Lawnmower Help

[albertGQ]

So I used to live with my buddy who mowed the lawn for the 2+ years we lived together. Now that he has moved out, I now have to do my own yardwork.

I have a regular lawnmower with a motor. Gas tank and motor oil is full. However, it still won't start. When I try to yank the string/rope (or whatever you call it) to start the motor, it actually does not go all the way back like it used to. It feels like it is being blocked, like the machine is restricting the pull-back due to something being wrong

I had my former roommate over to look at it and he forgot to tell me about the starter button (apparently this button was supposed to be pressed before starting the motor?). We think that is why the lawn mower no longer works

I don't even know if this thread is making sense to anyone. Does anyone know what is wrong and how I can fix this? It is a $200 lawnmower so i dno't want to have to buy a new one. The lawn is starting to look nasty and the neighbors have already commented on it

Thanks in advance!

[missdpuck]

Does it have a safety bar? Don't know if that's what it 's called but it would be a horizonta bar on the handle.

[Doctordestiny]

I'd buy a new one. At $200 they're cheap. I'd look ago to a t an electric mower if your yard is smaller otherwise a rechargable.

[Jayems]

Anything blocking the mower underneath?

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by missdpuck

Does it have a safety bar? Don't know if that's what it 's called but it would be a horizonta bar on the handle.

There is a horizontal bar on the handle. This has to be pressed to allow the mower to start

[MacDaddy77]

There's a lawnmower available in our garage sale this weekend

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Anything blocking the mower underneath?

No, that's been checked

Thanks though

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

I'd buy a new one. At $200 they're cheap. I'd look ago to a t an electric mower if your yard is smaller otherwise a rechargable.

$200 is too much. We're on a tight budget right now with a wedding coming up. I'd rather not fork over $200 if I can avoid it

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

There's a lawnmower available in our garage sale this weekend

Electric? How much?

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

No, that's been checked

Thanks though

Yeah, I knew that was a pretty stupid question, but I thought I'd ask anyways

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Some gas mowers have a little pump on the front--just a little rubber bubble--that you have to push a few times before you can start it. What kind of mower is it?

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Electric? How much?

You 'll have to negotiate with my wife.

I'd say $25.00 can take it though.

Yes it's electric

[mikey_the_redneck]

Just prime the hell out of it.
The prime button is small and red and injects fuel into the carb.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Just prime the hell out of it.
The prime button is small and red and injects fuel into the carb.

Yeah, that's what my buddy was saying and to be honest, I didn't understand what "priming" meant. LOL.

So I just press that small red button repeatedly until it starts? Is this a longshot or will it most likely work?

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Yeah, that's what my buddy was saying and to be honest, I didn't understand what "priming" meant. LOL.

So I just press that small red button repeatedly until it starts? Is this a longshot or will it most likely work?

That should work!!

Also take the cover off the where the cord retracts and make sure it not wound around itself

[4X4]

Is it the same gas as last year? If so, change the gas. And the spark plug as well. Or at least take a bit of sandpaper and clean the spark plug.

Is there a choke? Choke should be closed for start up.

How far out does the rip cord go? Can you still get a good pull on it?

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Yeah, that's what my buddy was saying and to be honest, I didn't understand what "priming" meant. LOL.

So I just press that small red button repeatedly until it starts? Is this a longshot or will it most likely work?

Don't just keep pressing it, you'll flood the carb. Usually 5 or so pumps to prime the carb, and then pull on the cord. If it doesn't start, you should at least hear a "puffing" sound as air is pushed out the cylinder and through the muffler. As suggested above, make sure the plug isn't fouled, and fresh gas also helps a great deal.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

So I just press that small red button repeatedly until it starts? Is this a longshot or will it most likely work?

Well I'm not sure what your lawn mower is like, but my old would get flooded if too much gas was primed into it. Meaning that too much gas would get primed into the engine and it wouldn't start. I would have to wait a couple minutes and then it would start. But it doesn't sound like that is the problem considering you didn't know about it.

Stale gas that has been sitting over the winter sometimes can been tough to get started as well.

Does it sound like anything is spinning when you pull the starter reel? Or does it just stop hard without anything else spinning?

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Yeah, that's what my buddy was saying and to be honest, I didn't understand what "priming" meant. LOL.

So I just press that small red button repeatedly until it starts? Is this a longshot or will it most likely work?

There will be a little sticker on the mower that recommends a certain number of pumps for priming..............do it. Then pull on the handle..........if it doesnt start prime it more times.........wash, rinse, repeat.
You can flood the carbs, but if you wait 5 minutes or so it should be good to go again.

If it doesnt work after that..............maybe pull the sprak plug out and inspect it for a heavy black gunky build-up...........use sandpaper to get it off and try again.

[habernac]

shouldn't have to prime it more than 3 times (it usually tells you). You may have to clean or change the spark plug as well.