Comments on: Can you help me fix my lawnmower?

By: renpen

renpen — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:31:19 +0000

If you have all the oil cleaned out of the airfilter you may want to check the key in the flywheel. There is a soft metal key between the flywheel and crankshaft. When you hit something that stops or tries to stop the blade this key will shear to protect the engine. It releases the flywheel to reduce the weight/momentum. Remove the cowling, and the nut that holds the flywheel. You should be able to see the slot in the flywheel and crankshaft, they should be aligned with a key in the slot. Even a little bit off will effect the timing and it probably won’t run. If not, remove the flywheel and replace the key. You may need to use a puller to get the flywheel off. And as mentioned before, turning a gas engine upside down is not a good plan. It is ok to tip it airbox up but not upside down.

By: The Outcast

The Outcast — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:32:44 +0000

Take out the air filter and replace it or clean it. While it is out, put a couple drops of gas directly into the carburetor opening, replace the filter and close up the air cleaner. Start it up. If it keeps running, let it run for at least five minutes on full throttle. Don’t worry about any smoke that might come out.
If it starts and then stops, take it to a qualified mechanic for a carburetor cleaning, there is oil in the carb passages and it can only be properly removed by disassembling and cleaning the carb. Do not spray WD40 into the carb as has been suggested. And never turn the mower upside down.

By: AshTray

AshTray — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:00:50 +0000

clean the carbeurator out

By: Robert D

Robert D — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:47:21 +0000

Changing the spark plug was a good idea, but my guess is that your new plug was again fouled/wet. Try getting some starting fluid, spray it directly into the carburetor with the air filter off and pull it over quickly-no choke on. If it starts let it run for over 5 minutes to burn the crap/carbon of the plug insulator. If this works, you will either clean the plug or replace the it with another new one. By the way, the only way to clean them well is with a spark plug cleaner/mini sand blaster.

By: Max

Max — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:05:29 +0000

Try spraying a little WD-40 in the carburator.

By: andrewelliottjobs

andrewelliottjobs — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:56:23 +0000

it could be possible that the oil and gas soaked the air filter and the problem with the engine is that it can’t breath. Try starting the engine with the air filter removed.

If the crankshaft was bent would the mower turn over?

By: michael g

michael g — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:37:12 +0000

Its a goner………..you bent the ” crankshaft ” of the motor when you hit the stick. How much is a new mower vs repair is the question here. If the impact was great enough to bend the blade then it was great enough to disrupt the fine balance of the crank assm. The white smoke was the tell tale sign.

By: STEVE

STEVE — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:18:05 +0000

Rent a horse?