While lawnmower ownership can be highly rewarding for people who like to keep immaculate and well-groomed lawns, they can also be highly expensive to repair and maintain. Next time you think there is something wrong with your lawnmower, why not check out the problem yourself and see if you can fix it before calling in the professionals?
Your lawnmower won’t start
- Has the lawnmower been put away and not used for a while? Did you drain the fuel out before putting it away? If the answers to these questions are “yes” and “no”, then it is likely that the fuel has gone bad. Check this by putting a little bit of new fuel into the carburetor or spraying it with a little cleaner – if the carburetor makes a popping noise, the fuel has gone bad. Drain the tank and replace it with new fuel.
- It could be a damaged lawnmower spark plug. A dirty air filter, a sticky and maladjusted carburetor, or burning oil can cause this. You are able to clean the spark plug (by carefully sanding the bridged area) or you can simply replace it.
Your lawnmower coughs and sputters when it is running
- Generally, this means that there is a problem with one of the 3 things that the lawnmower’s engine needs in order to run: air, fuel, or sparking. Cleaning or replacing the air filter (follow the below directions), checking the fuel line, and cleaning or replacing the spark plug (follow the above directions) generally solves the problem.
Your lawnmower runs funny until it stops OR becomes harder to start
- This can occur when the engine is not getting enough air. A lawnmower’s air filter can be cleaned by placing it in hot water with some dishwashing detergent. Wipe away any excess oil and wring it out as best you can. Add some oil to the filter and wring it out again. After allowing the air filter to dry, you can return it to the lawnmower. If you do not have time for this, simply replace the filter.
Your lawnmower jerks or rattles when you start it or while it’s running
- Have you recently hit something with your lawnmower? If the answer is “yes”, this could be due to the blades or shaft being bent or broken, especially if you hit a solid object fairly hard. Examine both the blades and the shaft, remembering that blades are easily replaced.
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- If your lawnmower simply makes a rattling sound during use, you may have a loose blade. Check that the blade is tightly screwed into the mower deck; you may need to tighten it.
If the above solutions are unable to fix the problem your lawnmower is experiencing, you will need to take it to a professional for repairs. Also, if the problem your lawnmower is experiencing is not listed above, it may be more serious and require professional assistance from the get go.
