Lawn mower starting tricks. How to Start a Flooded Lawn Mower

How to Start a Flooded Lawn Mower

Most people that own a lawn mower will experience flooding their engine at one point or another. Your mower won’t start, which is kind of a problem. But does it mean that it’s now useless? Is it a costly repair? And will you have to cut your lawn by hand in the meantime?

We’re going to answer these questions, plus explain how to start a flooded lawn mower in this post.

How to Start a Flooded Lawn Mower (The Short Answer)

If you suspect that your engine is flooded and you’re unable to start your lawn mower, here are two methods you can use to get your mower engine fired up again.

How Do You Tell If Your Lawn Mower is Flooded?

First things first. Are you absolutely sure that your mower is flooded? There are a whole bunch of reasons why it might not be starting, so before you take any action, it’s a good idea to try and find the cause.

Here’s how to tell if your lawn mower is flooded:

Remove the Spark Plug and Smell It

This is a very quick way and my go-to method for determining whether you’re dealing with a flooded mower engine. Simply remove the spark plug and smell it. Does it reek of gasoline? If so, your engine is flooded, and you’ll need to follow the steps below to learn how to start your mower up.

You Smell Gas When Trying to Start Your Mower

You might not even need to do the test I just described. If you’ve been trying in vain to start your mower, but it’s not playing ball, and you notice a potent gasoline smell, I’d put money on your engine being flooded.

Why Can’t Your Lawn Mower Start If It’s Flooded?

I won’t ramble on too much here, but it’s interesting and perhaps useful to understand exactly why a flooded lawn mower can’t start.

So your mower’s engine consists of various parts. There’s a carburetor (which mixes gas and air that enters through the air filter), pistons (which draw in the gas and air mixture and compresses it), and a spark plug which provides a tiny spark, leading to the combustion that provides the energy to drive your mower.

The air-fuel ratio needs to be just right for this process to take place, and when the engine is flooded this ratio is thrown out of whack. Basically, there’s too much gas and not enough air. And your start mower isn’t able to start.

Lesson over. Now let’s run through how to unflood a lawn mower.

How to Start a Flooded Lawn Mower: Your Options

There are basically two approaches you can take. Which one you want to take will really depend on how much of a rush you’re in. That’ll make sense in just a minute.

Wait for the Fuel to Evaporate

The first solution is really very simple. You just wait. That’s it. No magic trick here. You just set your mower on a level surface and wait 15-20 minutes for the fuel to evaporate and then there’s a strong possibility that the mower will start up.

It’s rarely the case when it comes to lawn mower repair and maintenance, but a flooded mower can actually fix itself, in a way. Pretty cool if you have the time. (and great for lazy folks like me!)

The Involved, But Faster Method

Don’t have 20 minutes to sit, twiddling your fingers while the problem takes care of itself? No worries as there is a faster way to start a flooded mower. Here’s how to do it.

You’ll need a few supplies:

Spark plug wrench Starter fluid Dry cloth Screwdriver

Then here’s what you’re going to need to do:

• Remove the spark plug connector and unscrew the spark plug with your spark plug wrench. As I mentioned earlier, the terminals will be soaked with gas. You’re going to need to dry them. You do this by spraying an alcohol-based starter fluid onto it, or by wiping it with a clean, dry cloth.
• While you still have the spark plug off, crank the engine a few times. Make sure you stand back while you do this, away from the front side of the engine. This will draw air through the carburetor to help dry the engine out.
• Now replace the spark plug, turn off the choke and crank the engine. If it sputters, crank it a few more times until it starts. Sometimes you’ll need to turn the choke on to get the engine to turn over, but you should turn it off again immediately as the engine starts.
• If the engine doesn’t sputter and still doesn’t want to turn over, you might want to remove the air filter. This is where the screwdriver comes in handy – you may need to use it to remove a screw to get to the filter.
• Give the filter a good clean, put it back in place and immediately start the engine up. If there is no response, remove the filter and leave it off while you crank the engine a few more times to empty the carburetor. If the engine sputters or turns over while the air filter is off, the filter is dirty and should be replaced. Sometimes, with a flooded mower, the mower’s air filter may get soaked with oil. It will be very apparent if this is the case, and most of the time the only option will be to replace this (sometimes the foam ones can be washed, but oil is often a devil to get off).

