Tag: lawn mower is hard to start

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

Troy-Bilt Self Propelled Lawn Mower Takes Many Pulls to Start

Are you pulling and pulling and then FINALLY your lawn mower decides it wants to start?

This is a pretty common problem with a Troy-Bilt lawn mower with a Briggs and Stratton Overhead valve engine. After a while the valve lash will become tight and not allow the valves to open far enough to let fuel in and exhaust out. If not enough fuel comes into the combustion chamber, then it will not ignite and burn properly.

If you are mechanical by nature, remove the valve cover and set the engine at Top Dead Center and check the valve clearance. One these small engines, the intake is set at .004 and the exhaust at .006 to have them run at their best performance.

Adjust the valves if they are not in specifications and reinstall the valve cover with some Triple Bond sealant. Let it dry for a few hours before you test run the engine to see if you have solved the problem.

If after your repair it still is hard to start, check the fuel and choke system to be sure that they are working as they should.

If you need a Troy-Bilt small engine mechanic to help with your lawn mower, visit our Locationspage to find a shop near you.

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

Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Requires Many Pulls to Start

You should only have to pull 1 or 2 times to start your self-propelled lawn mower if everything is working properly with the engine. Any more than that and you need a tune-up to get that engine running the way it should.

Time and use take a toll on our small engines and the fuel we use today doesn’t do them any favors either. The ethanol that is added to the fuel wreaks havoc on the carburetors and makes them hard to start.

Most self-propelled lawn mowers never receive the maintenance that is required of them until they break down. Maintenance is things like adjusting the intake and exhaust valves, changing the spark plug and air filter. It is keeping good clean fuel in the fuel tank and changing the fuel filter if it has one. It is also cleaning the deck and making sure the top of the deck is clean as well.

A diagnostic will need to be performed to determine why it takes a long time to start your lawn mower. First check the easy stuff like the fuel quality and the spark plug and air filter. If those items are fine, consult with a local self-propelled lawn mower mechanic by visiting our Locations page.