Husqvarna lawn mower cleaning. Here’s What To Do If Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start

Learn the reasons why a lawn mower won’t start after winter or during peak season, and how to fix those problems.

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Introduction

Most of the time when a lawn mower won’t start the cause is a problem with the gas or the lawn mower carburetor.

What to Do if Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start

Whatever kind of lawn mower you’ve got, the last thing you want once winter finally lifts and spring has sprung is a lawn mower that won’t start.

If you’ve taken the proper steps to winterize your lawn mower, you’re far less likely to be dealing with such issues. It’s also why you should tune up your lawn mower at the start of every season. However, it’s not out of the ordinary to find your gas-powered lawn mower not starting from time to time, so it’s important to know why your lawn mower isn’t starting and how to fix it.

Project step-by-step (6)

Check the Gas Tank

Let’s start with the obvious. Before you have a heart attack pulling on the rip cord, you’ll want to check the fuel. Like any gasoline-powered engine, lawn mowers run out from time to time. Maybe you forgot it was running on fumes when you finished mowing last time. It sounds simple, but we’ve all overlooked the gas tank from time to time.

Even if there is gas in the mower, if the fuel’s been in there more than a month, that could be the problem. Gas sitting around too long in the tank can get contaminated with dirt and extra moisture.

So if your gasoline has been in the mower for more than month, drain the gas properly, dispose of it correctly, and fill up the mower with new gas. It may take quite a few pulls to suck the new gas into the lawn mower carburetor, so be prepared to clean and dry the plug a few more times.

Add fuel stabilizer when you fill up the tank to help protect the gasoline in there from dirt and moisture.

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Check the Spark Plug

Start by making sure the lawn mower spark plug cable is connected to the plug itself. It’s quite possible that it got pulled off there over the winter while the mower was being stored in the garage.

If that’s not the issue, the next step is to remove the spark plug to see if it’s wet. There’s no way the engine will start if it is. So clean the plug with carburetor cleaner and let it dry. Cleaning it with compressed air isn’t enough; you need a solvent to remove oil residue. If it’s really grimy and dirty, it might be best to change the spark plug.

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Check for Debris in the Mower Deck

Grass clippings can get clogged in the mower deck, which can prevent the blade from turning. This is a common problem if you’ve cut wet grass or let the lawn get especially long and bushy between cuttings. If the cord is hard to pull, that’s a good sign that there’s debris clogging up your mower’s deck.

This is a pretty easy problem to solve. With the mower off, flip it on its side or upside down and scrape out the gummed up grass clippings. Once that’s done, you can flip it back over and start it up again.

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Check the Air Filter

The lawn mower’s carburetor regulates the mix of gasoline and air going into the engine where it’s burned to create power. Before air goes into the carburetor it passes through the air filter which prevents dirt and debris from getting into it.

If the air filer is clogged or dirty, it throws the ratio out of whack. Sometimes that results in your lawn mower smoking, and sometimes it prevents it from starting entirely. So take a look at the air filter to see if it’s dirty. If so, you can clean it or just change it outright.

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Check the Carburetor

Another common reason for a lawn mower that won’t start is a clogged or dirty carburetor. It can also cause your mower to run rough or spew black smoke when you’re trying to cut the grass. If that’s the case, you may need to clean the carburetor.

To get to the carburetor, you’ll have to remove the air filter. Once that’s out of the way, you can remove the carburetor in order to clean it.

Once it’s out, check for corrosion. If you see chalky/powdery white corrosion like this, it’s probably better just to replace it. To clean it, take it apart and spray carburetor cleaner on the parts and inside the housing. After that, put the carburetor back together and reinstall it in the mower.

Check the Fuel Filter

Like the air filter, the fuel filter prevents dirt and debris from getting into the combustion chamber of your lawn mower’s engine, taking that stuff out before the gas gets mixed with air in the carburetor. Problems with the fuel filter might also result in the engine sputtering or rough idling, even before it gets to the point of preventing the mower from starting.

To start, tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If that doesn’t work, you might have a clogged filter.

Not all lawn mowers have a fuel filter, but for the ones that do, it’s usually located in the fuel line or the fuel tank. To find out where the fuel filter is at, check your lawn mower’s owners manual, which will also tell you what type of filter it is.

