Mower starting trouble.
 

having trouble starting one of the mowers :D(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.

Re: Mower starting trouble.
 

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

Re: Mower starting trouble.
 

Push or ride-on?

Oil can get everywhere if tipped on their side!

Re: Mower starting trouble.
 

Is there any contamination in the petrol?

Any crap in the fuel line?

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)?

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.

Re: Mower starting trouble.
 

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.

Re: Mower starting trouble.
 

Petrol does go off after a while!

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?

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 :D an i have learnt something :)