Six Reasons Why Your Lawnmower Won't Start

There's nothing nicer on a warm spring day than the look and smell of a freshly trimmed lawn, but what do you do when your lawnmower won't start? This is a common symptom for a machine that has been sitting in the shed or garage all winter long, but don't panic, we've got you covered. The fix is usually an easy one, and can be solved with a list of six common parts and solutions. Follow along with our video guide, or the written guide below to get your lawn mower up and running again

1. Recoil Starter

A broken recoil starter will not be able to turn the engine over, which means it will not turn on. Remove the recoil starter, and inspect it for damaged components such as the pulley, housing, and spring. If any of these are broken, make sure to replace them.

2. Dirty or Damaged Spark Plug

Give your spark plug a look. If it is looking dirty then clean it off best you can, reinsert it and try again. If it's broken, time to replace it. Generally, the spark plug should be replaced regularly, often once a season depending on use, as part of regular maintenance. It's an inexpensive part that will keep your machine running much longer when regularly switched out.

3. Clogged or Damaged Air Filter

A clogged air filter can seriously reduce fuel efficiency, even causing the machine to not turn on. Take a look at your air filter. If it can be cleaned, then do your best to get all the gunk out. if you can't clean it out, or the filter is damaged it should be replaced. generally, we recommend replacing rather than cleaning your air filter. As with the spark plug above, these parts commonly become clogged and replacing the air filter is a cheap job that can prevent a lot of serious issues if taken care of every season.

4. Clogged or Damaged Fuel Filter

Fuel filters remove dirt and debris from the gas before it entered the carburetor. There are two main types of fuel filters: inline and in-tank. If either of these gets clogged, not enough fuel will enter the carburetor and the mower will not start. Make sure to replace this part once a year to avoid this problem, as with the above two regular culprits, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble..

5. Using Gas that Has Gone Bad

Many people don't realize that gas can go bad. Typically you'll see this if you leave your gas in a machine for a long period of time (like leaving that mower in your shed over the winter). Check and see if there is a layer of water on top of the fuel, as this is a sign that it has gone bad. If that's the case, then drain the engine completely and refill it with fresh fuel.

Tip: During the last mow of the season, add some fuel stabilizer to the tank and run the engine until the stabilizer gets into the carburetor. This will prevent many issues the following spring.

6. Restricted Carburetor

Your carburetor needs some cleaning now and again. Give your carburetor a once over with carburetor cleaner, or disassemble it to give a more thorough cleaning. You can also install a new carb kit to replace any damaged internal parts.

Hopefully with these tips, your mower will be back in working order and you will be well on your way to a beautiful lawn. Have fun, be safe, and make sure you have all the parts you need.