How to fix a lawn mower that won't start - Ten Minute DIY Repair
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- An easy, no-cost fix for mowers and other equipment that won't start following winter storage. This is a problem I see frequently in the Springtime. Simply drop the carburetor bowl and clean out the clogged plug. It takes about 10 minutes, and in this video I show you the whole process. Thanks for watching. Subscribe to my channel for more small engine how-to videos.
If this video is of help to you, or saves you some money, please consider making a one-time donation: www.paypal.me/dloose Thank you so much! 
Хобби
I like it because no music and straight to the point and I can hear what he is saying during the process.
Absolutely - GD loud music and no BS selfie poses for the camera - keep focused on the job at hand.
LIKEWISE no Bull*******!😀🇺🇸
Yea, sometimes the damned music annoys me so bad that I leave! I do the same thing when I’m shopping
ive music louder then voice! How do I turn it off!
@@surferbud5863 f
Thank you for this no b.s., no frills, video. You helped me earn major brownie points with my husband.
I was determined to fix his lawnmower after the know-it-all brother in law couldn't. He blew me off like I didn't know anything and told my husband he needed to take it in because it needed a new carburetor. Husband believed him . . . I didn't.
Don't underestimate this old grandma! And I'm not going to tell them how I fixed it or what my "special tool" is.
I just said I took the carburetor apart, found the problem and fixed it!
Congratulations! And thanks for the note. So, how do you really feel about your brother-in-law? Ha ha ha!
Hahaha! He's fine if I don't have to talk to him. 😊
You took his balls away instantly lol.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Brownie points saying is not like girl scouts cookies. It's actually putting your nose in his poop factory
Good for you.
Twenty some years ago I bought a Craftsman lawn mower. Then I moved to a new home with large land and it was stored in the garage for about 20 years without using it. Yesterday, I pulled it out and did what you shared… It ran very good. Thank you so very much Sir. God bless you and your family.
Awesome story! Thanks for letting me know. Good job getting it done yourself!
Pppp
That's how a great video is supposed to be: problem, yes solution, yes, music video.. no. Straight to the point. Thanks man, great video.
Thanks, Andy. So you don't like music, huh? I was about to break out in song....
Brilliant to see someone who prefers the old style of doing things just like I do.
Thanks for the video.
I appreciate people like you - taking the time to make videos like this. You helped me get my Mom’s mower running today. I followed everything you did and it fired up on the first pull afterwards. Thank you!!
Great comment, Brendan. Good job on fixing it yourself!
Wow! That’s awesome.
Holy crap I just tried this and it totally worked!! Thanks so much for this info😁. Lawn boy runs like a top now!
One of the best down to earth how to video's on YT. Glad to see the old school way of doing things. Thank you!!!
Thank you for the kind words.
Very good advice! Thanks
Thank you very much, Buckwsr. Couldn't have started my mower today, for the first time this season, without your video! Everything on mine worked out just as you described.
Thanks for the note. Made my day! Glad you got the mower running!
My kind of "teacher" !
My dad would've liked his style of demonstration 👍
I am so glad I've found you. I remember lawnmowers in the past that wouldn't start. Now, I know what to do about it. Thank you.
My lawnmower was pretty different, but this method still worked!
Rayno
Amazing how a little varnish or carbon can completely shut us down! Had to do this myself last week and now I see your video. Great job. Saved hundreds, new mowers are soo expensive. Cheers 🎄⛄🙏😎👍🇺🇸
☺👣🕳🤣✌
Just wanted to say thanks for the video. I was able to follow your simple steps and use one of the "high tech" tools to fix my lawn mower. We had it scheduled to go to the shop to be repaired, but they are running a month behind. Watched your video and followed the steps. Lawn mower is running GREAT! Thank you!
Thanks for the note. Good job fixing it yourself!
Thanks for the info/video. I was able to fix my lawn mower today. Different type/brand but the process still worked. Thanks again!
My Craftsman mower is 9 years old and this was the first time it had a issue starting. It would run for 2 seconds and shut off. I performed the same procedure as you did and now it is running great. Great explanation and step by step directions in your video. 2 thumbs up !!!!!
Excellent! Glad you're getting more life out of your mower!
Thank you very much! This worked flawlessly
1. Cleaned the bolt
2. Cleaned the carburetor
3. Sanded a bit the spark plug.
The plug on my mower bowel does not have holes to be cleaned
Thank you. I had cleaned the carburetor and still had the same problem until I watched your video and cleaned this screw.
