farmerboy
Member
Man after some work
A bit of after hours work for cash has never hurt anyone lol
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Brand new lawn mower won't start - am I doing something wrong?
- Thread starter DarkJediKnight
- Start date
A bit of after hours work for cash has never hurt anyone lol
Nostremitus
Member
I'm the second post on the second page...
OP, if it still hasn't started, are you sure you removed all the packing materials?
Is there a piece of cardboard blocking the air filter/intake?
Is there something on the blades preventing them from turning freely?
Etc...
GamingKaiju
Member
Is the fuel line open? Pour a little fuel in the carb.
TimHortons
Member
Thing is brand new? Maybe reseat the spark plug boot make sure its on there good in tight.
https://youtu.be/vAbN3XWk9yU?t=29s
https://youtu.be/vAbN3XWk9yU?t=29s
BlazinSkatinAxel
Member
I gotta prime muh kicks.
That's a good point. OP, tilt it upwards and see if there is anything blocking the blade (this would be another thing that would be noted in the manual).
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
This totally reminded me of this:
Lol I love this. Whenever I'm trying to fix or solve a problem, it takes over my mind, it consumes me. I get super distant and I don't talk much because all I'm thinking about is how to solve the problem. I should save this image, could come in handy one day.
Another poster found that the OP's mower has neither a primer nor a choke. There are really only so many things it could be.
This is your answer. Check the spark plug and boot. Make sure both are snug.
If you want to have a bit of fun have your wife fiddle with the boot while you yank the cord.
Don't do that last part. No sex for months if you do.
Nostremitus
Member
A friend of mine bought a mower that had a cardboard cover over the air filter inside the intake. You had to take the top off, remove the cardboard, then screw it back on. I don't remember the brand, though...
Also, OP, if you don't want to read the whole manual, at least glance at the quick start guide... Most mowers should have one since they realize a lot of people won't read the manual.
Hoho for breakfast
Member
Probably all been said but I'd check the spark plug. Also make sure you put enough gas in it and that you put the gas and the oil in the right tanks. I had a mower that wouldn't start unless the gas tank was nearly full.
Once you do that, hold down the handle and keep it held down as you pull the cord. You might have to pull it multiple times before it'll actually start.
Edit: I've also had a new mower where the throttle/stop cable was broken. When I pushed down the handle it wasn't actually doing anything. So that's a possibility too but I doubt it.
And if you really know nothing about mowers...do not touch the muffler after you've ran it. It'll be hot as hell.
Once you do that, hold down the handle and keep it held down as you pull the cord. You might have to pull it multiple times before it'll actually start.
Edit: I've also had a new mower where the throttle/stop cable was broken. When I pushed down the handle it wasn't actually doing anything. So that's a possibility too but I doubt it.
And if you really know nothing about mowers...do not touch the muffler after you've ran it. It'll be hot as hell.
Do they still make mowers that have primers and chokes?
That's typically something I think of as being part of a 2 stroke engine (like a string trimmer) and not a 4 stroke engine (like almost all modern lawn mowers).
I know I haven't seen one with a primer since I was a kid.
Yes, my mower (only a few years old) has a primer
TheCochese
Banned
Good Lord.
Parents, teach your kids shit please.
Parents, teach your kids shit please.
Huh, thanks!
One Eyed Willy
Member
If only. I imagine OP just staring at the mower and waiting for it to start.
OT: Since it doesn't need to primed, the only thing you should need on a new mower is to just make sure you are holding the cutoff bar and then yank the cord. Does it at least sound like it is trying to start?
Edit: I just looked at the picture again. It has two bars because it is a self-propelled mower. Make sure you are holding the right bar.
OP, where do you live? Pay my airfare and I'll come cut it for you for free.
TheCochese
Banned
I have a tractor and an old push that I abuse to cut brush and shit. If I just had a push, I'd go for electric if I was buying today. I hate pull starts.
On my mower there is a knob sorta thing that you've got to turn in order for fuel to go to the mower. I will occasionally forget to turn it when I'm starting out then get irritated when my mower doesn't start. Then I will remember it and then feel foolish for getting upset with my mower when it was my stupidity causing the problem.
I've had a pull start mower for 6 years. It's failed to start exactly once, and that was because I left gas in it over the winter. Drained it, refilled it, and it started right up. Pull starts sucked when I was a kid, but (at least some of them) seem perfectly fine now.
Ozzy Onya A2Z
Member
I feel like OP's man card depends on his outcome this morning
*sipsbeer green tea awaiting thread update...
*sips
H.Protagonist
[-_-]/
Man, I'm glad I just have a simple mechanical push mower. All the little tips and steps being suggested here make my head spin. It's all easy enough to figure out if you just read the manual, but I don't feel like messing with it. Pulling for ya in this strange, complicated lawnmower world, OP!
Why would I cut grass when I can pay someone to do it?
Adam_Roman
Member
Did... Did you pull the cord?
H.Protagonist
[-_-]/
The scent of manliness?
Marky Mark
Member
I actually hardly water mine. Dies off in summer, comes back in winter. You can't explain that.
Marky Mark
Member
Wife is watching doctor who and here i am giggling at this because i immediately hear the accent in my head. PUT IT IN H!!!
KennyLinder
Member
As someone who mows their lawn with an electric one, not having a fucking wire attached to it would be massively beneficial.
Also, you tend to get petrol engines with rollers on the front, so you get do the lines too (although electric ones do come with those too, but I have an hover mower, which is a bit shit).
Because nothing is better than jumping in the pool after mowing the grass on a hot day.
Batteries, how do they work?
Keyser Soze
Member
At best most electric will do is 1/3 acre before a recharge, some people need more than that
KennyLinder
Member
Never seen a battery powered lawn mower!
Ozzy Onya A2Z
Member
FTFY
Graphics Horse
Member
DarkJediKnight
Member
Just want to say thanks guys for all the help.
It was something as simple as the handles being put too low that was getting in the way of the blade spinning. So the Mower didn't start. I didn't realize I needed to pull the handles out.
Mower now fires up like a charm.
It was something as simple as the handles being put too low that was getting in the way of the blade spinning. So the Mower didn't start. I didn't realize I needed to pull the handles out.
Mower now fires up like a charm.