You can tell I didn't proofread my text but my point was understood. I don't know about being a diplomat I'd settle for a check for a complete inspection and repair for our lawn mower or at the very least a revised operator's manual, lol.
This is my first time ever doing maintenence on a lawn mower. I've watched many videos but haven't seen any on how to re-gap a sparkplug only to check the gap on a new one.
Regapping is the same process as checking the gap on new ones. Have you gotten your mower going yet? I was so amazed at my tiller. After sitting in the shed all winter, it started with the first pull. I am not so lucky with most of my other small engines. If you can't get it going, take it to a small engine shop. They will probably have it going in no time. I have so many engines here that I can't keep on top of everything, but when I store them for any extended time or over winter, I leave gas in the tank (usually) and drain the carburetor, as I have found (like I wrote above) that a gummed up carb is the most common problem I have after winter.
Thanks for explaining the re-gap. I had purchased a new sparkplug. Yes and no. I've been trying to get the carburator off but can't because of the two links attached. Each time I fiddle with it the mower runs for a longer period of time like it's not getting enough gas and there is gas in the tank. I could have it repaired but I'd like to try it myself.
Did you drain the tank and put fresh gas in it? You might try carb cleaner that you spray into the air intake (under the air cleaner) and, while you are at it, make sure the air cleaner isn't too dirty. It still sounds like some fuel system related issue, not an ignition issue, but it never hurts to change the plug.
Gas tank was emptied and fresh fuel added, oil tank was siphoned and fresh oil added, new sparkplug changed, new air filter. My son supplied me with carburator cleaner for small engines which is when things started going in the right direction. I did manage to empty the bowl of the carburator which hardly had any gas in it (don't know if that's how it's supposed to be.) It didn't start at all after I did that. The next day I tried it started up again but died. So that told me that the carburator needs a thorough cleaning.
Today I mowed my lawn. My cousin took a look at it and he was just as confused about how to get the carburetor off as I was but after I started the mower it was like a lightbulb turned on and he went directly to the problem. Get this, a little spring . He just moved it a notch and voila the mower didn't die on me. I am a happy camper. Note my correct spelling of carburetor.
@Von Jones, I enjoyed reading your thread, because I had trouble with lawn mowers this spring also. Glad you finally got it working. I admire your can do attitude. You would have figured it out yourself eventually. I've got one I gave up on because it does the same thing. Now I'm going to go look for a spring.
My lawnmower is pretty old, and it was cheap, to begin with. Last year, it ran like crap but it still ran and it cut the lawn. I have never sharpened or replaced the blades because it's not like I live on a golf course. I figured I'd use it until it wouldn't start anymore but, for some reason, it started right up this year and sounds a lot better than it did last year, although I certainly haven't done anything to fix it.
Thank you for the compliment. It worked for the one day and started dying on me again. I still believe it's the carburetor. It sits for a few days so I'm thinking enough gas fills it up for one pass, thank God for that. Luckily my yard isn't big.
I tried a product I had heard about called Mechanic in a Bottle on an old tiller that was my wife's. When we had a garden in beds, she used it to till the beds, but it became too hard for her to start (she isn't friendly with pull-start engines), so she put it away and it hasn't been run for years. I put this stuff in the carb, and let it sit overnight. I added gas the next day and it started on the second pull. It appeared to run fine for a while, but starting shutting down. I decided the fuel filter was clogged, so I ordered a new on from Anchorage and it will be tomorrow. We'll see where we go from there. If it works, I will start working on a few other hard-to-start engines that I have around the place. I have a big ol' chainsaw that is big and heavy, so I don't use it much, preferring to use the smaller saws except for those really heavy jobs that require a big saw. It sits for a long time between uses, so it is really difficult to get started and I usually resort to starting fluid for the first time. Once I get it going, it will restart easily while it is warm. Von, if your mower has the little "pump" thingy to prime the carb, this mechanic stuff is easy to use and I found it at Home Depot, though I understand Wal-Mart carries it, too.
@Don Alaska I'll keep that in mind. I'm use to the primer button on lawn mowers but it's not on this one. At least I haven't found it.
If you don't have the primer pump, you have to use the pull cord (unless you have electric start) to pull this stuff through the carb, and that makes it more difficult.