Things to Be Careful of When Fixing a Flooded Lawn Mower

Even though getting a flooded lawn mower started again is a fairly easy process, there are a few things you will want to be careful of. Let’s take a look.

• Be cautious when working with gasoline.
• Be aware that when cranking a lawn mower engine without a spark plug, fuel will be ejected from the engine.
• Make sure to completely remove the spark plug from the lawn mower, as cranking an engine without the spark plug grounded will result in spark plug damage.
• Ensure that when you clean your lawn mower air filter, you use an appropriate method.

About Tom Greene

I’ve always had a keen interest in lawn care as long as I can remember. Friends used to call me the lawn mower guru (hence the site name), but I’m anything but. I just enjoy cutting my lawn and spending time outdoors. I also love the well-deserved doughnuts and coffee afterward!

Комментарии и мнения владельцев

My Honda mower fell over from my trailer. Completely upside down! What should I do before trying to start it?

Hi Tom! Once you have righted the mower there are several things you should check before trying to start it. – Check the air filter. With most models, turning a mower upside down or even on its side can result in the air filter becoming saturated with oil. If it is, you will need to clean the area and replace the filter. – Check oil and gas levels. If a mower is turned over it can cause oil and gas to leak into parts of the mower where they shouldn’t be. While these areas will all need to be checked and maintained individually, it also means that you now have less oil and gas where it should be. This may also be a good opportunity to change out the oil completely, just to be on the safe side. – Once righted, allow the mower to sit for 20 minutes or so for any fluids to settle. This can help if the engine is flooded. Removing the spark plug and cranking the engine several times can also help. – Inspect the carbon cap (aka fuel cap) for leaks or saturation. – Visually inspect the mower for cracks and ensure that all wiring is where it should be.

Hi my name is Marian. My lawn mower Craftsman M260 was flooded and has no spark. I replaced the ignition coil and it did not help. What should I do?

How to Start a Lawn Mower and Resolve Common Problems

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.

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Lawnmowers are the best machines for maintaining neat short grass on your lawn. However, mowers can sometimes malfunction and fail to start, leaving you without an alternative for your grass-cutting requirements. Luckily, we’ve assembled this post to discuss how to start a lawn mower and why mowers fail to start.

Reasons Why a Riding Lawn Mower May Fail To Start

There are several situations where it can be tricky to start a lawn mower. So before we discuss how to start a lawn mower, let’s consider the common reasons your mower won’t start. Also, check out the best self-propelled mowers or zero turn mowers here.

Faulty Starter

The first thing to check when your lawn mower engine won’t start is the pull cord. It shouldn’t be too hard to pull unless there are grass clippings obstructing the mowing blades.

You can resolve this by pulling the rubber hose to disconnect the spark plug. This will ensure the mower blades won’t start while you are handling them. Then, lay the mower on the side and remove the obstructions. If the machine doesn’t start, you should seek professional assistance.

Blocked Discharge Chute

If the lawn mower is smoking, you’ll want to wait for it to cool. To stop the smoking, you can disconnect the starting rope and remove any debris you can see from the blades. Here are the best mower blades on the market.

Air Filter Issues

If the air filter is blocked, you can also experience issues starting your lawnmower. This is because the air filter keeps grass clippings, tiny debris, and dust from entering the engine. You can find the location of the filter in your user’s manual, and you can replace or clean your filters depending on your preference.

Gas Issues

Another reason why your lawn mower won’t start is that you have a low oil level. This might sound obvious, but you should always check to ensure it’s not the main problem. Fortunately, filling your tank will eliminate this issue.

Alternatively, you could be using old gas, which could be unsuitable for running your mower. Replacing the oil is an easy fix that you’ll appreciate.

Low Mower Height

If you notice your mower shutting down as you work, it’s probably because you are mowing tall grass. As such, you’ll want to adjust the height of your mower to ensure the blades don’t get clogged up. Nevertheless, the spark plug should always be disconnected, and the mower is off when adjusting the mowing height.

How to Start a Push Lawn Mower

If you have a traditional lawn mower that you push around, here’s how you can get it started.