If the filter is in the fuel tank, you’ll need to drain the gas from the mower into a drain pan, assuming you can’t run the engine until it’s out of gas. If the filter is in the fuel line, clamp off the fuel line before removing the filter. Once you have the filter off, you can check to see if it’s dirty and clogged by holding it up the light. If it is, install a new one. Make sure it works with this lawn mower maintenance checklist.

Husqvarna Mower Dies When Blades Engaged – Solved!

The first time this happened to me, I was preparing my yard for a family gathering, time was not on my side and I needed the yard done yesterday. I found a quick fix for my problem and I’ll share it here in this post.

A Husqvarna riding mower commonly dies when blades are engaged because the grass box is not fully closed. Other possible causes include:

That’s a list of all the most likely reasons that the engine dies as you apply the blade button or lever. Now let’s take a look at how we can quickly figure out what’s going on and how to fix it.

Grass Box May Not Be Fully Closed

As you already know, your mower is designed with several safety features built-in. Various sensors are attached to components of your mower which relay their position to the main control panel.

Only if a set procedure is followed will the control panel allow the engine to start or stay running. The grass bag is one of the components that’s monitored by the control panel, and its sensor lives at the rear of the mower, between the mower and the grass bag.

As the grass bag/box closes, the frame of the grass bag presses on the sensor and closes it. This tells the engine control panel that the box is closed and it’s safe to engage the blades. Check that the box is closing fully, clear any grass that might be jamming it.

Box Open – This grass box is not fully closed and will cause the engine to shut down as you engage the blade lever or button.

Grass Box Misaligned

This often happens when you accidentally reverse into something and the grass bag support arms get bent out of shape. This as you’ve probably guessed, causes the grass bag frame to no longer press on the gasbag sensor.

The fix here is to straighten out the arms so that the grass bag fits squarely. This can be a tedious job, but worth doing because a misaligned grass bag will be a right pain in the jacksie. You’ll have grass trailing and clumping – Horrible!

Quick Fix – If your grass box won’t close properly, removing the wiring from the back of the sensor and connecting them together will bypass the sensor.

Sensor wiring is accessed from behind the grass box at the rear wheel.

Use a piece of wire to jump the sensor, a car fuse works the best.

Loose Grass Bag Sensor

I know you’re already up to speed on what a grass bag sensor does and where it lives, now let’s take a look at the wiring. This isn’t at all technical, so stay with me here. At the rear of the sensor, you’ll hopefully find the wiring connector, depending on the model, it may be a single block or two push-on connectors.

Check that they are fully connected, sometimes they can come loose or the wiring may be damaged. Remove the connector and check for corrosion, as you know will prevent a proper signal from being sent to the control panel. If the wiring terminals are dirty, try cleaning them with an electrical contact cleaner, and use a small amount of silicone grease, that prevents moisture from getting in.

If the wiring terminals are corroded, then we’ll need to replace them. You can buy a handy wiring repair kit at the auto parts store, it will have all you need, new push-on connectors, joiners, and tape or if you want to go the pro route then buy a soldering iron.

Grass Bag Sensor Faulty

This is not very common, the Husqvarna sensors are well made and tend to go the distance, never less, we’ll need to check its function and output. For that, we’ll use a voltmeter. We can test the grass bag sensor in place, first, remove the block connector and if you’re using a voltmeter, set it to continuity, that’s the symbol.

With a test lead on each of the terminals of the sensor, press the sensor closed by hand, no change in the reading indicates a faulty sensor. Replacing the sensor is a simple two-minute job, to release the old one push in the plastic wings, and push the sensor out from the wiring side.

Grass Bag Sensor – The Husqvarna grass bag sensor is a four-pin, although some mowers will only use two of them. The same sensor is fitted to other components that utilize the four pins.

Testing The Sensor – Set the voltmeter to ohms, and check for continuity when the sensor is pressed. The meter should read close to zero ohms, if not replace it.

Check out Husqvarna safety sensors (also known as interlock switches) on the Amazon link below.

Bad Gas Causes Poor Running

Stale gas is a common problem for all small engines, the problem with stale gas – it’s less combustible than fresh. Although your mower may seem to run OK, stale gas will likely cause it to hesitate and stall when extra demands like run the blades or climb a steep hill are placed on the engine.

The fix here is simple enough, drain out the old gas and fill it with fresh, use a gas stabilizer if you’re going to store your gas either in the mower or in a gas can for more than a month. Check out the “Carburetor troubleshooting guide”(internal link).

