Lawn mower petrol cap. 9 Fixes For When Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start

There are a number of reasons, mechanical and otherwise, why a mower won’t run. The good news is that fixing most all of the issues is easy enough for a DIYer to handle.

By Tony Carrick and Manasa Reddigari | Updated Aug 8, 2022 4:03 PM

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Lawn care can be tedious, but once the grass starts growing in the spring, mowing becomes a fact of life in most neighborhoods. When you finally muster the strength to tackle that first cut of the season, there are few sounds as disheartening as that of a lawn mower engine that turns over but doesn’t start.

Before you drag the mower in for repairs or invest in costly replacement parts, first make sure that a clogged air filter, soiled spark plug, damaged safety cable, clogged mowing deck, or contaminated gas isn’t to blame. Work through the following steps, and you may be able to get your puttering grass guzzler up and running again in no time.

A lawn mower repair professional can help. Get free, no-commitment repair estimates from pros near you.

Change the lawn mower carburetor filter.

Your lawn mower’s air filter guards the carburetor and engine from debris like grass clippings and dirt. When the air filter becomes clogged or too dirty, it can prevent the engine from starting. To keep this from happening, replace paper filters—or clean or replace foam filters—after every 25 hours of engine use.

The process for removing the filter depends on whether you are operating a riding or walk-behind lawn mower. For a riding mower, turn off the engine and engage the parking brake; for a walk-behind mower, pull the spark plug wire from the plug. Then, lift the filter from its housing.

The only choice for paper filters is replacement. If you’re cleaning a foam filter, wash it in a solution of hot water and detergent to loosen grime. Allow it to dry completely, and then wipe fresh motor oil over the filter, replace it in its housing, and power up the mower—this time to the pleasant whirring of an engine in tip-top condition.

Check the spark plug.

Is your lawn mower still being stubborn? The culprit may be the spark plug, which is responsible for creating the spark that ignites the fuel in the engine. If it’s loosened, disconnected, or coated in water or carbon residue, the spark plug may be the cause of your machine’s malfunction.

Locate the spark plug, often found on the front of the mower, and disconnect the spark plug wire, revealing the plug beneath. Use a socket wrench to unscrew the spark plug and remove it.

Check the electrode and insulator. If you see buildup, spray brake cleaner onto the plug, and let it soak for several minutes before wiping it with a clean cloth. Reinstall the spark plug, first by hand, and then with a socket wrench for a final tightening. If the problem persists, consider changing the spark plug.

Clear the mower deck of debris.

The mower’s deck prevents grass clippings from showering into the air like confetti, but it also creates a place for them to collect. Grass clippings can clog the mower deck, especially while mowing a wet lawn, preventing the blade from turning.

If the starter rope seems stuck or is difficult to pull, then it’s probably due to a clogged deck. With the mower safely turned off, tip it over onto its side and examine the underbelly. If there are large clumps of cut grass caught between the blade and deck, use a trowel to scrape these clippings free. When the deck is clean again, set the mower back on its feet and start it up.

Clear the vent in the lawn mower fuel cap.

The mower started just fine, you’ve made the first few passes, then all of a sudden the mower quits. You pull the cord a few times, but the engine just sputters and dies. What’s happening? It could have something to do with the fuel cap. Most mowers have a vented fuel cap. This vent is intended to release pressure, allowing fuel to flow from the tank to the carburetor. Without the vent, the gas fumes inside the tank begin to build up, creating a vacuum that eventually becomes so strong that it stops the flow of fuel.

To find out if this is the problem, remove the gas cap to break the vacuum, then reattach it. The mower should start right up. But if the lawn mower won’t stay running and cuts off again after 10 minutes or so, you’ll need to get a new gas cap.

Clean and refill the lawn mower fuel tank.

An obvious—and often overlooked—reason your mower may not be starting is that the tank is empty or contains gas that is either old or contaminated with excess moisture and dirt. If your gas is more than a month old, use an oil siphon pump to drain it from the tank.

(It’s important to be careful as spilled oil can cause smoking, but there are other reasons this might happen. Read more about what to do when your lawn mower is smoking.)

Add fuel stabilizer to the tank.

Fill the tank with fresh fuel and a fuel stabilizer to extend the life of the gas and prevent future buildup. A clogged fuel filter is another possible reason for a lawn mower not to start. When the filter is clogged, the engine can’t access the gas that makes the system go. If your mower has a fuel filter (not all do), check to make sure it’s functioning properly.

First, remove the fuel line at the carburetor. Gas should flow out. If it doesn’t, confirm that the fuel shutoff valve isn’t accidentally closed. Then remove the fuel line that’s ahead of the fuel filter inlet. If gas runs out freely, there’s a problem with the fuel filter. Consult your owner’s manual for instructions on replacing the filter and reassembling the mower.

Inspect the safety release mechanism cable.

Your lawn mower’s reluctance to start may have nothing to do with the engine at all but rather with one of the mower’s safety features: the dead man’s control. This colorfully named safety bar must be held in place by the operator for the engine to start or run. When the bar is released, the engine stops. While this mechanism cuts down on the likelihood of horrific lawn mower accidents, it also can be the reason the mower won’t start.

