Category: Lawn Mower Repair Tips

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

Gas is Leaking From The Air Filter on my Lawn Mower

When your lawn mower sits for a while, this can happen and fuel will either spill all over the floor or will end up inside the engine crankcase.

As the fuel in the carburetor begins to degrade and breakdown over time, it can cause the seal of the needle and seat to lose its seal. When this happens, fuel from the tank will seep through the carburetor and overflow the float bowl.

The fuel then will flow out the throat of the carburetor and through the air filter and then you will see it dripping from the air box cover.

In cases like this, the carburetor will need to be cleaned, the oil changed and the air filter as well. You may also have to remove all the fuel from the fuel tank and replace with fresh fuel.

If you need help with this problem, our Locations pages has lawn mower repair companies that can clean the carburetor, change the oil and air filter and get your lawn mower working as it should once again.

Leaking fuel can cause a fire and should not be operated until the source of the problem has been corrected.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

My Lawn Mower Just Died in the Yard

Two questions come to mind.

  1. Did it die like you just flipped a switch?
  2. Did it chug, cough and then die?

If it is the first question, then most likely you have an electrical issue and most likely an ignition system problem. Most likely just putting in a new spark plug will not resolve the problem but it is an inexpensive first step to resolve the problem.

If the lawn mower chugged, coughed and then died, you have a fuel system problem or an internal component problem. This requires more in-depth troubleshooting to determine what the problem is. But check the air filter to see if it is clogged and if so, replace it and test the mower. You could also start it without the air filter to see if that was the problem. Just try to not let any debris such as grass clippings get into the carburetor.

If these simple fixes don’t solve the problem with your lawn mower dying in your yard, professional help is in order and you can find a lawn mower repair professional in your area by visiting our Locations page for assistance.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

My Lawn Mower Jerks the Pull Cord Out of My Hand

This is a dangerous condition and can easily cut your hand or worse, break a bone in it. Do not continue to try and pull start the lawn mower until you have it checked out by a lawn mower repair professional.

Now you are probably wondering why this happens in the first place right? Well, most of the time it happens because you have hit something with the blade or someone has been working on the engine internals and did not set the timing up right on the cam.

When you hit something or have a blade strike as it is called in the industry, it will cause the shear key in the flywheel to move or “shear” as it is designed to do. When this flywheel key shears, it causes the timing of the ignition firing to be off a number of degrees. When the spark plug fires at the wrong time, it will cause the piston to move violently in the downward motion and the pull cord is still trying to move the piston in the upward position.

The result is the force you feel when the pull cord is whipped out of your hand and the handle slams into the engine cover.

So it is wise to get your lawn mower checked out by a professional that can diagnose the problem and repair it so you have a safe to operate mower once again.

Visit our Locations page for a lawn mower shop near you.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

How To Find a Great Lawn Mower Repair Shop

Great lawn mower repair shops are getting harder to find. The older generations have retired and closed down their independent shops and younger people are not entering this line of work in great numbers.

So, how do you find a great lawn mower repair shop today?

Google is going to be your best friend when you do your searching. By using search terms such as “lawn mower repair Louisville KY”, this will get you some results that you can then narrow your criteria.

Review each of their websites and look for engine manufacturer certifications such as “Briggs and Stratton Master Service Technician” or “Honda Engines Master Service Technician”. Follow that up by checking reviews on Google if they have a business listing on the right side of the page. Check the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any negative complaints and how those were handled by the business.

 

Don’t forget about Facebook! If the business has a page there, check their reviews as well.

Good shops are going to be busy as word gets around, people will flock to them. Expect to have some wait time such as 1-2 weeks as a norm. Calling and rushing them to get the work done will only have negative results for you, so let them do their work. It’s only grass, it can wait.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

How To Winterize Your Lawn Mower

It’s that time of the year when the lawn mowing is winding down and it is time to put it away. I know some of you are glad to be through with mowing while others find it as a way to relax and get away from the world for a while.

To make your lawn mower last as long as possible, your end of season storage procedure will help extend its life so let’s get started.

1. Clean the entire lawn mower. If you have a leaf blower or air compressor, open the hood and blow out all the grass and dirt. Next blow all the grass clippings, sticks and leaves off the mower deck. Lift up the seat and then blow the dirt from under it and off the transmission as well.

2. Clean and scrape the deck. If the blades need sharpening, now is a good time to accomplish this.

3. Fill the tires to their proper pressures. For most riders that is 10psi at the rear and 15 in the front.

4. Grease all the fittings for the steering, wheels and deck.

5. Check the deck and drive belts for wear, cracking or splitting and replace as necessary.

6. Change the air and fuel filters.

7. Put fuel stabilizer in the tank and mix according to the directions.

8. Clean the battery terminals and apply battery terminal protector.

9. Start the engine and let it warm up.

10. Change the oil and filter.

Now your lawn mower will be ready for next spring and it should start and run great. If you have a battery tender, it’s a good idea to put the battery on it so it will provide a trickle charge all winter long.