Start by taking the mower to an open grassy area without obstructions. You’ll have to inspect the lawn and ensure there aren’t any rocks or children’s toys on the ground.

Next, you’ll need to check the oil and gas levels. For mowers with a four-stroke engine, you should open the gas cap to see if you have enough gas. On the other hand, with a push mower with a 2-stroke engine, you’ll need to mix the oil and gas at a specific ratio.

Then, check the spark plug either on the side or back of the mower’s engine. The spark plug resembles a thick extension with a rubber cap. It should be firmly fitted, and if it’s not, you might need to see an expert. Ideally, you should replace a spark plug yearly to keep the lawn mower working well.

Find the carburetor and check your owner’s manual to identify the primer button. It’s a red or black squishy button somewhere on your lawnmower. You’ll need to force gasoline into the lines by pushing the button four to five times. Pushing the button more than five times could flood your engine and cause other problems.

After priming your carburetor, you should pull the throttle lever and set it to mid-to-high. Skipping this step will cause the lawn mower to shut down as you mow your lawn which could be inconvenient.

If you are having trouble, the mower is probably cold, and you should set the choke. This will help deliver a rich mix of fuel and air to keep the mower running until your engine is warm. After a few minutes of running the engine, you should turn off the choke.

The last step is to pull the starting cord. There could be a horizontal lever close to the handle, which you can pull. Grip the handle of the starter cord and firmly pull it upwards. It might take several tries before the motor starts.

If the mower is completely quiet as you pull it quickly, the spark plug could be detached. On the other hand, if it sputters but doesn’t start, you should probably add more gas.

How to Start a Riding Lawn Mower

If you have a riding lawn mower, here’s how to start it:

Add New Gas

First, you’ll need to replace the old gasoline in the oil tank because it’s the most common reason why your riding lawn mower won’t start. Old gas that’s been sitting for months in the mower’s gas tank can introduce moisture, gum, or varnish.

This can cause damage or corrosion to the gas tank, so you should avoid leaving gas in your lawnmower engine. Exhausting the fuel tank every mowing session will help keep your machine in good shape.

Modify the Throttle Lever

Also known as the choke, the throttle lever helps you adjust the amount of air entering the engine of the riding mower. If you want to start a lawn mower quickly, you should regulate the air filter and ensure only a little air enters the engine. It should be easy to see how to change the throttle on your lawnmower.

There are some automatic lawn mowers that have the throttle integrated into the body. If you can’t locate your throttle, you should refer to your manual for clarification. Plus, if you don’t want the lawnmower to die on you as you work, you should leave the choke open for a while after it starts.

Push the Primer Several Times

When using a riding lawn mower, you’ll need to push the primer bulb a bunch of times to ensure the gas reaches the engine. This action helps ensure you can start the mower using a few tries of the pull cord. The gas gets pulled into the carburetor, making it easier to turn the mower on using the starting rope.

If you can’t find your primer button, you should check the diagram on the user manual to ensure you push the right button.

Pull the Starting Rope

Take the handle into your hand and grip it, then pull the cord up quickly. You should feel some resistance as you pull it, and you’ll have to make 4-5 pulls before the engine starts. Avoid yanking the cord because this can cause the handle to break. If the riding mower doesn’t start, push the primer bulb a few more times and try again.

Benefits of Lawn Mowers

The advantages of using lawn mowers for your landscaping routine are without question. So let’s consider some of the common benefits of mowers below.

Consistent Cuts

The first benefit of a lawnmower is that it helps cut the grass on your lawn uniformly. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your landscape looking untidy or unbalanced since the mower can handle it. So if you want a way to ensure you get the same results every time, you should get a lawn mower.

Saves Time and Energy

You can also save a lot of time mowing your lawn with a machine than you would using a manual tool like a slasher. Since mowers are operated by electricity or gas, they make work easier for the landscaper, allowing you to use minimum effort.

Additionally, you can get a riding lawn mower and eliminate the need to walk around your space while pushing the mower. This makes riding mowers great for landscapes that aren’t flat. Plus, a riding lawn mower can clear grass from large tracts of land without hassle.

Comfort

Technology has improved mowing practices by promoting the creation of riding mowers which allow users to mow lawns without discomfort and hassle. That’s why the last advantage we’ll discuss is comfort.