The safety bar of a dead man’s control is attached to a metal cable that connects to the engine’s ignition coil, which is responsible for sending current to the spark plug. If your lawn mower’s engine won’t start, check to see if that cable is damaged or broken. If it is, you’ll need to replace it before the mower will start.

Fortunately, replacing a broken control cable is an easy job. You may, however, have to wait a few days to get the part. Jot down the serial number of your lawn mower, then head to the manufacturer’s website to order a new cable.

Check to see if the flywheel brake is fully engaged.

The flywheel helps to make the engine work smoothly through inertia. When it isn’t working properly, it will prevent the mower’s engine from working.

If it is fully engaged, it can make a mower’s pull cord hard to pull. Check the brake pad to see if it makes full contact with the flywheel and that there isn’t anything jamming the blade so the control lever can move freely.

If the flywheel brake’s key sheared, the mower may have run over something that got tangled in the blade. It is possible to replace a flywheel key, but it does require taking apart the mower.

Look out for signs that the mower needs professional repairs.

While repairing lawn mowers can be a DIY job, there are times when it can be best to ask a professional to help repair a lawn mower. If you’ve done all of the proper mower maintenance that is recommended by the manufacturer, and gone through all of the possible ways to fix the mower from the steps above, then it may be best to call a pro. Here are a few signs that indicate when a pro’s help is a good idea.

• You see black smoke. The engine will benefit from a technician’s evaluation, as it could be cracked or something else might be worn out.
• Excessive oil or gas usage. If you’ve changed the spark plugs, and done all of the other maintenance tasks, and the mower is consuming more than its usual amount of oil or gas, consult a professional for an evaluation.
• The lawn mower is making a knocking sound. When a lawn mower starts making a knocking sound, something could be bent or out of alignment. It may be tough to figure this out on your own, so a pro could help.
• A vibrating or shaking lawn mower can be a sign of a problem beyond a DIY fix. Usually something is loose or not aligning properly.

Best Battery Chainsaw Reviews 2023 | Best Cordless Chainsaws

Boy, did we open a can of worms when we started searching and testing to determine the best battery-powered chainsaw models. Not that long ago, there weren’t that many cordless chainsaws, and even fewer had high enough performance to warrant replacing gas saws.

Fast forward to today and cordless chainsaws meet and even exceed gas performance all the way up to 20-inch models. Most recently, saws hit the market that can replace gas in the farm and ranch class. Our team of experts got together to hash out which cordless chainsaws are the best in 2023.

Want even more chainsaw recommendations? Check out our Best Chainsaw main page for options including gas, battery, and electric models!

Best Battery-Powered Chainsaw for Pros

STIHL 36V Brushless 20-Inch Chainsaw MSA 300 C-O

Pros have more options than ever before and that includes 20-inch cordless chainsaws. Of the ones available, Sithl is likely the most anticipated battery-powered chainsaw for professionals in a tight battle (DeWALT and Greenworks Commercial also have 20-inch models). Aside from hitting the 20-inch mark, it has the power to replace farm and ranch class gas saws and, of course, is backed by STIHL’s dealer service network.

The saw has 3 performance settings so you have options when you want to prioritize runtime over power. It has an LED screen that displays power status, mode, chain brake position, and has a low oil alert. For those of you managing inventory, it’s also connected 2 A compatible.

STIHL introduced the AP 500 S battery along with the saw, giving the MSA 300 C-O an advanced power source to pull its high performance from.

Price: 789.99 bare (may vary)

Most Powerful Professional Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Greenworks Commercial 82-Volt 20-Inch Chainsaw 82CS34

In late 2021 at GIE, DeWALT, Geenworks Commercial, and STIHL all announced new 20-inch battery-powered chainsaws with the power to take on the farm and ranch class. All three also claimed to have the most powerful and as the dust settled, Greenworks Commercial’s had the highest-rated power.

In addition to having higher power, it’s also a couple of hundred dollars less than Sithl’s 20-inch model. It gets into a range that even homeowners with large properties to maintain might be tempted to step up.

As a side note, Greenworks also has a 20-inch chainsaw now available for its 60V residential lineup.

Price: 549.99 bare, 599.99 with 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery Top Handle Chainsaw

Husqvarna 40V Top-Handle Chainsaw T540i XP

By our measure, Husqvarna’s 540i XP is the best cordless top-handle chainsaw currently available. Though quite not as powerful as the Greenworks Commercial 82V yet stronger than Echo’s 56V, its balance of 40cc power, weight, and 12 – 16-inch bar options make it an excellent choice for arborists.

While Echo takes the cake as the lightest professional choice, Husqvarna does have the option to use a backpack battery and shift some of the battery weight off of the saw. It’s not terribly practical when you’re climbing, but can be handy for ground-level work.

Price: 629.00 – 649.00 bare, 1049.00 – 1069.00 kit depending on bar length

Best Battery Pole Saw

Makita 40V max XGT Telescoping Pole Saw GAU02

When it comes to the best battery pole saw, multi-head systems are an excellent platform. However, most professional crews prefer dedicated tools to attachment systems. If that sounds like you, check out Makita’s GAU02. It’s a 9- to 13-foot telescoping system (full length, not just reach) that reaches significantly higher than most of its competition.