Happy Mowing!

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

One Drive Wheel Stopped Turning on My Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

 

Today’s self-propelled lawn mowers either have steel or plastic drive gears. The steel gears never seem to wear out but their spring loaded woodruf keys that are on the axle can rest and stick in place. When this happens, one side or both can stop working.

If you have a plastic drive gear on the wheel, it can wear out and stop pulling the drive wheel.

In either case the drive wheels will need to be removed and the drive system inspected. While you are at it, inspect the drive belt for wear. If it is loose or rides deep in the groove, it is time for a replacement.

Carefully inspect the drive gears to make sure they are not missing any teeth or are worn out. Grass clippings can also get into them and fill the grooves between the teeth. Clean them out good and replace any worn parts. Also check the drive shaft on models that use the spring and woodruf key. Clean out the slots and ensure everything is dry and free of grease and dirt.

If this project is more than you want to tackle, visit our Locations page for a self-propelled lawn mower repair shop near you.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

My Lawn Mower Blades Wear Out Quickly

Lawn mower blades normally last a long time and if yours are wearing out quickly, there are probably some external factors that you might not think about.

My first question is, are you cutting your grass when it has dew on it or is wet from rain? Water is very tough on lawn mower blades. Water is a solid and when the blade hits it, it quickly dulls the blade and begins to wear it out. Wait until the grass dries before you mow each time and this will place a lot less wear on those lawn mower blades.

Do you have tough grasses in your area? If you live in the south, this could be your problem. Thick lush grass will quickly wear out those lawn mower blades as well. Try cutting it more frequently or change to a different blade that is designed to handle these types of grasses. Better quality steel is the answer here.

Is there a lot of sand in your lawn? Sand is the big killer of lawn mower blades. You can upgrade to a better grade steel, but the sand is going to continue to wear out those blades.

For help selecting a lawn mower blade in your area, visit our Locations page for a small engine repair shop near you.

 

Lawn Mower Repair Tips, Push and Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Repair

The Pull the Cord on my Lawn Mower Won’t Move

Are you trying to pull the cord to start your lawn mower and it just won’t budge? You try to yank on it and it is just stuck?

It could be something very simple that is causing this problem or something a little more in-depth.

The first thing you want to do is make sure that you are pulling down on the Safety Brake Cable. If the brake is engaged, it makes it much harder to pull the starter rope.

If that doesn’t do the trick, remove the spark plug boot from the spark plug and check to see if a stick or rock is not bound up in the blade.

Still a problem? Remove the dipstick, wipe it off and then re-check the oil level. If it is very low or you don’t see any on the dipstick, the engine could be seized up due to a lack of oil.

The other possibility but it is not likely is that the pull starter itself is bad. You will have to remove it to test it.

If you need help with your pull cord on your lawn mower, visit our Locations page for a lawn mower repair shop near you.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips, Riding Lawn Mower Repair

I Turn the Key on My Riding Lawn Mower and Nothing Happens

This can be frustrating when you have a yard that needs mowed and you get nothing when the key is turned.

Let’s see if we can turn some of that frustration into a mower that starts and runs.

Check easy first.

Is the mower in gear? If so, place it in neutral. Is the PTO switch engaged? If so, disengage it. Do you have the clutch pedal pressed completely down? If not, press it in further. Are you sitting on the seat? You must be in the seated position on some mowers before they will start.

Is the main fuse blown? You can find it either under the hood or under the seat near the battery. It will always be located near the battery in almost all riding lawn mowers.

If the fuse is good, have the battery tested at your local parts store or check for voltage with a volt meter or VOM. Also check the battery terminal connections to ensure that they are clean of any corrosion and tight.

If the problem still persists, it is time to call in a professional riding lawn mower repair technician. Check our Locations page for one near you.

Lawn Mower Repair Tips

How To Prepare Your Lawn Mower For Spring

If your lawn mower has sat all winter long, there are some items that will need to be accomplished to ensure that it is ready for a year of mowing.

The first item should be a thorough tune-up. The oil will need to be changed, so start the mower and warm it up for about 5 minutes. Now change the oil and use what the manufacturer recommends.

The next times would be the air filter and spark plug. After you change them, blow off the dirt and dust off the engine and deck using compressed air. Lubricate the control cables with a dry film lubricant such as dry silicone.

Remove the spark plug cable and then remove the lawn mower blade and scrape the deck. Sharpen and balance the blade and install it and torque it to the manufacturers specifications.

Check the drive wheels and lubricate them with dry silicone as well. Remove the nut or bolt that holds the wheel on and lubricate both the axle and the drive gears.

Re-install the spark plug cable and  fill the mower with fresh gas and then test it to ensure that all of the functions are working properly. If everything works like normal, you are ready to mow your lawn!

If you need a professional in your area to ensure your lawn mower is ready for spring, visit our Locations page for help.