Lawnmower troubles

[Quad]

my lawnmower was working fine last week when i used it last

today i filled up the tank with gas, but when i pulled the cord, it would get stuck half-way and would snap back forcefully. i tilted the mower on its side to inspect the underside of the mower, and when i set it upright, i noticed oil leaking out of the side of the engine -- it looked like it was coming out of the exhaust.

any idea what's wrong?

thanks in advance

 

[T3C]

you blew the motor up

 

[iwearnosox]

It might be broken. :beer:

 

[Thegonagle]

My insta-baked theory is that it was probably overfilled with oil, or it was stored other than horizontally, and while it was sitting, oil leaked past the piston rings (the cylinder is oriented on its side in a lawnmower), and now there's oil in the cylinder, causing the "kick-back" in the starter cord.

It's probably fixable, but you might not want to try it yourself (not that it's difficult, but nobody here ever seems to know how anything works except their computers).

 

[cavemanmoron]

remove the spark plug,
pull starter cord,about 10 times,
reinstall plug
check oil level,with mower sitting level {upright,like when u mow } fill if needed

if the cord still will not pull over /normally,go to the store of ytour choice,and purchase a new mower. ;(

 

[notfred]

Gee, I wonder why oil would pour out of it when turned on it's side.

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: notfred
Gee, I wonder why oil would pour out of it when turned on it's side.

Yeah cause we all know lawnmower engines have open holes in the crankcase. What are you rolling your eyes about? Oil shouldn't be leaking out, and I don't care if he picked the thing up upside down and swung it around over his head.

 

[CFster]

It may have been gas - when it leaks out and over a potentially oily and dirty engine it would appear black...

When he turned it over the carb may have overflowed and leaked gas out.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
remove the spark plug,
pull starter cord,about 10 times,
reinstall plug
check oil level,with mower sitting level {upright,like when u mow } fill if needed

if the cord still will not pull over /normally,go to the store of ytour choice,and purchase a new mower. ;(

This is the best advice that was given in the thread.

Did you try and pull it over more than once? Take the plug out and pull it over slowly, does it turn normally?

Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt

Originally posted by: notfred
Gee, I wonder why oil would pour out of it when turned on it's side.

Yeah cause we all know lawnmower engines have open holes in the crankcase. What are you rolling your eyes about? Oil shouldn't be leaking out, and I don't care if he picked the thing up upside down and swung it around over his head.

Actually, if he turned it the right way, oil would come out of the carburetor through the crankcase breather..

<-- resident ATOT small engine nut

Mess around with it some more, and update us..

 

[cavemanmoron]

well did you get a chance to try to pull it over with the spark plug removed>???

please let us know..
do you live near me?


Albany NY area
duh Nope. looked at u profile... too far to drive over..

 

[RossMAN]

What brand is it?

I like Honda and Toro lawn mowers.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What brand is it?

I like Honda and Toro lawn mowers.

Honda mowers pwn j00.

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
What brand is it?

I like Honda and Toro lawn mowers.

You like anything that's clearanced for out of season, couponed and interest free until 2005. :beer:

(edit: I'm sad, I have no lawn. I do have a pool and weird neighbors, though.)

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
remove the spark plug,
pull starter cord,about 10 times,
reinstall plug
check oil level,with mower sitting level {upright,like when u mow } fill if needed

if the cord still will not pull over /normally,go to the store of ytour choice,and purchase a new mower. ;(

This is the best advice that was given in the thread.

Did you try and pull it over more than once? Take the plug out and pull it over slowly, does it turn normally?

Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt

Originally posted by: notfred
Gee, I wonder why oil would pour out of it when turned on it's side.

Yeah cause we all know lawnmower engines have open holes in the crankcase. What are you rolling your eyes about? Oil shouldn't be leaking out, and I don't care if he picked the thing up upside down and swung it around over his head.

Actually, if he turned it the right way, oil would come out of the carburetor through the crankcase breather..

<-- resident ATOT small engine nut

Mess around with it some more, and update us..

Last few small 4 stroke engines I rebuilt didn't have a breather to the carb, and the breather they did have wouldn't leak unless enough pressure forced the oil out.