Its performance is impressive. It uses a single 40V max battery with its 10-inch bar to cut at speeds up to 3940 fpm (20.0 meters per second). In terms of overall power, it’s the equivalent of a 35cc gas engine. In fact, Makita’s internal testing showed 30% faster cutting compared to a 36cc gas model.

This model doesn’t include the torque boost mode that was in the 18V X2 LXT model we recommended last year. However, with the boost in overall power, it doesn’t really need it.

Price: 554.00 bare, 769.00 with a 4.0Ah battery and charger

Looking for a battery-powered pole saw for home use? Take a closer look at EGO’s 56V telescoping pole saw that has a total reach up to 16 feet, has a carbon fiber shaft, and sports an LED cutline indicator.

Best Cordless Chainsaw for Home Use

Greenworks 60V Pro Brushless 2026202

n choosing the best battery chainsaw for home use, we didn’t want to sacrifice the power we enjoy from our professional saws. While there are a lot of options available, we tend to get the best balance of performance and weight in the 60V class.

Greenworks brought a major upgrade to its 60V line with a 20-inch chainsaw. While it’s not quite as strong as the 3.4kW Commercial model, it’s still packing a strong 3.0kW of power. To put that in perspective, Greenworks’ internal testing had it cutting faster than a 60cc gas chainsaw. It also outputs 20% more torque. Not only is Greenworks the first to get a 20-inch battery-powered chainsaw to consumers, but it also has legitimate performance to back it up.

The downside of being the best is that it costs more—around 499.99 for the kit. This is for folks that need or want the highest performance available from a residential chainsaw.

Price: 499.99 with an 8.0Ah battery and charger

Best Small Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Choosing the best small cordless chainsaw isn’t just a matter of choosing something lightweight with a 10- or 12-inch bar anymore. The introduction of battery pruners with a 4- to 8- inch bar and chain ups the ante. So we picked one of each for you.

Ryobi 18V HP Brushless Whisper Series 12-Inch Chainsaw P2570

We value performance over price, so our top pick as the best small battery-powered chainsaw is the Ryobi P2750. It’s part of the 18V One HP Brushless line that delivers higher performance than its brushed counterparts. It’s also part of Ryobi’s Whisper Series. That means it operates at lower noise levels than other models and makes for a better overall user experience.

The small size also keeps things on the lightweight side of the scale. With a 6.0Ah battery, this 12-inch chainsaw weighs just 8.7 pounds.

Price: 229.00 bare, 249.00 kit with 6.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery Pruner

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet 8-inch Pruning Saw 3004

It’s almost unfair to call the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet a pruner. While it has the general form factor of other popular mini-chainsaw pruners that have hit the market over the last few years, it’s on a completely different performance level.

While it’s certainly useful as a pruner when manual pruners or hedge trimmers can’t cut it, landscaping crews can also use it for limbing duties on the ground or working at height. In many ways, the Hatchet bridges the gap between pruners and top-handle chainsaws.

Price: 279.00 bare, 528.00 with an 8.0Ah battery High Output battery and charger, 579.00 with a 12.0Ah High Output battery and charger

Best Cordless Chainsaw for the Money

EGO 56V 16-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw CS1611

EGO already had a solid 16-inch chainsaw on the market, but they released a new one in 2022 that accomplished a couple of things. First, it upped the performance to compete with and even beat gas saws in the 40cc class. With a couple of kit options all under 300.00, it also earns our pick as the best value battery-powred chainsaw currently available. If getting the most bang for your buck is your highest priority, this is your chainsaw.

Price: 239.00 bare (CS1610), 279.00 with a 2.5Ah battery and charger(CS1611), 299.00 with a 4.0Ah battery and charger (CS1613)

Best Budget Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Skil PWRCore 40 14-Inch Cordless Chainsaw CS4555-10

Just because you’re on a sub-200 budget doesn’t mean you can’t get a quality brushless chainsaw. Skil’s PWRCore 40 system includes a 14-inch brushless chainsaw that finds an excellent balance of performance, design, and price.

We tested this saw cutting oak and it did an excellent job of confidently melting through branches up to 12 inches thick. With auto-oiling and a tool-free chain adjustment system, it’s very easy to use as well. Best of all, the kit is just 199.99.

Price: 199.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

See Also: Can battery power cut it? Read our article: Why use a battery-powered chainsaw

Recommendations from Brands We Trust

Best DeWALT Cordless Chainsaw – 60V Max Brushless DCCS677

Without a doubt, DeWALT’s 60V Max 20-inch cordless chainsaw (DCCS677) is the best model in Yellow’s lineup. As one of three professional battery-powered 20-inch chainsaws targetting the farm and ranch class, it’s in a very elite class and it happens to be the least expensive of them.

In designing the saw, DeWALT’s development team used the largest brushless motor in any tool they have, period. Along with a list of features that verify its professional pedigree, it’s also the first DeWALT chainsaw to come with a case.

Price: 379.00 bare, 479.00 with a 4.0Ah battery and charger, 549.00 with a 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Echo Cordless Chainsaw – 56V Brushless DCS-2500T

Echo is moving away from its original 58V cordless line to a new 56V Force system (the two systems are not compatible). Along with the initial launch, there are two chainsaw offerings: a homeowner-grade 18-inch model and a Pro-focused 12-inch top handle.

