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Q: I tried to mow the lawn several times this week, but the the reaper keeps dying. What could cause it to stop working? Do I need to call a professional or buy a new mower, or is this something I can fix myself?
To: The mowing shoes are on, the sunscreen is on, and you’re ready to tackle your covered yard. But instead of hearing the soft sound of the engine running, the mower stops. When a lawn mower keeps dying, it can prevent a homeowner from doing the work needed to maintain the home’s curb appeal. The good news is that lawn mower repair can often be a DIY project. From how to clean a lawn mower carburetor to replacing a lawn mower battery, the following steps can help solve almost any lawn mower problem.
Is the lawnmower letting you down?
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For those who don’t have DIY experience and would rather leave repairs to a professional, a top lawn mower repair service will know why a lawn mower won’t start and how to fix the problem to get it back to life.
| problem | symptoms |
| dirty carburetor | Engine won’t start, sneeze or popping sounds, black smoke, fuel leaks |
| Old or bad gasoline | Idle or sudden stop, pinging sound, smell of gas |
| dirty spark plug | You have to pull harder on rewind, the gas runs out quickly, the engine turns over but won’t start |
| Excess oil | White smoke, engine overheating, slow starts |
| Clogged fuel cap | Engine stalls or fails |
A dirty carburetor or clogged carburetor bowl could cause a lawnmower to stop working.
Photo: istockphoto.com
If a lawnmower won’t keep running, a dirty or clogged carburetor could be to blame. A carburetor mixes air and fuel in the mower to create internal combustion. If the canister becomes clogged or fuel residue affects the inlet or outlet ports, the engine may stop working. Clogged carburetors also tend to produce black smoke or sneeze and pop noises.
To solve this problem, it is possible to disconnect the fuel lines and apply a carburetor cleaner to get rid of old fuel sludge.
The old gasoline must be replaced in order for the lawnmower to function properly.
When a mower sits idle for months without use, old fuel can evaporate and leave behind a sticky residue that prevents the mower from operating properly. Old gasoline will also have a sour smell. If your lawnmower starts and then dies frequently, it may be necessary to drain the old fuel from the tank and clean the carburetor ports before adding new fuel. This is especially true for mowers in cold climates, when conditions can cause condensation inside the fuel tank.
Dirty or faulty spark plugs can cause a lawnmower to stop working.
A spark plug ignites the fuel in your lawn mower engine, so a dirty or faulty spark plug could be the reason a mower keeps dying. If the engine cranks quickly but won’t start, the mower sounds weak, or the mower seems harder to rewind, the spark plugs may be dirty or faulty.
First you need to find and inspect the spark plug, which is usually located at the front of the mower. Here, it is possible to see whether the electrode and insulator have accumulated or disconnected. If the plug is dirty, it must be disconnected and cleaned with a wire brush and a specific spark plug cleaner. (Even if the spark plug doesn’t show significant buildup, it’s a good idea to clean it.) The spark plug will then need to be reconnected to see if the mower starts and runs. If the mower continues to die, it may need a new spark plug.
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Excess oil in the tank can cause problems with the lawnmower.
Even the best lawnmowers can have problems if there is too much oil in the tank. Too much oil in a lawnmower can force the engine to produce more heat, which could cause the machine to overheat. If the mower blows white smoke after starting, this is a good indication that there is too much oil in the tank, and a mower that stops working when it’s hot outside could be overheating due to an overfilled tank full up. Excess oil can also affect the crankcase causing the oil pan to overflow and cause the crankcase to malfunction.
This problem can be solved by unscrewing the oil tube and tilting the lawnmower to one side to release the excess oil into a container. At this point, it’s also best to change the oil filter after draining the oil to make sure it’s free of clogs. For those who are wary of troubleshooting a lawnmower, a lawnmower repair service can check the machine and help you with anything from lawnmower repairs to advice on regular maintenance.
Is the lawnmower letting you down?
Find the best lawnmower repair specialists and compare multiple quotes today.
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A clogged fuel cap vent can kill a lawnmower.
Most mowers have a vented fuel cap that helps release pressure in the machine and allows fuel to flow from the gas tank to the carburetor. If the fuel cap vent becomes clogged or clogged, it could cause excess gas fumes inside the mower, which stops fuel flow and could be the reason the mower keeps dying. A pin or needle may be used to remove any blockage from the breathing hole. If the cap has any damage, it’s probably easier to just buy a new one.
Photo: istockphoto.com
A professional repair service can solve any type of lawnmower problem.
When you’ve exhausted all options and you’re tired of fiddling with the mower, it may be time to throw in the towel and call a professional. The best lawnmower repair professionals have the skills and experience to identify problems right away and can often fix them on the spot so homeowners don’t have to keep running to the hardware store. The mower may also be experiencing a problem that only a professional can fix, which is especially true if there is black smoke coming from the mower or if the mower starts to vibrate or shake after starting.
Lawnmower maintenance can keep your lawnmower running smoothly.
As with any appliance or machine, regular maintenance ensures that your mower is in tip-top shape and won’t experience the many problems that neglect can bring. Regularly cleaning debris from the air filters and mower decks, removing any old gas from the tank, and replacing the battery when necessary are good practices to keep in place when it comes to lawn mower maintenance. The more a mower is taken care of, the less likely a homeowner will have problems such as a stalled lawnmower or the mower shutting down.
Is the lawnmower letting you down?
Find the best lawnmower repair specialists and compare multiple quotes today.
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