You can take a mower with cozy seats that can help keep you in good posture as you work on your lawn. Compared to a manual approach, using lawn mowers is convenient.

Conclusion

Lawn mowers are great machines to have in your garage because they simplify your landscape maintenance practices. Most lawn mowers are easy to use since they feature an intuitive design. However, sometimes your mower won’t start, and you’ll need to look for a solution. Fortunately, once you learn how to start a lawn mower, you can rest easy and avoid a trip to the mechanic.

How To Start A Lawn Mower Without The Pull Cord

A lawn mower pull cord breaking can be a pain, to say the least. Would you like to know how to start a lawn mower without the pull cord? Well, we have researched this topic and have the answer for you. It is vital to know how to start a lawn mower without the pull cord, so if it ever breaks, you can still mow your grass.

To start a mower without the pull cord, wrap a thin rope around the flywheel. Now, pull the rope off the flywheel, and the mower will start.

In this article, we will learn how to start a lawn mower without its pull cord. We will also learn the answers to other interesting related topics such as what causes a pull cord to lock up and which mowers don’t need a pull cord. Keep reading to learn more!

How To Start A Lawn Mower Without The Pull Cord

Most lawn mowers get their power from combustion engines. While a combustion engine can deliver a lot of energy quickly, it does have the drawback of requiring a lot of force to get it started.

The primary method to start a lawn mower engine is a pull cord. A pull cord is just a thin rope that wraps around a flywheel connected to the engine. When you pull the cord, it starts the combustion engine.

Since the pull cord on a mower endures repeated high stress from being pulled regularly, it will eventually wear down and break. Once the pull cord breaks, you won’t be able to start the engine without finding a way to turn the flywheel.

The best way to turn the flywheel without the pull cord is to wrap a rope around it and pull. To wrap a rope around the flywheel, you must first remove the plastic guard covering it.

The plastic guard covering the flywheel is held in place with two to four screws depending on which mower you have. Once all the screws on the plastic guard are removed, you can lift it off and see the flywheel.

The flywheel will have a raised metal ring in its center, called the flywheel nut. The flywheel nut is the part of the flywheel you will want to wrap your rope around.

Wrap your rope around the flywheel nut, leaving enough rope unwrapped so you can pull it. Next, pull the rope off the flywheel fast enough to start the engine.

You will notice that the rope comes off the flywheel once the mower is started. The rope comes off because it isn’t attached to the pull cord starter which automatically retracts the cord after starting. Be sure to store the new start cord where you won’t lose it so you can quickly start your mower when you need to.

What Causes A Lawn Mower Pull Cord To Lock Up?

One of the most likely causes of your mower’s pull cord locking up is a hydraulic lock. A hydraulic lock is when oil floods the cylinders in your mower’s engine and makes pulling the cord and turning over the engine nearly impossible.

One of the most common causes of hydraulic lock is tilting the mower while it’s on. Sometimes, your mower may suffer from a hydraulic lock while mowing a steep hill.

Whatever the cause for your mower’s hydraulic lock, you need a way to remedy the issue quickly. To fix the hydraulic lock, you will need to release the pressure built up in the cylinders.

To release the pressure in the cylinders, remove the spark plug from your mower. Next, pull the mower‘s cord, and the excess oil in the cylinders will be forced out.

Once the cylinders have been drained, you will be able to pull the cord again. It may take a few pulls to ensure enough oil is drained to start the engine.

What Mowers Don’t Need A Pull Cord?

While most mowers need a pull cord, there are some types of mowers that don’t. The two main mowers that don’t require a pull cord are electric start mowers and electric mowers. Let’s look at each type of mower and see its advantages and disadvantages.

Electric Start Mowers

Electric start mowers use a battery to turn the starter for your engine, allowing you to turn it on with just the press of a button. Not only is turning on an electric start mower easy but you also don’t have to worry about the cord breaking and not being able to start it.

There are also a few disadvantages associated with electric start mowers, primarily that the battery for the starter will occasionally need to be replaced.

Also, since self-starter mowers are more complex to build, they cost more. You can expect to spend twenty to thirty percent more for an electric start mower over a standard mower of the same size.