The top handle is our choice as the best Echo battery-powered chainsaw. As part of the X-Series, the DCS-2500T oozes professional design. It starts with a muscular brushless motor and builds out the drop protection (including a quickdraw harness ring) you expect from a professional gas top handle saw. Plus, it’s very lightweight at just 7.3 pounds with the battery. It’s definitely not your least expensive top-handle option, but it is designed with the demands of professional arborists in mind.

Price: 479.99 bare, 569.99 with a 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best EGO Battery-Powered Chainsaw – 56V 18-inch Brushless CS1800

Moving to an 18-inch bar, the EGO CS1800 is still on the top of the charts for homeowners even though the brand hasn’t moved up to the 20-inch class (yet). It has excellent power and there’s plenty of runtime with available batteries up to 10.0Ah (a 5.0Ah pack comes in the kit).

In addition to its performance, EGO’s auto-tensioning system makes it super-easy to adjust the chain tension and access the bar and chain without the use of additional tools. There’s even an LED to help with post-storm cleanup when the power’s out and you can’t wait for sunrise.

While there are stronger residential saws available, the ease of use, size, performance, and price all come together in a very approachable manner for folks that aren’t used to professional models.

Price: 279.00 bare, 369.00 with a 5.0Ah battery and charger, 579.00 with two 5.0Ah batteries and charger

Honda Commercial Lawnmower Fuel Cap Repair Video

Best HART Battery-Powered Chainsaw – 40V Brushless Supercharge HLCS041VNM

HART is stepping up its chainsaw game this year by moving into the 18-inch class. Part of a new line of 40V Supercharge products, this brushless chainsaw pushes performance higher enough to compete with gas models in the 40cc range. Along with a quality feature set, it also comes with a handy case for storage and transport that holds both the saw and the 6.0Ah battery that comes in the kit.

Keep your eyes open for this saw to show up at Walmart by the end of February 2023.

Best Husqvarna Cordless Chainsaw – 40V Brushless Power Axe 350i

With Husqvarna’s deep heritage in chainsaw manufacturing, you may be surprised that the Power Axe 350i is its first 18-inch cordless chainsaw. This Lowe’s-exclusive model features a brushless motor that does most of its work at an efficient 9.4 m/s chainsaw speed and has a boost feature that kicks it up to 11.7 m/s for getting through tougher cuts.

This residential-focused chainsaw balances that performance with an easy-to-use design. It’s also light for its size and has completely tool-free chain tensioning.

Price: 279.99 bare, 449.99 with a 7.5Ah battery and charger

Best Makita Cordless Chainsaw – 40V max XGT GCU04

We’ve been using Makita’s 18V and 18V X2 chainsaws for years. However, it’s the 40V max XGT line that has the best options for Team Teal. The GCU04 steps up with 42cc gas equivalent power thanks to its brushless motor. It sports an 18-inch bar with chain speeds up to 5020 fpm (25.5 m/s).

This model has dual bar studs with captured nuts. If you prefer tool-free chainsaw tensioning, you can get the same performance with that feature in the GCU06.

Price: 429.99 bare, 599.99 with a 5.0Ah battery and Rapid charger

Best Milwaukee Cordless Chainsaw- M18 Fuel 2727

Milwaukee had one of the first really great cordless chainsaws and the M18 Fuel 2727 is still an excellent choice. It sports a brushless motor that runs its 16-inch bar and chain to levels that exceed 40cc gas power. It has a quality build with metal bucking spikes and dual captured bar nuts.

Even though other brands have pushed the power boundary forward, we still highly recommend this saw. Now that Milwaukee has raised the bar with its self-propelled lawn mower, there are whispers beginning to ask if there’s a new high-performance chainsaw in the works for later this year.

Price: 329.00 bare, 499.00 with 12.0Ah battery and charger (also available with a 14-inch bar for 319.00)

Best Ridgid Cordless Chainsaw – 18V Brushless R01101

Hey—we’re talking about a Ridgid cordless chainsaw for the first time! Ridgid is launching its first OPE products in 2023 and a 12-inch chainsaw is on the menu. While it’s on the smaller side, the saw’s 18V brushless motor is capable of 10 m/s chain speeds. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for something lightweight.

Like many Ridgid power tools, the chainsaw is eligible for the Lifetime Service Agreement.

Note: Look for Ridgid’s chainsaw to be available beginning March 1, 2023.

Price: 189.00 bare, 269.00 kit with a 6.0Ah Max Output battery and charger

Best Ryobi Cordless Chainsaw – 40V HP Brushless RY405110VNM

Ryobi’s launch of HP Brushless tools has been impressive. The 40V HP Brushless 18-inch chainsaw is a fantastic example as one of only two 20-inch models currently available on the residential scene. With cutting performance that can replace a 50 cc gas engine, it’s far ahead of Ryobi’s other models and enters the Farm and Ranch class.

With metal bucking spikes, dual bar studs, and an adjustable oil flow, Ryobi’s flagship cordless chainsaw acts more like a professional model than an occasional-use homeowner one.

