Lawnmower engine trouble

[tk149]

Since I'm spending most of my time away from home nowadays, I hired a friend of a friend named Bill to mow my lawn. I have a two-year-old self-propelled walk-behind lawnmower. Gas and oil are added separately.

Bill has some kind of learning disability, but he claimed that he's used a power mower before and does some of his neighbor's yards.

This is the second time he's mowed my lawn.

Bill said he checked the oil and didn't see any on the dipstick, so he added some oil.
He added gas too. He claims he added the oil to the oil tank and gas to the gas tank.
Black smoke came out shortly thereafter.
I filled the oil up at the beginning of summer (last fall I drained the oil). I have noticed no oil leaks or burning.

I won't be back home until next weekend (June 27th).

I'm open to suggestions as to what might have actually happened, and how to fix it.

I don't remember the model number, but it is probably similar to this.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...o=2&blockType=

Help?

 

[Sea Moose]

Some lawn mowers you have to prime the fuel line. Should be a red button you have to press 3 times.

Also, the spark plugs might be fked.

Dont you have to mix the oil into the fuel them?

 

[LTC8K6]

Black smoke = running rich.

Carburetor problem, probably. Air filter?

If he'd put oil in the fuel tank, you'd see gray/blue oil smoke.

If he put fuel in the crankcase, you'd probably also see oil smoke as diluted oil gets past the rings.

 

[meltdown75]

clean the sparkplug with a wire brush and try again.

if no go, drain the tank, clean the carb, reassemble and add new gas.

end thread

 

[BoomerD]

If this were my mower, I'd drain both gas tank and crankcase and refill. Then, check/change the spark plug and air filter.

Then, I'd start the mower to see how it ran.

If it still puts out black smoke, have it serviced at a competent mower/small engine repair shop.
(unless you can rebuild the carb yourself)

 

[tk149]

Thanks for the input, all.

 

[boomerang]

He's got the choke closed. He probably didn't pull the throttle cable back off the start detent.