Dirty Carburetor

A lawnmower engine is very simple and forgiving. The carburetor that’s bolted to it, is neither of those things. It’s a finely tuned piece of kit, any slight change in the air/fuel balance will cause the mower engine to run poorly. A carburetor has two jobs, mix the gas to air at a ratio of 14.7:1 and supply the correct amount of this mixed gas to the engine for any given engine load demand.

Dirt in any of these components will cause fuel starvation, which in turn causes the mower to not start, lack power, or stall when the engine is loaded.

Common causes of fuel starvation are:

• Gas tank outlet blocked
• Gas filter blocked
• Gas valve faulty
• Gas lines blocked
• Needle valve dirty
• Fuel bowl dirt
• Fuel jet blocked
• Failed fuel pump

Check out the complete “Carburetor troubleshooting” guide or check out the “Carburetor cleaning video” here. The videos are walk-behind mowers, but the tractor mower carburetor cleaning process is identical. (internal links).

Carb Cleaning – Cleaning the carburetor and fresh gas will have it running sweet.

Related Questions

John Deere mower dies when blades are engaged? Your grass box is not fully closed, the safety sensor is shutting down the engine.

What causes a 4 stroke engine to backfire? A bad plug is a common cause of backfiring, but other possible causes include:

Hey, I’m John, and I’m a Red Seal Qualified Service Technician with over twenty-five years experience.

I’ve worked on all types of mechanical equipment, from cars to grass machinery, and this site is where I share fluff-free hacks, tips, and insider know-how.

And the best part. it’s free!

The best riding mowers: Mow your lawn faster

Up your summer lawn care game with a riding mower that makes for a faster, more eco-friendly mowing experience.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Riding mowers are a popular mower choice for homeowners, especially if you have a big property to maintain every summer. They have cutting decks measuring from 42 to 72 inches, so you can make short work of everything from typical lawns to large properties, like sports complexes and golf courses.

Unlike their push mower counterparts, riding mowers have more features to consider in order to find the right fit for your yard. You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission, so you can set and forget your speed or operate your mower like a car. You can even get riding mowers with cruise control or all-wheel drive for better traction.

While gas engines are far more common among riding mowers, there is a wide selection of battery-powered models if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly solution for lawn care. My pick for the best overall riding mower is the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP for its 24HP engine, 54-inch cutting deck, and ability to mow up to four acres with a full gas tank. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as well as our other top picks.

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP

Best riding mower overall

• 24HP engine
• 54-inch cutting deck
• Automatic transmission
• Attachments and accessories available

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kohler | Cutting width: 54 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 4 acres

The Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP riding mower is an excellent choice for a variety of lawns. It’s built with a 24HP Kohler engine and a 54-inch cutting deck to let you handle inclines and rough terrain or haul tools, mulch, and potting soil around your property.

The hydrostatic, automatic transmission makes operation similar to a typical car, so you can spend more time actually cutting your grass and less time learning how to drive your mower. With a 3-gallon tank, you’ll be able to mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Best electric riding mower

• 2.5 acre max range
• Quick-charge batteries
• LCD heads-up display
• USB charging ports

Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor tech specs: Engine: 80V brushless electric | Cutting width: 46 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 2.5 acres

Electric riding mowers have become more popular in recent years as homeowners and landscaping professionals look for ways to make lawn care more eco-friendly. The Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor features a 46-inch cutting deck and enough power to let you mow up to 2.5 acres on a single charge, and you can recharge your mower batteries in as little as 2.5 hours.

This means you can take care of other tasks, like weeding or landscaping, while you’re waiting for your mower to recharge. An LCD screen gives you a heads-up display of run time, battery levels, and reminders to inspect and sharpen your mower blades. It even has two USB ports for charging your phone while you mow.

Toro Titan Max

Best zero-turn riding mower

• Mows up to 7 acres at once
• Highly maneuverable
• 10-gauge steel construction
• Tool-free air filters

Toro Titan Max tech specs: Engine: 26HP Kohler 7000 | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 7 acres

Zero-turn riding mowers are popular with homeowners who have larger properties or lots of obstacles like trees or specialized landscaping. The Toro Titan Max’s exceptional maneuverability and larger cutting decks make quick work of yards up to 7 acres in size, while the 26HP Kohler 7000 engine uses a dual hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive operation.