Price: 289.00 bare, 379.00 with a 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Skil Battery-Powered Chainsaw – PWRCore 40 Brushless CS4555-10

As we mentioned above, Skil’s 14-inch brushless chainsaw is the way to go if you’re looking for a budget saw that still does a great job. You get the performance of a brushless motor, confident cutting, and a price tag under 200. While it doesn’t have the same power and capacity as the larger saws, it does share many of the same features and costs significantly less.

Price: 199.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best STIHL Cordless Chainsaw – 36V Brushless MSA 220 TC-O

As our top choice overall, STIHL’s MSA 300 C-O is the best the brand has as well. It’s not the only class STIHL is in. Pros may want to consider supplementing that model with the MSA 220 TC-O. This top-handle chainsaw has a brushless motor. It’s the strongest cordless top-handle in STIHL’s cordless lineup and configures with either a 12- or 14-inch bar.

At 10 pounds with the 14-inch bar and AP 300 battery, it’s not the lightest top-handle model on our list. However, it’s still a very manageable weight and, of course, you’re backed by Sithl’s dealer and service network.

Price: 589.99 bare with 12-inch bar (may vary)

Best Battery Chainsaw Buying Guide | What We Look For

Performance is King

Thanks to advanced brushless motors, electronics, and batteries, voltage no longer tells the entire story. However, cutting speed with the torque to get through thick hardwood species is the number one priority for us.

Runtime is (Sort of) a Big Deal

Ideally, a battery-powered chainsaw balances cutting speed and power with runtime. Larger batteries are certainly helping. Advancements in battery technology are as well. Denser cells with more robust connections are able to more efficiently transfer energy from the battery to the chain. This gives you higher performance without a drop in runtime that makes the saw irrelevant.

The other side of the conversation involves Rapid chargers. Most brands offer them now and several include them as a standard part of the kit. With today’s cordless technology, two batteries and a Rapid charger can be enough to keep you running continuously all day.

Triggered

Most chainsaws are similar in form and share all of the same basic operational features. Where the best cordless chainsaws differ in form is primarily in their switches and triggers.

All of the saws have a UL or similar test lab certification on them, but they’re not all the same. In use, some of the saws in our test have more defined two-step triggers. Others easily activate using a single grasp around their lockout button and trigger. At the end of the day, we expect our chainsaws to keep us from accidentally activating the motor. All of our recommendations meet that requirement. From there, it’s just a matter of the feel or function you prefer.

The true two-step lockouts aren’t difficult to operate in normal conditions. In odd positions, such as reaching around a tree while limbing, sometimes the mechanical lockouts can be tricky to slide.

For select cordless chainsaws, the first of two (or sometimes three) stages of starting is an electronic power button.

Some electronic switch saws can be run with a single grab once powered on. You just have to be mindful of the auto timeout feature. It can be frustrating the pull the trigger to no effect when you thought the saw was ready.

Ease of Adjustment

Chainsaw bars need to be adjusted nearly every time you use the saw. A new chain stretches out pretty quickly. You need to snug it up at least a few times as it breaks in.

If your chain gets tight rather suddenly, it usually means the bar is not getting oil. Don’t loosen it until you make sure the saw is oiling properly.

Pro Tip: Get into the habit of loosening your chain at the end of the day. Cold weather can cause it to tighten as it cools and damage parts.

A saw’s bar will be designed for either tool-free adjustment or will require a screwdriver-wrench combination tool called—yep, you guessed it—a scrench. Tool-free adjustment is the quickest and easiest with plastic knobs and/or dials built into the saw. They loosen the bar, move the bar forward or back to properly tension the chain, and lock the bar down tight again.

Dual Studs vs Tool-free Adjusters

Saws with tool-free adjusters use a single stud to attach the bar to the saw, but manual adjusting models typically have two mounting studs (sometimes one on small or top-handle models). Some old-school users view dual studs as an indication that the saw is geared toward professionals, but we don’t think that’s a hard, fast rule. Not for modest-sized saws anyway. However, the biggest and strongest chainsaws made all have dual stud bar mounts.

Pro Tip: Be sure to snug the nuts evenly because torquing down on only one can loosen the other.

Aw, Nuts!

Lost bar nuts are a frequent occurrence during regular use in the field. To prevent this, some saws have the added feature of captive nuts that won’t come all the way off the cover no matter how much you spin them.

Pro Tip: Keep a spare nut on hand if the ones on your saw aren’t captuve—it’s not unusual to lose one in the field!

To keep your adjustment tool close at hand, look for models that have storage slots built into the saws.

Your preferences may vary, but we can appreciate both adjustment methods. We like the speed and convenience of tool-free adjustments for small saws. For big saws, we feel more confident securing the business end of these powerful tools down with a wrench.

It’s not a deal-breaker either way for the saws in our test unless the mechanism itself is flawed. The best battery-powered chainsaw for you is the one that instills a sense of both confidence and convenience.

Bars and Chains

Most chainsaw brands don’t try to reinvent the wheel by making their own bars and chains. Instead, many use quality Oregon components, though STIHL makes their own bars and chains. Most cordless chainsaws use 3/8-in. pitch, 0.043-in. gauge chains while stronger models are moving up to 0.050-in. gauge.

Oiling Systems

Bar and chain oil is the lifeblood of a chainsaw as the saw cannot run without it for very long. Most saws oil readily, but we occasionally run across models that have issues after a while. If a saw oiled well out of the box, it usually just needs a good cleaning to unclog it.

