets etc, and it started again OK. Must have been fuel then? No. The plug cooled down and would start it again, but stop it and with a hot plug it wouldn't restart. Fitted a spare plug and it was perfect, so a new one went in. Second one with similar symptoms I just fitted a new plug and all problems were solved. Both of them sparked fine out of the engine. I assume the fuel is reasonably fresh, that's the other simple fix come spring time after a winter lay-up. __________________ "Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

15-02-11, 10:21 AM	#8
Sally Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Mower starting trouble. Petrol does go off after a while!

15-02-11, 05:23 PM	#9
Sir Trev Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: High Wycombe, where the chair factories used to be Posts: 1,449	Re: Mower starting trouble. It's good practice to let petrol mowers run dry after the last cut of the year so you don't have any fuel going off in the tank/lines/carb. I forgot one year and it was a sod to start in the spring. How long has your one been stood Sam? __________________ We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town, BEEP BEEP!

15-02-11, 10:10 PM	#10
svsam Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Shropshire Posts: 195	Re: Mower starting trouble. normally dont have a problem starting them, as we buy them as non runners. the result: thank you and well done to all that suggested the simple spark plug, it started second pull an i have learnt something __________________ SL0 jack up kit-yoshimura can-tial tidy-(so far)

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