Toro also made regular maintenance a bit more streamlined with tool-free air filters. The deck and mower body are made from tough, 10-gauge steel to stand up to dings, rocks, run-ins, and anything else your lawn can throw at it.

Cub Cadet CC30E

Best compact riding mower

• Battery-powered
• Great for yards up to 1 acre
• Compact design great for small storage areas and narrow spaces
• Push-button cruise control

Cub Cadet CC30E tech specs: Engine: 56V electric | Cutting width: 30 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 1 acre

Compact riding mowers like the Cub Caded CC30E are great for suburban lawns on the smaller side. The CC30E features a smaller design that is perfect for storing in multi-use sheds and garages or maneuvering through gates and narrow spaces. The 30-inch cutting deck and 56V battery let you mow up to 1 acre (or one hour) at once.

It uses a hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive driving while the 18-inch turning radius lets you easily mow around trees and other obstacles. It even features a push-button cruise control, so you can set-and-forget your forward speed and concentrate on mowing around obstacles, as well as staying aware of your surroundings.

DeWALT Z160 Commercial

Best riding mower for large properties

• Mow up to 10 acres
• 5.5 gallon gas tank
• Dual hydrostatic drive
• Great for hills and inclines

DeWALT Z160 Commercial tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 10 acres

The DeWALT Z160 Commercial zero-turn riding mower is designed from the ground up to handle large properties. The 60-inch cutting deck and 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin engine let you mow up to 10 acres at once, making it an almost perfect choice for rural properties or landscaping professionals. The dual hydrostatic drive makes operation smoother, though the twin-stick steering does take some getting used to.

With 22-inch rear wheels, you can easily take on inclines and rolling hills that may be on your property. A 5.5-gallon fuel tank means you’ll spend more time actually mowing and less time refueling. And if you opt for the bagger attachment, you’ll be able to gather up to 11 bushels of clippings before you need to empty.

What is the best riding mower?

I chose the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as the best riding mower you can buy. It features a 54-inch cutting deck and 3-gallon fuel tank, letting you mow up to 4 acres in a single go. The 24 horsepower engine also lets you take on steeper inclines and rough terrain or haul tools and gardening supplies around your property. The hydrostatic drive makes operation similar to a typical car, while an LED display gives you accurate usage hours for streamlined maintenance.

Best riding mower

Cutting width

Transmission type

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Which is the right riding mower for you?

Other than your budget, there are a lot of features and scenarios you have to consider while shopping for a new riding mower. The size of your yard will determine how wide the cutting deck should be, though either a 42 or 46-inch version will be more than enough for most yards.

You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission. A manual model lets you set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS, while hydrostatic models operate more like cars, going faster the harder you press the pedal. This makes them more intuitive to operate but also more expensive.

Zero-turn mowers are designed for mowing in oddly-shaped areas or around lots of obstacles like trees, lamp posts, and lawn ornaments. They’re called zero-turn because they have a zero-inch turn radius; you pivot around either rear wheel for ultra-tight turning.

Buy this best riding mower.

If you need.

A well-rounded riding mower. The 54-inch cutting deck and 24HP engine let you mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

An all-electric riding mower. The electric engine requires less maintenance than gas models, making your lawn-care routine more eco-friendly.

An excellent zero-turn riding mower. Precision maneuvering lets you mow around trees, landscaping, and other obstacles with ease.

A compact riding mower. The 30-inch deck and smaller build make this riding mower perfect for smaller suburban lawns.

A riding mower that can handle larger properties. This commercial-grade, zero-turn riding mower lets you cut up to 10 acres at once.

How did we choose these riding mowers?

I used to work for MTD Products (now owned by BlackDecker), which assembles a variety of lawn mowers, snow blowers, and other powered lawn equipment. Using the expertise and knowledge I gained during my time there, I looked for riding mowers with these qualities:

• Motor size: You’ll want a riding mower with at least a 10HP engine to give you enough power to handle minor inclines and lawns up to half an acre. Larger riding mowers like the John Deere Z530M have more powerful engines, often topping out over 20HP to let you tackle rough terrain and even haul equipment.
• Cutting width: Many riding mowers have either a 42 or 46-inch cutting deck, which is great for lawns between.5 and 1.5 acres. However, if you have a large, multi-acre property, you’ll want to choose a larger cutting deck. Many brands have options between 50 and 72-inch cutting decks.
• Transmission type: The less expensive riding mowers will have either a 6 or 7-speed manual transmission. This means you will use a dedicated lever to set your engine’s forward and reverse speeds, with a single brake pedal for stop control. The more expensive models feature a hydrostatic drive, which operates in a similar way to an automatic transmission in a typical car or truck.
• Accessories: Lawn care goes beyond regular mowing. I chose riding mowers that have the ability to hitch small trailers or wagons for hauling tools, mulch, or potting soil. I also chose mowers from brands that make after-market add-ons, like rear bagging units for collecting grass clippings, mulching kits for re-feeding lawns, and snow plows for year-round use.