Oil Visibility

Most battery-powered chainsaws have translucent Windows that let you check if there’s oil in the tank, and most let you estimate the level pretty well. If yours has a small window or none at all, be sure to stop and check the oil level frequently. About every hour of working time or anytime you notice a change in performance is a good rule of thumb.

Oil Caps

The ease of filling the oil reservoir is a noteworthy convenience factor when considering the best battery-powered chainsaw. We don’t like having oily fingers, so being able to fill the tank while leaving our work gloves on is our preference. Look for oil caps with lugs that are easy to turn with gloves on and/or flip-up tabs that provide an even better grip.

Spills Spills

Chainsaws often leak oil while sitting because daily heating and cooling shrinks and expands a plastic tank like a rudimentary pump. Some saws are messier than others.

Wherever you store your saw, put a piece of cardboard underneath it to collect any oil. You can switch it out as needed and whenever an Amazon order arrives.

Be careful when filling your chainsaw. Some have a large section of the cap that goes inside the tank and displaces a surprising amount of oil when you fill it anywhere close to the top. Wiping gooey oil off a chainsaw is an annoying waste of time.

Another cause of spills is an oil tank with a filler neck that is too narrow. Bar and chain oil is thick and tacky. It can pour like molasses in the cold, so it easily “piles up” and overflows in a narrow neck.

Pro Tip: Only poke a small hole in the foil of your oil container or use a (clean) syrup bottle to dispense oil into your chainsaw’s reservoir.

Providing another challenge, plastic filters at the inlet of its tank can constrict the diameter.

Caps that cross-thread easily can also make the oil-fill process more of a chore.

Environmental Sidetrack: Try Biodegradable Bar and Chain Oil

The other part of this cleaner, greener, lithium-ion-powered story is you can pair your battery chainsaw with a biodegradable bar and chain oil made of vegetable-based ingredients, such as STIHL Bio Plus. Those barrels of useful wood waste also contain a few gallons of oil from the saws.

Aside from having to landfill all of your petroleum-preserved sawdust, it’s just good practice to minimize your exposure to petroleum oil on your skin, clothing, and the atomized portion that you breathe in.

Back on Track… Bucking Spikes

For pushing a saw through wood more efficiently, chainsaws come fitted with bucking spikes. You may also hear these called bumper spikes, felling spikes, or dogs. These spikes sit against the body of the saw alongside the bar. They anchor the saw in place while you pivot the bar through a cut.

The spikes allow you to apply a lifting motion of the rear hand instead of pushing downward. Holding the saw tight to the wood, the motor can exert its maximum pulling power. This saves you from some of the cutting vibrations common when holding a saw away from your work.

Our battery-powered saws all have some semblance of spikes. Most aren’t as long or as sharp as those on large gas saws. However, actual steel spikes are becoming more common. We prefer those to the simple plastic ridges on other models.

Pro Tip: Applying leverage with spikes adds control, but go easy and listen to the pitch of the motor. You can overload battery chainsaws with too much pressure, and the weaker models stall easily.

Balance

While it’s true that the comfort and feel of a tool are largely subjective, it’s also true that some designs work better than others. Most Pros and experienced homeowners can immediately tell.

For the best battery-powered chainsaw, a balanced feel in your hands and the ability to cut straight without introducing a twisting motion to overcome are both important ergonomic factors.

Holding a saw with your left hand on the front handle in front of you should have the saw balancing fairly flat. Being a bit front-heavy is okay, but a rear-heavy saw lifts the cutting end of the saw up towards you and requires more effort and vigilance to use and carry safely.

Cutting Sideways

Determining a good feel for felling cuts while holding the chainsaw sideways is more about the comfort of applying force to the front and rear handles as you grasp it from the side, and also the ease of operating the trigger while sideways.

Handles

In general, chainsaws with thicker handles are more comfortable to grasp in use because have more surface contact and soften that contact with your hand. Of course, rubber handle surfaces help too, not only for padding but also for the increased grip they provide.

Trigger Comfort

Most cordless chainsaw triggers are large enough for two fingers to fit on them. Some have an extra-long trigger with more room to vary your grip stance for comfort. The best feeling triggers retract flush with the handle instead of leaving a raised bump your fingers have to push against.

Weight

The dry weight of the best battery chainsaws can swell to well over 15 pounds. Experience shows that a saw’s weight is less important than proper balance overall as you only feel the full weight when you’re NOT cutting.

But carrying around and positioning a heavy saw can certainly be more taxing over a long workday. The catch with these saws is that the batteries are a major part of the weight. So the stronger, longer-lasting saws with high-capacity battery packs and longer bars that we prefer end up being the heaviest.

Battery Selection

While we do the majority of our testing with the kitted batteries, it’s worth looking at the full range a manufacturer has available for your cordless chainsaw. If you end up investing in the entire lineup, you’ll likely want to consider the biggest batteries you can buy for it to get all of your lawn chores done efficiently.

You might also want a lower-capacity battery to shave some weight when you don’t have a lot of work to complete.