Awesome tip!... Thank you for the idea of knowing one of the most common problems to the lawn mower not starting!
Short, simple, & straight 2 the point..
Another very practical option is to put a shut-off valve between the fuel tank and the carburetor and when you want to shut the mower off, you just turn the valve to cut off the fuel. It keeps the fuel system from getting clogged up when setting over the winter. Also it helps reduce problems from ethanol contaminated gasoline making the carb's internal workings "chalky."
Good tip👍
If you got a Honda mower there is no problem with anything. I leave fuel in it over the winter months(regular gas) and it starts on the second pull. Been doing that for 7+ years.
@@bunzeebear2973 I also have a Honda mower. I've had it about three years and it has a fuel off switch between the fuel tank and carb. So, that's exactly how I turn it off. BTW, Honda is a Japanese word for " bullet-proof" Motorcycles, mowers, yeah, I've had a lot of Honda's.
Loo
Even easier, put a vice grip on like he did and leave it there.
Followed your instructions, up and running in 15 minutes. Thank You!
GREAT!! Thanks for letting me know. Made my day!
Thanks Buck Nice and simple. I always make it hard for myself by removing the carb and cleaning, and blowing air, and checking everything, but then having to make gaskets etc. I will try this next time. wish I saw this 3 days ago. Thanks from Ontario Canada.
Thank God for youtube. I learned something new today. Thanks!
have a different brand lawn mower
i followed everything exactly as you did and it worked...!!!
thank you sir
Great job! Glad the video was of help to you!
Man, you save me some $$. I thought I would need to take it in and have it repaired. Did as you said and took me about 10 min. One tug on the rope and it started up like a champ. Thanks man.
Good job! Yep, just 10 minutes and you're back in business! Would've cost you $50 bucks at the shop. Go buy yourself some ice cream!
I was fully prepared to remove the carburetor from my B&S engine to tear it apart and soak it in carburetor cleaner overnight. I found this video yesterday and tried out your fix this morning. What a time saver this video was for me. Took out the bolt, cleaned it out, and reinstalled it. The mower now starts first pull every time just like it did when it was new. Great video! Thank you.
Thanks, Dave! That's what I call putting the "do" into "do-it-yourself"!!
i am retired and took up repairing mowers and i want to thank you for this very helpful information IT WORKED thank you again for the tip on safety pin
I know this is a year late but get you some welding tip wire brushes. They make them in a few different sizes they are very thin and can fit into these small passages and clean them out very well.
Thanks for a "straight to the point" video. Good info.
Thanks, Wayne. Glad it helped.
Thx, had a McLane front throw that hadn’t been run in years, and it started right up. Thx
I haven’t bought a lawnmower in years because of so many people at the beginning of the season having exactly that problem and just throw them out. Great on the spot video. Some models you have to really try to find those clogged metering jets they are so small I use a bread tie that I just strip off the plastic coating. High tech tool too.
Oh yeah. Those break ties are handy!
Fantastic video I have been doctoring old lawnmowers for so many years and I am embarrassed to tell you I didn't know about the holes in that little plug. Thank you book for your information and the time it took to do it
Glad the video was a help to you!
Buck you the man! No nonsense real world fix! Thanks dad!
Awesome! Simple instructions. No fancy tools. Great video. Thanks a lot!
Wrong. He had A highly specialized tool. A paper clip and A safety pin. LOL.
that it is the most common problems with lawnmowers and weedeaterers and pressure washers generators I haven't buy any lawnmower or weedeaterers for a few years now got them all for free 5 minutes fix. he's the first person I have seen on RUclips that is really showing one of the main problems on this motors. just keep the gas tank clean thas the key. good job thanks for the video👍
I tried this on a B&S 6.75 engine on a DR trimmer mower and it worked perfectly. The float bowl did not have to be removed, there was a large hex key fitting that removed the piece that needed to be soaked in carb cleaner and reinstalled. It started right up after that, thanks!
Great job!
There's tiny wire brushes used to clean out tips in acetylene torches. They often come in assorted sizes and in there own little metal box that keeps them together and so you don't lose them. They'd be great to clean out these small passages as they actually have wire to help clean any debris and chalky build up and varnish.
Those are files. You don't want to make the hole bigger than it is on a carb. On a torch, it is not an issue if the hole is bigger. Molten metal blobs go up the hole so you need a file to knock it out. Gas varnish is like jelly, so smooth shaft is preferred.