How do you decide which riding mower to buy?

Assuming you have a budget in mind, the first thing you need to do is find out how big your lawn is. You can either find your lot size on your memorandum deeds if you’ve bought your house, or you can check your city’s website to see if you can request lot measurements if you’re renting. If your lot measures about an acre, you’ll be able to use a 30 or 42-inch cutting deck without any issues. For lawns up to two acres, a 42 or 46-inch deck is ideal. And if your lot is over two acres, you can get a mower with up to a 72-inch cutting deck to handle larger areas.

The transmission type is also important. Many newer models have what is known as a hydrostatic drive. This means that they operate similarly to how a car drives: You push the pedal and it moves forward or backward. And the harder you push, the faster you go. This makes it easier to learn how to drive, but that also makes the mower more expensive. stripped-back models have variable speed manual transmissions, which allow you to set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS on paying attention to obstacles and people who may be nearby.

And finally, you’ll want to consider the power source for your new riding mower. Gasoline engines are far more common, but there is now a wider variety of battery-powered models to choose from. The perks of a gas engine are that you’ll get near-infinite run times (as long as you have enough fuel to keep the engine going) and a bit more power for handling steep inclines and rough terrain. The downsides are dealing with exhaust emissions and maintenance that can be a time and money sink. Electric models don’t need engine maintenance, so you save a bit of money in the long run. But they usually have a maximum run time of about an hour, which means that you may have to plan your mowing over several days if you have a larger yard.

How big of a yard do I need for a riding mower?

Riding mowers are best suited for yards measuring one acre or larger. A model with a 42-inch cutting deck is great for mowing up to two acres, so if you have more land than that, you’ll want to spring for a 46, 54, 60, or 72-inch cutting deck.

If you’re right on the threshold, you can get what’s known as a mini rider. They usually have compact bodies for easier storage and 30-inch cutting decks to make short work of lawns that are just a touch too large for a push mower.

How long should a riding mower last?

No matter if you choose a gas or battery-powered riding mower, proper maintenance is key to extending the life of your mower. For gas engines, you should change the oil and filters, clean the spark plugs, and sharpen the blades before you mow for the first time in the spring. And you should use fuel treatments like STA-BIL to prevent gas in the tank or extra jerry cans from going bad from moisture contamination. This prevents buildup of gunk that can ruin your engine, improves engine performance, and gives you a cleaner cut for a healthier lawn.

Electric mowers don’t need engine maintenance, but you should perform thorough inspections at the start of mowing season to check for battery damage, corrosion on battery contacts, damage to the battery housing, and also to sharpen the blades. If you do regular maintenance, not only will you save money by avoiding big repairs from worn-out parts, but you can also expect your riding mower to last 10 years or more.- which is great news, since they can be an expensive investment.

What is the cheapest riding mower?

Unfortunately, riding mowers aren’t ever really what we consider budget-friendly. However, there are models like the Murray MT100 that retail for less than 2000 without sacrificing power or cutting width.

Are there alternative riding mowers worth considering?

Whether you’re shopping at a big-name DIY store like Lowe’s, a local hardware store, or an authorized brand dealer, there are tons of options for a new riding mower. You can choose either gas or battery-powered models, cutting deck widths from as small as 30 inches to as wide as six feet.

Here’s a short list of other riding mowers I thought were great choices:

John Deere Z530M

The John Deere Z530M features a 60-inch cutting deck for making quick work of large properties. Exceptional maneuverability lets you mow around trees, lawn decor, and other obstacles with ease.

Husqvarna YTH1942

The Husqvarna YTH1942 features an updated, 19 horsepower engine and 42-inch cutting deck to take on inclines and haul dirt, mulch, and gardening equipment.

Murray MT100

For under 2000, you’ll get a 13.5 horsepower engine, a 42-inch cutting deck, and a 6-speed manual transmission with the Murray MT100.

