How To Lawn Mower Troubleshoot

When it comes time to mow your lawn, nothing can be as frustrating as a broken down lawnmower. But before you haul your mower to the repair shop or even the dumpster, you may want to try some simple troubleshooting.


Even if you've never worked on the small engine of a lawnmower before and need advice on how to lawnmower troubleshoot, the problem is often a simple one that is easy to fix. Following are a few things to try on your own before calling the repair shop.

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One of the most common problems is that the lawnmower simply won't start. This can be caused by a few things, with the most common reason being bad spark plugs. Pull the spark plugs and replace them - if you aren't sure how to do this, get out your owners manual, which should have instructions for cleaning and changing spark plugs and probably instructions on how to change spark-plug wire as well.

If that doesn't fix the problem, then you'll want to move onto checking the fuel and the oil. Make sure that the oil is at the proper level and that there is adequate gas in the fuel tank.

If there is old gas left in the tank, then consider draining the gas tank and adding fresh fuel, especially if it has been sitting for a few months.

Also, you'll want to check and see if the fuel line is turned on. If it is, then disconnect it from the carburetor for a minute and see if gas pours out. If it does, then the problem lies elsewhere. If it does not, the line may need to be cleaned or you may need a new fuel filter.

If none of these things work, try cleaning the carburetor. You'll find instructions for how to do this in your owners manual. If you've lost your owners manual somewhere along the way, you can also find repair manuals and help on many lawnmower manufacturer's websites, including Briggs and Stratton and Sears Craftsman.

There are also many online articles focusing on how to lawnmower troubleshoot. If after cleaning the carburetor, your lawn mower still won't turn on, you may want to consider taking it to a repair shop.

This is especially true if you own a tractor or riding lawnmower, as the problem may be something bigger that requires a mechanic to fix.