Voltage

Higher voltage means more power, right? There’s certainly an argument for that, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Power is measured in watts and that comes from multiplying the voltage times the current. You can make a 36V chainsaw with the same power as a 56V model. The lower voltage simply has to produce more amps (current) to get there.

That’s why you see chainsaws with 40cc gas performance at 18V, 36V, and 60V. It’s all about the combination of volts and amps.

Watt-Hours

Another thing that is interesting to note is the discrepancy between the amp-hour and watt-hour ratings on some of the batteries in our tests for their given voltage. We’ve covered the subject of battery voltage, storage capacity, and current output many times. To review simply:

Volts x Amp Hours = Watt Hours

It’s the same basic equation we use for power, just applied to energy storage instead of output. It’s an easy way to compare the available energy of one battery to another when they have different voltages.

We’re increasingly finding that manufacturers—perhaps to simplify things for consumers—are rounding amp-hours. Some calculate their watt-hours with maximum voltage while most use nominal. Unfortunately, this makes some comparisons more challenging and adds to potential confusion.

“Nominal” Differences

When you charge a lithium-ion battery, it will reach its maximum voltage. Shortly after putting it to use, it settles into a slightly lower voltage—its nominal voltage. The nominal voltage is where the battery spends most of its working life and is roughly 90% of the maximum voltage.

Brands have to choose which one to display. When you see numbers such as 60V Max, that’s a battery that settles into a 54V nominal voltage. When you don’t see “Max” on the battery and packaging, you’re usually looking at a battery that is displaying its nominal volts.

We say “usually” for a reason. Some brands market their maximum voltage but don’t make it clear.

Some European countries regulate stated voltages more stringently, and it seems that it could only serve to help if the simple math all added up.

Best Battery-Powered Chainsaw Accessories

While nearly every chainsaw comes with basic plastic scabbards to protect the chain while also protecting you from the chain, a few of the models go above and beyond.

We’ve seen an optional tip guard to make safe operation more foolproof. Attaching the guard makes you lose a few inches of cutting capacity and prevents any plunge cuts and other non-through cuts such as deep rips. However, casual users may feel more comfortable with the tip of the saw fully protected against kickback.

This “QUICK FIX” will destroy your mower! DON’T FALL FOR IT or it will cost you BIG later!

Once in a while, you can find a unique, form-fitting bag or case. It’s helpful for storage and transportation, though you might want to use it only after you’ve drained the oil from your saw.

Buy Into a System

One other consideration for these saws is the system of battery-powered OPE to which they belong. Like other cordless tools, you can purchase some of our best battery-powered chainsaws as bare tools at significant savings over the kit. If you’re already invested in one of these systems, the overall winner may not interest you as much as seeing which model from your brand is the best in the lineup. Though not the best overall, it might be the best balance of performance and value for you.

Look at the Entire Model Lineup

If you haven’t bought into a system yet and may pick up more outdoor power tools in the future, check out the entire lineup from a brand. Make sure they can fulfill your wish list before going after just the chainsaw. For many users, the saw functions as a secondary tool when compared to the hours you spend with a string trimmer or mower.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers?

That’s not us. We only recommend what we’d actually use, even if we don’t earn a commission from it. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

Fuel Tank Cap for Honda Chinese Copy Engines GXV160 Lawn Mowers

info. Make 4 payments of 2.36 over 8 weeks and get it now!

Lost your Fuel Cap?

Fits models GXV160 and Chinese models

Outside diameter: 60mm

Inside diameter: 47mm

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN AFTERMARKET PART.

Jono and Johno has a wide range of spare parts for engines and chainsaws.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR OTHER LISTINGS HERE

WARRANTY OVERVIEW

Jono Johno offers a 12-month warranty on all products. Warranty period is 12 months for the home user and 6 months for commercial use.

We pride ourselves on selling good quality kit and will be fair and prompt honouring our warranties. If you’re in trouble, we’ll help you out.

WHAT IS COVERED?

Exactly what is covered by warranty will depend on 2 things:

Minor faults caused by user. Parts will be supplied for repair at user expense.

Minor faults caused by manufacturer. Parts will be supplied for repair, with instructions provided by us on how to carry out repair. If the repair is time consuming in nature, you can contact Jono Johno to discuss labour cost compensation.

Major faults caused by manufacturer. Jono Johno will facilitate a return of the product for refund or replacement at our expense. Or if you’d prefer (at our discretion and in consultation with you), we can send appropriate parts and compensate labour costs if you can carry out the repair yourself.

Major faults caused by user. Where possible parts will be supplied at user expense. Where the item cannot be repaired by the user, Jono Johno will offer to have the item returned for repair at user expense. Our workshop rate is 60 per hour.

HOW DO I RETURN MY PRODUCT IF IT’S COVERED BY WARRANTY?

If you’re in reasonable driving distance of a Jono and Johno outlet, you can physically return the product yourself. Please contact us in advance to arrange a return authority.

If you are not within reasonable driving distance, Jono Johno will provide you with a return authority and an address to return the product to. Where Jono Johno is at fault a postage-paid return label will be provided.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE

If your product is out of warranty and is buggered, even though you’ve hardly used it, give us a call or shoot us an email. If there is a manufacturer fault or the item should have lasted a lot longer than it has, we’re happy to assess it outside of the warranty period. We do this on a case-by-case basis.

