Lawnmower Help
Discussion
I’ve recently bought a house which had a lawnmower in the garage, this past weekend I decided it was about time that I gave the lawn some attention and cut it down to make it look a little more respectable.
I spent a while trying to get the lawnmower to start but had no luck, decided it was probably due to the fact it had not been used for a while.
I took the spark plug out and cleaned it using a wire brush, cleaned the air filter, cleaned out the old fuel from the fuel tank and filled it with some fresh unleaded petrol.
Gave the rope a pull and after a few pulls managed to get it to fire up.
Once it has fired up, it will run for a short while and then conk out on me. I have changed the lever from start to fast however when I do this, it tends to cough and splutter, a bit of black smoke comes out the exhaust then just conks out again.
If I move the lever from ‘fast’, when it begins to cough and splutter, to ‘start’ it will then carry on running but again a few mins later will cut out. Does the same if I fire it up and leave it on ‘start’ after a few minutes of idling will start to splutter, move the lever to ‘fast’ and some black smoke will come out, it will cough a few times, shake then continue running for a few minutes.
I managed to cut some of the grass but got fed up with having to keep firing it up after a few minutes, so have given up.
Any help on trying to figure out what the problem might be?
I have attached some pictures that show what it looks like.
It has one lever, which you need to squeeze and hold up next to the handle, which cuts the engine when I release it; the other smaller lever is labeled start/fast/slow/stop. It also has a bit of wire attached to something, which when you pull revs the engine. This bit of wire is something that someone has attached at some point.
I also checked the oil and it had a good amount in it, once its running it works well and cuts nicely, just doesn’t run for more than about 5 minutes.
I spent a while trying to get the lawnmower to start but had no luck, decided it was probably due to the fact it had not been used for a while.
I took the spark plug out and cleaned it using a wire brush, cleaned the air filter, cleaned out the old fuel from the fuel tank and filled it with some fresh unleaded petrol.
Gave the rope a pull and after a few pulls managed to get it to fire up.
Once it has fired up, it will run for a short while and then conk out on me. I have changed the lever from start to fast however when I do this, it tends to cough and splutter, a bit of black smoke comes out the exhaust then just conks out again.
If I move the lever from ‘fast’, when it begins to cough and splutter, to ‘start’ it will then carry on running but again a few mins later will cut out. Does the same if I fire it up and leave it on ‘start’ after a few minutes of idling will start to splutter, move the lever to ‘fast’ and some black smoke will come out, it will cough a few times, shake then continue running for a few minutes.
I managed to cut some of the grass but got fed up with having to keep firing it up after a few minutes, so have given up.
Any help on trying to figure out what the problem might be?
I have attached some pictures that show what it looks like.
It has one lever, which you need to squeeze and hold up next to the handle, which cuts the engine when I release it; the other smaller lever is labeled start/fast/slow/stop. It also has a bit of wire attached to something, which when you pull revs the engine. This bit of wire is something that someone has attached at some point.
I also checked the oil and it had a good amount in it, once its running it works well and cuts nicely, just doesn’t run for more than about 5 minutes.
Is the carb easy to clean?
I emptied the old fuel out the tank, disconnected the fuel pipe and let the old fuel drop out.
Been reading online about not using petrol only and instead mixing it with 2 stroke oil. Pretty sure this is a 4 stroke engine as it has a little oil dipstick. Would old oil cause it to die?
I emptied the old fuel out the tank, disconnected the fuel pipe and let the old fuel drop out.
Been reading online about not using petrol only and instead mixing it with 2 stroke oil. Pretty sure this is a 4 stroke engine as it has a little oil dipstick. Would old oil cause it to die?
Edited by RZ1 on Wednesday 3rd May 22:42
Also, do not be tempted to strip the carb and start poking things into the jets to clean them. Use only an ultrasonic cleaner as another poster has mentioned, carb cleaner, or compressed air.
For the sake of a few quid I'd be putting a new plug in rather than cleaning the old one, and if it has a fuel filter, replace that too. Also check that the tank itself isn't full of gunk and rust.
For the sake of a few quid I'd be putting a new plug in rather than cleaning the old one, and if it has a fuel filter, replace that too. Also check that the tank itself isn't full of gunk and rust.
RZ1 said:
Is the carb easy to clean?
I emptied the old fuel out the tank, disconnected the fuel pipe and let the old fuel drop out.
Been reading online about not using petrol only and instead mixing it with 2 stroke oil. Pretty sure this is a 4 stroke engine as it has a little oil dipstick. Would old oil cause it to die?
OK so you should be ok fuel wise however giving it another flush might be worth while and inspect the bottom of the tank for gunk.I emptied the old fuel out the tank, disconnected the fuel pipe and let the old fuel drop out.
Been reading online about not using petrol only and instead mixing it with 2 stroke oil. Pretty sure this is a 4 stroke engine as it has a little oil dipstick. Would old oil cause it to die?
Edited by RZ1 on Wednesday 3rd May 22:42
Ref the carb as others have suggested its a bit of a skilled job to strip etc so I would give it a good spray with BCE and work it back and forth. Compressed air is ok but wont dissolve any of the crud. Lastly as suggested new plug would not go amiss.
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