Lawnmower won't start

[JulesMaximus]

I've been keeping this thing running for almost 10 years now. It's a Home Depot (or possibly Lowes) brand with a Tecumseh engine. I've replaced the rip cord pull starter once, plugs/air cleaner and that's pretty much it. I use it every week pretty much year round for about an hour of run time total. It sits outside most of the time covered but now it won't start and I'm thinking about just getting a new one. The cables for the throttle and the auto stop are practically fused but still move a little bit. The base is pretty rusty and I'm sure it could use a new blade.

I'm not sure if I should take it somewhere and have it fixed or just buy a new one.

Edit-Yes, I have gas in it.

Update: After I dropped my son off at school I was walking back home and stopped to talk to my neighbor about his lawnmower, what kind it is, where he bought it when he offered me a spare lawnmower his brother gave him. It's a 6.0 hp Craftman and it is about a year old. Looks brand new. He said I could give him whatever I wanted for it so I thought I'd offer him $100 for it. It has the bag to catch grass clippings in but it isn't self propelled (the one he uses is-which is why he doesn't use this one). I wheeled it into my garage and am going to try it out this evening after I get home from work.

Now, what to do with the old mower...:laugh:

It looks exactly like this one except it is green and it's a 6.0 hp model.

 

[Auric]

Your neighbours rejoice.

Now see the light and get a manual reel mower.

 

[dullard]

*Add gas, make sure the gas is good. Sea Foam or Stabol may help if your gas went bad.
*Check the oil.
*Check the blade - is it clogged on the side with grass, is the nut holding it on loose, etc. Can you turn the blade manually?
* Take off the air filter entirely, blow out anything that is in there. Try running it without the filter on.
*Is the spark plug connected, is it still good?

If none of that starts the motor, why pay $100+ to fix an item that is worth less than $100?

 

[mcvickj]

Did you check for spark? Does it have a primer button? Maybe that is broken. How about a shot or two of ether to get it started?

 

[dug777]

Lawnmower. One word.

 

[Kaspian]

If you've had it for 10yrs buy a new one instead of taking it to a repair shop. JMO

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dullard
*Add gas, make sure the gas is good. Sea Foam or Stabol may help if your gas went bad.
*Check the oil.
*Check the blade - is it clogged on the side with grass, is the nut holding it on loose, etc. Can you turn the blade manually?
* Take off the air filter entirely, blow out anything that is in there. Try running it without the filter on.
*Is the spark plug connected, is it still good?

If none of that starts the motor, why pay $100+ to fix an item that is worth less than $100?

I run this thing every week. It ran less than 7 days ago and I put gas in it regularly.

It turns when I pull the cord and I clean out the grass bag before each use. Blade turns fine.

Oil is fine.

Originally posted by: mcvickj
Did you check for spark? Does it have a primer button? Maybe that is broken. How about a shot or two of ether to get it started?

Yes, it has a primer button that appears to be in good shape but I haven't checked it.

Where would I get ether?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dug777
Lawnmower. One word.

Go join an anti-SUV brigade.

 

[dug777]

Try a new spark plug.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dug777
Try a new spark plug.

I replaced the spark plug a few months ago. It has been running fine up until last night. Usually starts right up after just 2 or 3 pulls at most.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Just rebuilt mine last month. The throttle and drive cables were frozen up and the gas line was leaking. Went here:

http://www.partstree.com/parts/

Ordered the parts and replaced the cables, gas line, and rebuilt the carb. Didn't know a thing about rebuilding two stroke carbs but they are pretty simple. Cost about $35 total and it runs like brand new.

If you're comfortable with that sort of thing it's the cheap way to go.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: Auric
Your neighbours rejoice.

Now see the light and get a manual reel mower.

 

[jdini76]

Check to make sure the fuel filter isn't clogged. It may bot be getting any gas in the carb.

 

[dug777]

Flooded?

 

[Eli]

Take the plug out and ground it against the engine, and pull the cord while watching. You should readily see sparks. If not, check the ignition system. Sometimes the kill wire shorts out and prevents start.

If you see sparks, its something with the fuel system.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: dug777
Flooded?

I tried it again a half hour later but it still wouldn't start.

Oh, and I had no luck finding any replacement parts for it from the site linked above. I can't read the model number anymore...

The engine plate says it complies with 1995-1996 epa standards though.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Just rebuilt mine last month. The throttle and drive cables were frozen up and the gas line was leaking. Went here:

http://www.partstree.com/parts/

Ordered the parts and replaced the cables, gas line, and rebuilt the carb. Didn't know a thing about rebuilding two stroke carbs but they are pretty simple. Cost about $35 total and it runs like brand new.

If you're comfortable with that sort of thing it's the cheap way to go.

That looks like a great site.

:beer:

 

[Fiat1]

If it has been sitting the gas has gone bad. You will need to flush the gas system and add fresh gas.

 

[moshquerade]

time for a new mower or else hire a groundskeeper.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Where would I get ether?

Auto supply store, carb cleaner works just as well, and is handy to have around.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: dug777
Flooded?

I tried it again a half hour later but it still wouldn't start.

Oh, and I had no luck finding any replacement parts for it from the site linked above. I can't read the model number anymore...

The engine plate says it complies with 1995-1996 epa standards though.

Bummer.

As already mentioned, check to make sure you're getting spark. If you are, remove the air filter and check to see if the throttle valve is opening properly. It should be wide open when starting the mower. If that appears to be working, try spraying a little bit of gas directly into the carb, then start it. If it starts, tries to run, and then dies it might indicate that you have an obstruction somehwere between the gas tank and carb, or possibly something like the carb float has frozen up.

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: Kaspian
If you've had it for 10yrs buy a new one instead of taking it to a repair shop. JMO

unless its a lawnboy. 10 yrs is barely broken in for a lawnboy.

 

[slag]

Most Tecumseh's have a float bowl on the right side of the engine (when standing behind it), that is removed with a 1/2 inch wrench. Take the bowl off and let the gas dribble out for a bit. Clean the bowl and put it back on. Wait 20 seconds for the float bowl to fill up and prime it and start it.

Also, put your mowers in a shed or garage when not in use and they will last much longer.

 

[ManyBeers]

Does it have points? They may need to be replaced. Maybe the mag is bad.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Does it have points? They may need to be replaced. Maybe the mag is bad.

No mower made in the last 15 years has points, really.