The best robotic lawn mowers for 2023

Like the look of robotic lawn mowers? Browse our pick of the very best, for gardens of all shapes and sizes.

Increasingly popular with UK gardeners, robotic lawn mowers are a welcome, hands-free alternative to traditional petrol and electric lawn mowers. Because a robotic lawn mower is fully automatic, it can be a brilliant option for gardeners who have mobility concerns, are away from home a lot, or simply find mowing a chore. Powered by rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries, most mowers are guided by a boundary cable laid around the edge of the lawn, which helps the robotic lawn mower identify where to mow and to avoid flower beds, trees and other obstacles.

While we tested models from a number of different brands, note that all of them offer a range of mowers with varying sizes, capabilities and features.

To compare these robotic models against other types of mowers, see our reviews of the best cordless lawn mowers, the best electric mowers and the best push mowers. And, if you’re looking to give your lawn a bit of TLC, our experts have tested a range of manual and powered aerators and scarifiers. check out the best scarifiers and best aerators reviews. You can also keep edges looking neat with our tests of the best strimmers or pick of the best lawn edging.

Best robotic lawn mowers at a glance

Our expertise

To help you find a robotic lawn mower suitable for your garden, we tested a range of mowers for different size gardens, including gardens with slopes and a complex shape. Each mower is in use for weeks at a time to allow us to assess its battery capacity and cutting proficiency as well as ease of use.

Each mower in our review has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up and ease of use, cutting performance, extra features and value for money. Every robotic mower in our round-up below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.

The robotic mower industry is constantly evolving, with new developemnts and advances, and we are currently testing a number of the latest models ready to update this review shortly. Please check back soon to see the results of our new review.

Best robotic lawn mowers

Husqvarna Automower 405X

RRP: From £1899.00

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Unobtrusive colour
• Easy connectivity
• Clever mowing features
• GPS theft tracking

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features, the Automower 405x boasts a huge range of features that help the mower cut well and make the experience easy for the user. These include, three different start points, switching mowing pattern according to where it’s mowing, such as through a narrow passage, frost guard and weather time that automatically adjusts the height according to the grass growth, and its new Rewilding Zone where you can leave 10% of the lawn aside to grow for pollinators.It’s available to buy as a bare mower, which is then installed by a dealer for an additional cost, or with the installation kit included and you install it yourself. Suitable for smaller gardens 600m2, the mower operates with both a boundary wire and a guide wire and unlike some other mowers, has a more flexible docking station, which doesn’t need a wide, clear space around it. ours was tucked neatly into the side of a hedge. It’s also easy to set up via the intuitive keypad or the impressive Automower Connect app, which allows you to change the schedule, adjust the height of cut, check on the mower’s progress and receive notifications, simply and quickly no matter where you are. As an X model, the mower also has a built in SIM so you have both remote and voice controlled control. Our only confusion with set up was working out the scheduling needed, which took a couple of weeks to establish, and that the height of cut on the app is listed as 1-9, when it cuts between 20mm and 50mm.The mower can cope with 40% slopes, which should suit most gardens. The slope in our test garden has a tendency to get muddy and slippery so at the installer’s advice, we used the spiked Terrain wheels which stop the wheels slipping. Only occasionally did the mower fail to get up the slope and when the weather was really wet we simply removed that zone from the work area. The mower cut consistently well and is very quiet, the only perceptible sound is the whirring of the blades as they cut. It occasionally missed spots on the lawn but overall this is a very easy to use and high performing mower.The Automower 405x is just one in a large range of Husqvarna mowers to suit different size lawns. A host of accessories are also available, including a cover for the docking station and wheel brushes, as well as spare parts, from batteries and blades to wheels. Both the mower and the battery come with a 2 year warranty.

Buy the Husqvarna 405X Automower from Sam Turner, Husqvarna and Red Band

Why Your Husqvarna Riding Mower Won’t Start Troubleshooting Tips

If you buy something through our posts, we may get a small commission. Read more here.

Mowing lawns is a time-consuming and physically demanding activity. And with an inefficient or difficult-to-start lawn mower can be enough to make you throw in the towel and call a professional.

If your Husqvarna riding mower doesn’t start, we’ve compiled a list of recommendations from our experts to get your mower started in no time.

