Push mower starts, then dies?

Question

Been having some issues with my gas-powered push mower.

A little background:
What used to happen is it would crank up, last about 30-45 minutes, then die and it wouldn't start again like it was "tired" or something. The thing is, it usually cranks up and runs fine for another 30-45 minutes by the time I'm back to mowing the lawn again. This time, however, it died after about 30 minutes, and wouldn't crank 2-days later (today) for me to finish the lawn.

Problem:
I usually have to hit the primer about 20 times, then the engine turns over, and runs for about 2 seconds, then dies. I can keep it running "manually," though: I hit the primer 15-20-ish times, pull-start, then once it starts to die about 2 seconds later, I hit the primer again and it will keep running so long as I keep hitting the primer.

What's going on????

(btw, does it cost much to take it to a small engine repair shop?)

Answer 1

Ok, a couple things.... your problem could originally have been vapor lock (your breather in your gas cap is plugged.) But now you have a varnished carburetor. Do you stabilize your gasoline? Gas breaks down in just a couple months, where it ends up gumming up everything. You need at least a carb rebuild, and maybe a full tune-up. We charge $79 plus parts. Sometimes, it is more cost effective to buy a cheap mower than to fix.

Answer 2

It sounds like you might have a fuel filter that is clogged up. Try replacing the fuel filter first. It's cheap to replace. If it's clogged you aren't getting gas to the engine so that it can fire. Possibly by using the primer you are in essence by-passing the filter allowing gas to get to the engine.

Small engine repair shops cost a ton. Normally you are talking about $45 an hour or so. At that price, it's just about as easy to buy a new push mower and forget about the old one. Unless you have a buddy that likes to do small engine repair as a hobby it's usually almost not worth having them worked on.

Also, before you put your lawnmower up for the winter be sure to run the mower till you run all of the gas out of it and use up any gas you have in the gas tanks. After gas gets so old it breaks down and turns into a varnish like substance. By using up all the gas in the engine you avoid the gas breaking down over winter and messing up your engine. It may make it a little harder starting your mower for the first time in the spring, but if you have a primer that should help a bunch.

How old is your lawnmower? The older your lawnmower is the better a chance it is the fuel filter. If your lawnmower is relatively new, then your carburator may need cleaned out and possibly the engine cleand out from having probably left gas in it over winter. If that's the case, either find that friend that likes to do it for a hobby for basically nothing or start shopping for lawnmowers.

Answer 3

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RE:
Push mower starts, then dies?
Been having some issues with my gas-powered push mower.

A little background:
What used to happen is it would crank up, last about 30-45 minutes, then die and it wouldn't start again like it was "tired" or something. The thing is, it usually cranks up and runs fine for another...

Answer 4

Check the vent on top of the gas cap. If it is clogged use the end of a paper clip and push the dirt out. Also try loosening the gas cap and start the mower. If it keeps running, either the cap is bad or the vent is clogged. These are a couple of things to try, but a small hole in a fuel line somewhere will drive you crazy trying to figure it out

Answer 5

check this out -

near the primer button there is a little spring that goes back and forth it controls your idle its attached to another peice of metal that looks between a square and trianle and it moves back and forth also make sure this is tight and attatched i had to make mine tighter - i use to have the same problem with mine -

Answer 6

Sounds like it is not getting gas, is your fuel filter plugged?