Ethanol in our fuel is the root cause of most of your equipment's NO START issues!
Ethanol has inherent properties that can cause corrosion of metal parts, including carburetors, degradation of plastic and rubber components, harder starting, and reduced engine life," says Marv Klowak, global vice president of research and development for Briggs & Stratton, the largest manufacturer of small engines. "The higher the ethanol content, the more acute the effects." Servicing dealers are reporting similar problems, even with E10, according to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, the industry's trade group.
This video explains why ethanol in today's fuel is bad, what you can do to help this from happening in the future. This will not only help keep your equipment running the way it should but it will also save you some money.
Common Problems And Lawnmower Troubleshooting Tips
1. The Starter Rope Is Stuck Or Is Hard To Pull
You might have something stuck underneath the deck stopping the blade from turning. You'd just have to pull the spark plug wire before working for safety reasons then tip the mower to one side making sure the side with the air filter is pointing up as to avoid getting oil where it shouldn't be and then removing the obstruction. If that is not the problem, your mower's carburetor might be flooding. Which is the carburetor flooding fuel into your engine and mixing with your oil which would cause your piston to be hydro-locked and if you managed to pull start the mower it would run very labored and it would smoke like you've never seen before. If it's the later,you need professional help,unfortunately.
2. The Lawnmower Loses Power
If your mower loses power during mowing, it could be any number of things. I would first check the air filter, if it's dirty either clean it if possible or if it's too far gone it'll have to be replaced. You can also check the spark plug, they cost around three dollars at your local home box store, change it.
3. The Lawnmower Starts Smoking
If your mower starts smoking alot don't panic! You either just had your mower tipped over or you did your own oil change and mistakenly over-filled it. No problem, either call an expert to do it for you or check the oil level. When done start and let your mower run and the smoke should dissipate in five to ten minutes. If your mower smokes and will not stop you might have bigger problems suggesting that the piston rings are letting oil pass by and burn with the fuel. If this is the case it might need a ring job or maybe a new mower!
How To Prevent Lawnmower Problems
Knowing how to repair a lawnmower at home saves time and money. The easiest way to avoid frequent problems is to maintain the mower. Follow these simple tips to keep the mower in good condition:
– If you can find it, use non-ethanol fuel along with a stabilizer
– Clean the blade regularly. Make sure to pull the plug so there is no chance that the blades can move while you’re cleaning them.
– Change the oil as recommended.
– Use the correct type of fuel.
– Store the mower in a cool, dry and covered space when it is not in use.
– Have the mower serviced as recommended by the manufacturer or warranty.