Backyard mechanic the best !!
Thank you so much. because of your video, I got my lawnmower started. Also no gloves, but used an air compressor to blow. Now i have the knowledge for next time. Cheers
Great job, my friend.
Thanks for the tip. I run my mower until all gas used up before long term storage. Has worked for the past 15 years.
I have always put gas stabilizer in my mower and tiller, haven’t had any trouble since I started doing that. Great video, thanks.
In Canada, a better solution is to use Premium gas (91 octane). Here it is E0 (pure gasoline), no alcohol, so it does not separate in storage. Aslo, before storage, I pull the plug, and squirt some WD40 in the cylinder, pull the starter to spread it around, then put the plug back in. In the spring, I also give a squirt into the cylinder, and 'bam' it starts and runs.
I also use the fuel stabilizer and I run the tank dry when I put my mower away for the winter.
@@LasVegas68 what is the point of adding "stable" if you run tank dry?? I always run tank dry and never have an issue in the spring.
@@paulmoffat9306 Here in the States there are some gas stations that sell non-ethanol gas only in 91 octane. I have recently started using it and like it much better! Prior to that I was using stabelizer with good results but I like the 91 E free gas better. I will have to give the wd40 a try aye.
I have always used Marvel Mystery Oil in the gas. Never had a problem starting in the Spring. I always run the carburetor dry in my generator.
Hysterical! I fixed the neighbor up earlier today doing the exact thing!
I sure hope you used a paperclip and a safety pin!
Awesome presentation for us retired DIYers. Thanks!!!!!
Thank you.
Straight to the point. Good stuff!
Thank you so much for this video!....I took my mower to a shop and they quoted 150 dollars!!! I obviously said no thanks and with nothing to lose . I watched your video, did exactly what you did and surprise surprise it started right up!! Amazing!! Thanks again!
Good job. You owe me $150.00 Ha ha!
@@Buckwsr lol!! Checks in the mail!! :)
🤣
Thanks for these very useful tips, worked a treat for me today!
Thanks for explaining how the injector part works. That helps me a lot.
I have a craftsman and I would pull and pull the cord and no start. Removed and cleaned like shown in the video and it started right up. You're awesome! Thanks for the great video.
Thanks, John! Good job fixing it yourself!
Thanks for the instructions Buck! Interesting John Deere mower, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one like that. They made great mowers. My neighbor has a silver deck walk behind Deere, it’s over 20 years old and still going strong.
Honestly, the pivoting front wheels are useless on this thing....
Thank you. Well done. I find also that at the end of season before I store it, to just run the engine till it
runs out of gas. This draws the retained gas out of the carburetor bowl so it does not sit there through the season.
Just performed the exact procedure, on the lawnmower after watching your video. Worked a treat, and started first pull. Her indoors now thinks I’m a mechanical genius. Thanks for all your great instruction.
Greetings from Ireland, were the grass is always greener, we’ll that what I was always told as a gosson , small boy 👦.
I do it the simplest way. Once I have finished my mowing, before I store it, I will draw out the remaining residue from the carburetor so that it will not get clogged over time. The next time i want to use it I can immediately get it started without getting my hand dirtied. :D
@@fn4rillo Best is to run ethanol-free E0 gas with a fuel stabilizer for the last tank of gas at the end of the season. Run it until it quits, then drain the bowl. Most require removal; some have a drain plug.
@@fn4rillo How do you do this procedure? thanks.
this mower doesn't seem to have a fuel shutoff (ref vyse grips on fuel line). Not so easy to run the carb dry
Well I have two lawnmowers and one has no problem at all starts first crank. Other one started and ran for 5 seconds. I did exactly what you showed me in this video and on the first crank it started and kept running. AMAZING!!! And I wanted to bring it to small engine repair shop. They would have charged me a good $60.00 for a job they call a tune up. I can't thank you enough. You rock!!!
You rock....because you saved yourself some money and can feel great about fixing it yourself!!!! Good job.
I just learned something new! That could be my problem. I’ll give it a go. Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
2 mowers now running again. You rock thank ya
Good job getting it done yourself!
Started right up after I did this, thanks buddy🙏🏻
Great job! Buy yourself an ice cream!
Thanks a lot sir. I followed your steps to clean the carburator on my machine (which is not the same exact machine as yours) but it worked like a charm. Your no nonsense video got the job done.
Great job getting it done yourself!
Downloaded, saved, shared that's how important this video is!!!