Reasons Why Your Husqvarna Riding Mower Can’t Start

Issue #1: Wrong Starting Procedure

Beginner users may have a dilemma in setting up or starting a riding mower. There could be Husqvarna riding mower technical gaps that you may not have addressed during assembly, causing the mower from operating.

It’s highly recommended to follow the correct starting procedure for your Husqvarna riding mower as outlined in the manual.

Issue #2: Dirty or Clogged Air Filter

A dirty or blocked air filter prevents clean air from entering the engine, causing it to overheat or get damaged.

Our experts recommend checking the mower’s air filter every 25 hours of use and replacing it if needed.

Issue #3: Damaged Spark Plug

A damaged spark plug will prevent the engine from starting. You’ll also likely deal with a mower that will start then die soon after. The most common cause of a damaged spark plug is the gasoline that has gone bad and collected moisture.

You can check the spark plug by removing it and inspecting it for signs of damage. Replace it as necessary.

Issue #4: Clogged Fuel Filter

A clogged fuel filter prevents fuel from reaching the engine, causing it to starve for gas and eventually shut down.

Clean the clogged fuel filters by soaking them in gasoline for a few minutes and then blowing it out with compressed air. It would be best if you replace damaged or old fuel filters.

Issue #5: Clogged Carburetor

A clogged carburetor prevents fuel and air from reaching the engine, causing it to run lean and eventually shut down. With a damaged carburetor, your riding mower will fail to forward or reverse smoothly making it more difficult to use.

Like fuel filters, clean the carburetor by soaking it in gasoline for a few minutes. Use compressed air to blow out any dirt or debris.

Issue #6: Bad or Contaminated Gas

Gasoline that has gone bad is one of the reasons why your Husqvarna riding mower won’t start. Contaminated gasoline can prevent your engine from running efficiently or even starting [1].

Our experts recommend checking the gas for unusual substances like water or debris. If it’s clean, start the mower. But if the problem persists, drain the gas from your mower tank and fill it with fresh gasoline.

Issue #7: Defective Start Switch

A defective start switch prevents the engine from starting when you turn the key. The most common symptom of a faulty start switch is the engine not cranking when turning the key.

To test the start switch, remove the wire from the terminal and check for continuity with a multimeter. It should show a reading of continuity. If not, replace the switch.

Issue #8: Faulty Fuel Pump

A faulty fuel pump also prevents fuel from reaching the riding mower’s engine even when you put too much fuel in your mower. This eventually results in the engine shutting down.

Our professional landscapers advise users to remove the fuel line from the carburetor and turn the key to the ON position. If there’s no gas flowing to the fuel line, consider replacing it.

Issue #9: Defective Ignition Coil

A defective ignition coil can prevent the engine of your Husqvarna Z242F mower from starting by not providing enough spark to the spark plug. The most common symptom of a bad ignition coil is the engine not cranking when you turn the key.

To test the ignition coil, remove the wire from the terminal and check for continuity with a multimeter.

Issue #10: Defective Safety Switch

A defective safety switch prevents the engine from starting. A common sign of a bad safety switch is the engine not cranking when the key is turned.

Test the safety switch by removing the wire from the terminal and checking for continuity with a multimeter. If it doesn’t show any reading, consider replacing this part.

Issue #11: Broken Recoil Spring

A broken recoil spring can prevent the engine from starting by not allowing the mower rope to be pulled. Like the faulty safety switch, the telltale sign of a broken recoil spring is the engine not cranking when you turn the key. Thus, the lawn mower will fail to pull and starts the engine.

Pull the rope and see if it’s able to retract. A good recoil spring recoils the cord immediately.

How do you clean a carburetor on a Husqvarna lawn mower?

You can clean a carburetor on a Husqvarna lawn mower by soaking it in gasoline for a few minutes and then blowing it out with compressed air. Replace damaged or old fuel filters to keep your mower running smoothly.

Conclusion

Our expert landscapers created this guide on Husqvarna riding mower starting issues and a few troubleshooting tips to help novice mowers navigate through the glitches. You can also check the Husqvarna drive belt diagram as your guide when fixing more engine-related issues.

By understanding how your mower works, you would be able to troubleshoot it immediately when something goes wrong.

Robert Johnson is a woodworker who takes joy in sharing his passion for creating to the rest of the world. His brainchild, Sawinery, allowed him to do so as well as connect with other craftsmen. He has since built an enviable workshop for himself and an equally impressive online accomplishment: an extensive resource site serving old timers and novices alike.

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