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lawn-boy won't start now, worked last week

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

14 years ago

I have an at-least-15-year old Lawn Boy mower. It has never failed to start in the spring. This year I cleaned out the gas cap vent, & the air filter, put in fresh gas/oil mix, and it started right up. Did fine for 4 mows. Last week I had to turn it on its side to clean out built up damp grass (spark plug side up, air filter side down) and now it won't start. Seems to me it must have to do with tilting it--but what? I tried adding more fresh gas--no good. Also checked the spark plug cable. Do you have any suggestions before I haul it to the repair shop?

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Comments (7)

metal
14 years ago
Is the air filter full of gas?
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks--I checked--it smelled of gas, but was dry. I washed it out again and reinstalled it. Still no start.
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tarheelman
14 years ago
Has the CD pack (i.e., the ignition module) ever been replaced? If not, do you know how to test for spark? These mowers are known for having CD packs that fail with no warning---it's their Achilles heel.
fordtech
14 years ago
Mine mowed just fine for the first mow this season, no problems at all. Next mow the coil was dead. It happens with the LawnBoy but you can get coils cheap on Ebay now.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Original Author
14 years ago
Tarheelman, I did have the cd pack replaced some 10 years ago--when it could not be restarted when hot. I don't really know how to test for spark--have to take the spark plug out, right? I've never done that.

fordtech, I guess that would mean the repair shop also for me!

Thanks for both of your suggestions. I was hoping for something simple--like, you know, siphon out all the gas, do the sheboygan ritual foozie dance around the container, put the gas back in and voila! working mower!
tarheelman
14 years ago
If you want to do it yourself, replacing the CD packs on these mowers is easy, even for a mechanical klutz like me. However, if you don't feel comfortable following instructions in the service manual (available as a free download on Lawn-Boy's website), then you're better off taking the mower to the shop.
1saxman
14 years ago
'siphon out all the gas, do the sheboygan ritual foozie dance around the container, put the gas back in and voila! working mower!'

This has always worked for me:)

It has nothing to do with your problem, but the air filter is supposed to be oiled, not dry.

'then you're better off taking the mower to the shop.'

I'd say so, because you could go to all the trouble of installing a new CD pack and find that wasn't the problem.

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