Thank you so much!
Real good video. Always love to learn secrets. Can you imagine such a small set of holes stops the whole engine from running?
Thanks for watching the video!
Thanks for being a great down to earth mechanic by not wearing gloves. I myself need to feel the small pieces knowing I have the right touch to work. Don’t forget to check your spark plug. Air, fuel and spark means just that. Check and clean all 3.
Great note, Charles. Thank you.
This is why it always helps to run seafoam or stabil before you put your mower away for the winter. I even usually start my mower and run the gas tank empty in the fall before I put it away. But this was a great video. I have had to do this several times for some friends who didn't take care of their mowers
I don't usually use fuel additives, nor do I "winterize" the machines in the Fall. If they don't start easily in the Spring, I know what to to fix them, so it's not a big deal.
You saved my day. I cleaned everything else but nothing changed. Cleaned the port as shown and bingo. Thank you!
Glad you got it running again!
Hay Buck, thank you for the simple to the point exploration. I appreciate you letting us know the using of the gloves and the blowing air with your mouth part 😆. I'm 61 years old, so my teenage years with my dad was back in the late seventies, he was not a mechanic by trade, but he fixed his own cars, the two that I saw him work on was a 1957 Chevy and later a 1968 Pontiac Bonneville. He just used tools and in those days we used to get them at Wester Auto parts store, I think they had layaway to buy tools in those days. No glove...and we didn't have a shop, just the dryway.... simple to the point advice, thank you... I clicked like and subscribed, God bless you. JCT:)
Great memories, Juan. Thanks for the note.
Thank you very much this video was very helpful
Thank you for pointing out all of my inadequacies. Seriously, an informative video. Keep up the good work.
No finger pointing was intended! Ha ha! Hope you're mower is back up and running!
Awesome. I managed to get our mower going after watching this video. My mother-in-law was my witness since my husband was shocked that I actually did this myself. Thank you, Buck, you are my savior.
Great job getting it done yourself!!!
You go GIRL.....
@@MICHIGANMIKE12 Thank you Mike.
Well done, Thanks for sharing.
I’ve had them plugged so bad I had to use micro drill bits to open them out I’m 70 and I’ve learned most of the tricks would like to teach others but no one is interested until they have a problem
I am ready to learn more
Teach me
Make us a video. You can make money from posting you tube videos.
Got news for you Chuck, but I will pass along a revelation to me that I just never thought about. We're all following in someone else's shoes who we appreciate and now we- meaning you- have attempted to pass along your skill. Thank you! You too, Buck!😉
That's sure the truth, brother. I'd like to be an apprentice to a mechanic and learn. I have a great place to help other people and even run a small buiss. My neighbor was a small engine mechanic, big engine too probably. Best man I've met. I wish I would've tutored under him. He went home a few years ago🥺 and is sorely missed in countless ways
Very nice video. Right to the point.Good old way of doing the repair and nice to see the good old John Deere.
Thank Very much for this video,here in western oregon lawn equipment always has this problem.
Great job,thank you for the tip! Keep up the good work!!
thanks,I will fix mine tomorrow.
Thanx, Wheezer. Much appreciated. Hadn't thought of a safety pin. Thought it might be too large in diameter. Used a sewing needle for the center hole and paper clip for the others on the plug.
Know how makes all the difference! Who would now about cleaning out that little plug holes! Thank you!
Helpful presentation. Thank you.
Thanks, I needed that.... I knew about removing and cleaning the bowl but didn't realize how the fuel flowed thru the plug, or that it needed to be cleaned... Yup, these lawnmower repair shops are going to hate you, but fear not... us backyard mechanics have them outnumbered.
Glad the video was helpful!
By CT by CT
Thanks for your help, replacement gasket, cleaning the nut got it running. Got to replace primer bulb now. 🤔😉👍👌🖖
Thank you for a great DIY straightforward to the point.
nice. thanks. i'll be trying tomorrow as mine didn't start this spring.
thank you so much easy fix common problem
Good job Buck you are the man. Good info for snow flakes.
Wish I had seen this 2 months ago. The repair shop said I needed a new corroborator, at a cost of $175. So I got $1.50 for it at the scrap yard and since I don't have much lawn anymore I use the weed wacker. Would have been nice to have known this and saved the mower. Anyway, sending the link to the kids and grandkids. Thanks You'r a good person.
Wow! Who would pay that kind of money? Cheaper to buy a new mower. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thank you. I will try this. I own the same mower.