Electric Mowers

Electric mowers are similar to electric start mowers in that they are both started with the press of a button. The key difference between electric mowers and electric start mowers is their power source. While electric start mowers use a battery to start the engine, electric mowers use a battery to start and power the engine.

Not only are electric mowers easy to start but they are also quieter. While a typical gas mower may run at 90 decibels, an electric mower will run at 70. The softer sound of electric mowers makes them safer for your hearing than gas mowers.

Also, electric mowers don’t require gasoline which can cost a lot and has hazardous fumes.

While there are some significant advantages to using an electric mower, there are disadvantages. One of the main drawbacks to electric mowers is charging the battery.

While the battery in an electric mower may have enough power to mow your front and back lawn, you will have to wait for the battery to charge if you have a particularly large yard or need to mow multiple yards.

Some electric mowers try to get around this by having a power cord, but then you have the drawback of needing to drag a power cord around your yard.

Should I Get A Mower With Or Without A Pull Cord?

Now that we know the advantages and disadvantages of different mowers without a pull cord, we can answer whether you should get a mower with or without a pull cord.

One indicator that you may be best with a mower without a pull cord is if you find it challenging to start the mower with the cord. If you aren’t physically capable of starting your mower with the pull cord, it may be time to upgrade to a mower without one.

If you have a smaller yard, then an electric mower may be an excellent choice for you. It is easy to start, and you won’t have to worry about filling it with gas.

There are situations where an electric mower may not be powerful enough for your yard, but this doesn’t mean you have to get a regular mower. If you need the power of a gas mower but still have a difficult time starting a mower with a pull cord, try an electric start mower.

Electric start mowers are great for when you need the power of a gas mower but need an easier way to start it. If you need help starting your mower with a pull cord, then it would be best to choose one of these two mowers without a pull cord.

There are still situations where a mower without a pull cord may not be the right choice. Professional yard maintenance is one of the best examples of a place where a mower without a pull cord may not be the right choice.

When a landscaping crew performs professional yard maintenance, they often mow several lawns during the day. If you need to charge your mower’s battery between yards, it will significantly reduce how much you can earn in a day.

Now it may seem that the solution is an electric start mower that runs on gas, but this isn’t ideal for professional yard maintenance either. Electric start mowers aren’t suitable for professional yard maintenance because they are more expensive to buy and repair than standard mowers.

While being able to start your mower easily is convenient, the additional maintenance costs for repairing the extra parts on an electric start mower outweigh the advantages. There is also the fact that most people who work on a professional yard maintenance crew have the strength to start a pull start mower quickly.

As you can see, if you only mow your residence and find starting a mower with a cord difficult, then a mower without a cord is best for you. And if you are running a landscaping business, it would be most economical to purchase mowers with a pull cord.

Final Thoughts

In this article, we learned how to start a mower without the pull cord by manually using its flywheel. We also learned how a hydraulic lock can cause your pull cord to lock up. Remember, keep your mower as level as possible to prevent hydraulic lock.

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you want to learn more, check out some of these other posts:

Starting A Lawn Mower Without A Primer – In Under 5 Minutes

Does your mower have a faulty, damaged or even a missing primer? With this article, we’ll show you how to get your mower going without using the primer. And have you back mowing within 5 minutes.

Starting a mower without a primer is quick, easy, and doesn’t require lots of tools or complications. You canhave your mower up and running in no time with this simple guide.

In order to start your mower without a primer, squirt starter fluid directly into the carburetor via the air intake. Simply remove the air filter cover, take out the air filter, and squirt starting fluid into the air intake nozzle. Quickly replace the air filter, and start your mower. It should start straight away.

I’d recommend reading this in more detail though. Ready to get starting a lawn mower without a primer – in under 5 minutes? Let’s get started!

What you’ll need

For this little work around you won’t need much:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preparation

The first step is obviously to get your mower ready. Make sure it’s on a flat surface, so it doesn’t roll anywhere. You can chock a front wheel with a block of wood if you want to be safe. If the mower has a parking mode or brake, make sure it’s engaged.

Usually, when your performing maintenance on your mower, you should remove the spark plug cable. This makes sure the blades can’t go around accidentally. But since this is about starting your mower, you can’t do that. Just make sure you keep your hands away from the blades at all times.