Lawnmower Spits Gas Out of Fuel Cap: Reasons and Fixes

You’re mowing your lawn, and gas starts spitting out of your fuel cap. What causes fuel to sputter from a lawnmower’s gas cap, and can the issue be fixed?

One of the most common reasons gas spews from a lawnmower’s cap is overfilling the fuel tank. Other reasons fuel can eject from the gas cap include problems with the cap itself and more serious internal engine problems.

Read on to find out if your specific fuel issue can be fixed quickly and cheaply or if it’s a sign of more serious hidden damage.

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Fuel Cap Leaks Caused by Overfilling the Tank

Every lawnmower comes with a manual that tells you how much gas you can put into your tank. Pay close attention to what your user manual says, as well as any raised or printed indicators on or in the fuel tank if you don’t; you can run into more problems.

Like any gas-powered tool, Lawnmowers have extra space in their fuel tanks because fuel expands when heated (source). If you overfill your tank, the gas will expand, causing immense pressure that becomes so great that it pushes gasoline out of the fuel cap’s vent.

If you check your fuel level and it’s above the fill line, and you have fuel escaping from the cap, your problem is most likely due to an overfill.

To fix your problem, you will have to:

• Turn your mower off
• Let the fuel in the tank cool down
• Place a bucket or gas can under the fuel line
• Unhook the fuel line from the gas tank
• Drain the excess gas from the tank until levels fall under the fill line
• Reattach the fuel line
• Move the excess gas to a safe place
• Start the mower up again

This YouTube video gives a great demonstration of how to check the fuel tank for proper venting:

Fuel Cap Leaks Caused by a Broken Cap

If you always fill your gas tank according to your manual and keep your gas cap clean, then your problem may lie with the integrity of the fuel cap.

The best way to check if you have a bad gas cap is by examining it closely. Do it have:

• A crumbling seal?
• Cracks in the cap?
• Only a plastic pin on the underside of your cap? (Tecumseh Brand)
• Problems with tightening the cap?
• A smell of gas coming from your mower?
• No clicking sound when you screw the cap into the fuel tank?

If you encounter any of the above issues, then your cap is due to be replaced. Check your owner’s manual to find information on the correct cap to use or tell your local mechanic the make and model of your lawnmower.

Depending on the model of your mower, some gas caps will make a clicking sound when sufficiently tightened.

Remember, even if your fuel cap is new, it can still have problems from the manufacturer so double-check the above signs even with cap is brand new.

Other Causes of Gas Spitting From A Lawnmower Fuel Cap

The fuel-spewing issues can also occur due to an increase in vibration when using the mower. Usually, the problem is simply compounding the existing issue with a gas cap but let’s go over these quickly.

Any lawnmower will have some degree of vibrations. Naturally, the problem occurs when the motion is exacerbated by things such as:

• Loose bolts or mounts
• Broken parts
• Unbalanced blades
• A bent crankshaft

These parts can range from cheap to really expensive to fix, but you don’t want to keep running your mower without fixing these issues. Allowing your mower to vibrate excessively while you use it can further damage it, and you can put yourself at risk of bodily harm since parts can dislodge from the mower.

Loose bolts and mounts are easy to fix if you have a socket wrench, so you can tighten those at home. You can also fix unbalanced blades yourself as long as they’re not bent.

To fix your blade problem, check and make sure the blades are screwed onto your mower tightly and correctly. If the issue is not with how the blade is installed, you will have to do the following to fix it:

• Make sure your lawnmower is off
• Unplug your spark plug
• Take the blade off
• Hang your blade off a nail on your wall
• Sharpen the side of the blade that hangs lower on the nail
• Reinstall your blade
• Plug your spark plug back in
• Turn your mower on

This should immediately fix the vibration issue.

If you’re experiencing issues with other broken parts of the mower, like the crank shaft, contact a mechanic. Crankshafts are hard to fix if you don’t have the right tools.

Can You Use Your Mower Without a Fuel Cap?

After reading all of the above, you might be wondering, can you use your mower without the fuel cap? It definitely seems like a quick solution to most of the pressure issues we’ve talked about! While some people say you can run your mower without a gas cap, we do not recommend it.

If you run your mower capless, you’re more likely to spill gas as it sloshes around in the tank, and it might go undetected as you mow. This is a fire hazard (source).

Gas caps also keep sediment and debris out of your gas tank. Sediment in the tank can keep your lawnmower from starting or even damage the engine.

Finally, gas caps keep harmful fumes from escaping.

Overall it’s just best not to risk it.

Conclusion

A problem of gas spitting out the gas tank of a lawnmower is almost always an indicator that there is an issue with the gas cap. Even when the tank is overfilled, a properly fitting cap should prevent this.

Clean it, make sure it isn’t cracked, and if necessary, replace it. Do not ignore this issue or simply run the mower without a gas cap. It’s there for a reason. Purchase a replacement gas cap online (link to Amazon) or check your manufacturer’s website.

Paul has a two-acre yard on red clay soil in Southeast Texas. He knows exactly what the challenges are to nurturing a thriving yard in difficult soil.Paul takes a practical approach to yard improvement and enjoys putting best practices and “golden rules of lawn care” to the test.