Excellent video! Especially for those of us who aren't handymen! :)
Videos like this, are what made youtube so popular. Good job sir!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for making the video. Today i fix my lawnmower through your video
Great job doing it yourself!
Thank you for the tips. I'm going to try this on my ancient Lawn-Boy. I loved the thumbs up right in front of the carb near the end. Nice touch.
Thanks this is a big help for me
Thanks! Right to the heart of the problem, works like a charm. One thing I do to clamp off fuel lines is slip a deep socket over each of the vise grip jaws. Helps reduce damage to the wall of the fuel line .
Thanks for the tip!
I'm glad this was recommended to me.. Great job!
Thank you for not using gloves and blowing it with your mouth...Finally a real mechanic that I can relate to!
Oh yeah! Just keeping it real!
@@Buckwsr could I ask you a lawnmower related question? I have a 2014 Yardman that I can get running only by blocking the carb butterfly opening with a an old sock (keeping the air filter assembly off) ...it will fluctuate but if I keep adjusting the level of blockage with the sock it keeps running ...Immediately dies if I remove sock. Any ideas for me? I don't have that main jet at the bottom of the bowl so not sure if I can reach it to clean it out.
@@jaimhaas5170 What kind of engine does it have? All carbs have jets and a way to remove the carburetor bowl. Honda engines can be harder to access that, but Briggs & Stratton are usually pretty easy. A carburetor serves to mix the proper amounts of fuel and air going into the combustion chamber. I would say your carburetor is not getting enough fuel. As you limit the amount of air with the sock, essentially choking the engine, it is able to suck more fuel. What you need to do is to remove the carburetor and give it a good cleaning, cleaning out all the jets and little orifices. There are videos on youtube that show you how to do that. Alternately, you could get an inexpensive replacement carburetor on ebay or amazon. That's probably a simpler option. Good luck.
Thank you kindly...I will give it another try.
@@jaimhaas5170 You're running just on the choke and not the main carb. Remove carb and clean it completely. There are youtube videos to speed you on your way. Also - STAY AWAY from gasoline with Ethanol in it - bad, bad, bad! Joe S
Excellent. Thank you
Nice way of showing the job done. Thank you
I'm gonna give this a try. I've got an old Honda mower that has been stored for a few years. Thanks!!
Honda carbs are different. Good luck!
Joe S
I have to agree with MOAHS, Honda products are a little bit different animals.
It believe pays to watch several YT videos specifically regarding Honda stuff. I did, solved a few nagging problems on the one I have and saved a ton of money in the process.
But I suppose I should extend a hardy “thank you” to a former neighbor who apparently felt it wasn’t worth his time to follow my advice, pushed a pretty nice Honda mower out to his curb for heavy trash pick-up, told me to help myself to it and said “Good luck with that POS. Just don’t bring it back!” as I rolled it away.
I had it running like a champ the same day, and it’s NEVER failed to start by the second pull at the most.. even on the first try of the season every year for the last nine years! Sweet!
So, good luck to you as well, Ron.
Great video, thanks!
Good video. Sometimes trash makes it to the float needle. I treat all my small engines with the red Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer prior to winter storage. Make sure you run the engine long enough to get treated fuel in the bowl. Come spring you don't have these problems. :)
I put Sta-Bil in my 5 gallon gas can when I fill it up at the gas station. So my engines - push mower, tractor, snowblower, etc... - ALWAYS run with it in the gas. I never have to think about it (until the gas can is getting low).
Great video. Learned a bit of a time saver...If you know it’s the jet that’s clogged there’s no need to remove air filter and assembly. You can simply clamp fuel line, remove jet, clean reassemble, prime and start. Thanks for sharing.
Possibly, but that makes it a bit harder to access....especially if you're making a video!
Thanks Buck really needed that. Stay cool.
Thanks!!!!! You the man!!!
Anytime something won't start I go straight to the carburetor, dirt bikes, quads, go karts, lawnmowers, weedwackers, sometimes cars. Since 2011 I've always gone straight to cleaning carbs. Its just something mechanics should do naturally like I do. Glad to see the old way still being done
I look first for ignition,
WOW!!!!!! What an excellent video!! I can do this myself!! Nova Scotia appreciates your help!!!!
Thank you. Hope your mower is back up and running.
Great advice! My way of fixing was by buying a battery mower but I kept the gas one. I'll try your fix out this weekend.
Don't give up on the gas!