Step 2: A quick check

While you have your mower parked up, it’s worth giving it a quick visual check to make sure there are no other issues than the primer.

Pull the cover off the mower. Check the fuel tank and fuel line for leaks or damage. Inspect the connections around the carburetor to make sure they’re secure.

If nothing looks out of place, damaged or leaking, then you can move on to starting the mower.

Step 3: Removing the air filter

Locate the air filter housing. It’s usually a plastic box next to the carburetor.

Remove the air filter cover. This will either be clipped on with little plastic retaining clips or screwed down. You should always try to be gentle with the air filter housing so as not to damage the air filter.

Once the cover is off, make a note of how the air filter sits in the housing (or take a quick pic with your phone). This is just to make sure you know which way around to put it back. If you put the filter in the wrong way around you can damage it, and possibly your mower, and you’ll definitely have trouble starting it.

Gently remove the air filter. Behind the filter is the air intake nozzle. This hole leads directly to the carburetor, and it’s where you’re going to spray the starter fluid.

Step 4: Starter fluid

Starter or starting fluid is a highly flammable mixture of volatile compounds that is designed to help start cold or difficult to start engines.

Because the fluid is very volatile, it evaporates quickly. So, the trick to using it for your lawn mower is speed. Once you’ve squirted it into the carburetor, you need to get the air filter and cover back in place as quickly as you can.

A single 2-3 second squirt should be enough. Too much and you risk choking it (that’s not a major issue, you just have to wait a few minutes for the fluid to evaporate, before starting again).

Step 5: Replacing the air filter

As soon as you’ve squirted in your starter fluid into the air intake, get the air filter back on. An optimal balance between care and speed. You don’t want to damage the filter and you don’t want the fluid to evaporate.

This is where taking a careful note of how the filter sits before you take it off can help. With the filter back in, (the right way around) put the air filter cover back on.

Step 6: Start your mower

That’s it! Start your mower and it should fire up at once.

If your mower doesn’t start after a few pulls, try the steps again. Checking the air filter and the amount of starter fluid you use. If it still doesn’t start, the issue is probably not just your primer and you’ll need to investigate further.

Why do lawn mowers need a primer bulb?

A lawn mower has a primer bulb because the carburetor is quite small. A carburetor mixes air and gas in the right quantity before injecting it into the combustion chamber on your engine. A small reservoir of fuel collects in the carburetor bowl. The action of the engine naturally draws fuel from the fuel tank.

But when the engine hasn’t started, the only fuel in the carburetor bowl is what’s left from the previous time you used the mower. If some time has passed since last time the mower was running, the gas in the carburetor can have evaporated. So, for the engine to start, you need to pump new gas into the carburetor from the fuel tank. And that is what you are doing when you pump the primer bulb.

Without the primer bulb, you need an alternative method to get fuel into the carburetor to start the engine.

Alternatives to our steps

If the primer bulb is missing completely, you could try this quick trick. Using a syringe (or a turkey baster or similar), insert it into the hole where the primer was and pump it a few times. If you get suction, you might draw enough fuel into the carburetor to start it.

Just remember, the hole where the primer was leads directly to the carburetor. It is easy to get dirt and grime in there, which could choke up your carburetor and stop your mowing from running.

Last word

So, that’s how you can start a lawn mower without a primer – in under 5 minutes.

As you can see, it’s a straightforward fix that doesn’t require lots of tools or technical know-how. In fact, if you can use a lawn mower you should be able to follow these instructions and get your mower started without a primer.

Now it’s time to go grab a can of starting fluid and get your mower mowing again. Good luck and happy starting!

I’ve been helping homeowners with appliance repair since 2016. Starting out as an enthusiastic amateur, I’ve since worked with many Appliance, HVAC, and DIY experts over the last 7 years. My mission is to help your fix your appliances and systems. saving you money and lowering your energy bills. Visit my author page to learn more! Read more

Hi there! My name’s Craig, and I started Appliance Analysts back in 2017.

My mission is to help our readers solve appliance-related issues without paying through the nose for contractors or a whole new model. I’m joining up with experts from across the HVAC, Appliance Repair, DIY industries to share free expert advice that will save you time, stress, and money.