I am guessing that the oil is filled to the proper level and that you are running fresh stabilized gas in it and not using old gas that may have water in it. You will need to post the model and engine make so the gurus on the website know which engine they are dealing with, did this problem just start?

"Also, on every third or forth pull on the cord, the cord only comes out half way, which is really an unpleasant surprise."
Is it "jerking back", or just stopping?

Hi,

Thanks for the responses so far. I can't give you the details on the engine until later.

The mower worked the other day. It took a few more tugs than usual to start, but then it ran fine. Yesterday I couldn't start it at all. I even took out the spark plug, and cleaned it off, thinking that it was flooded. But that didn't help.

I can't tell you if the pull cord is pullling back or just stopping. It might be either one. If I had to choose one, I guess I'd say it just stops- I let go of the handle a few times, and the cord retracted, but not immediately. On the next pull after it comes out half way, I could pull it out fully again.

There's plenty of oil in it, as well as fresh gas (but not stabilized).

More later.

Did you push the front end under low brush. Maybe the high speed adjustment got bent. Maybe a twig fell into the starter cord area. Maybe you hit something with the blade. I've even seen the flywheel nut come loose and cause the timing key to shear.

Hi Baymee,

The mower was working the last time I used it. It didn't suddenly stop working, like when I do hit a rock or a tree stump.

I flipped the mower over and looked at the blade. It was still attached, but when I tried moving it, the belt didn't move with it. However, when I watched the belt while pulling on the cord, I did see the blade spin. Does that tell you anything useful?

"Plenty of gas and oil in it."

Is there too much oil in it?
Not knowing brand & model of the engine makes it near impossible to even know what type of carb this engine has. IF it's a bowl type carb, it could have a leaking needle & seat and be filling the crankcase with gas.

Maybe too much oil. But it's been that way for a while.

Tonight I'll let you know what engine it has.

Thanks again.

"I flipped the mower over and looked at the blade"
I assume you did that after your initial problem, but...
IF you flipped it on the wrong side, oil can run into the intake and saturate the air cleaner.

I did flip it after the problem started. I may have created a new problem by doing that, but the original problem was already there.

The carb could have also emptied into the air filter. Remove the air filter to see if it's soaked with gas. Try to start the mower with the air filter off, in a non-dusty area.

In addition: If the spark plug is wet, replace it.

Here's an update:

It has a Techumsa engine.
I replaced the spark plug and air filter, and replaced the oil. It's still doing the same thing.

The old air filter wan't full of gas, although I could smell a little gas on it, probably from trying to restart the mower so many times.

thanks.

New update:

Maybe against my better judgement, I took apart the carb. I have never done this before, but had a DIY book that showed how to do it. When I took it off, an ounce or two of gas poured out of it. I don't know if it was there before I started monkeying with it, or if it poured in when I took the gas tank off.

Anyway, the carb looked clean to me. There was no gummed parts, the gaskets looked good, the float moved easily and the hole inside the carb was unclogged. So I pretty much put it back together and hoped for the best.

Now, my mower still won't start, but it also no longer yanks my arm off when I try to pull the cord (it comes out all the way like it should).

I took out my new plug, expecting it to be saturated, and it was dry and didn't smell of gas.

When I push on the primer bulb, I don't "feel" gas under it, or hear a squishy sound like I think I used to.

Maybe I fixed one problem and created a new one.

Thanks.

Did you try using Ether or "Starting fluid" sprayed into the carb? Are you near Littleton, NH or West Leb.? There are some greta mower repair places there!

I didn't spray anything into the carb. It now seems like it's not getting any gas or any spark (I can't tell which). A few times when I pulled the cord, the engine backfired, but didn't start up.

I live about a half hour to W. Leb. I guess I'll have to take it in for a look over. I was hoping to use it today.

I'm wondering if I screwed up something with the carb.

I have another question: what happens if there's too much oil in the reservoir?

Too much oil and improper storage can get you oil between the piston and the plug, causing almost impossible pulling. At that point you have to remove the plug and pull the rope to force the oil out of the cylinder.

I get the impression that you may have sheared your flywheel key.

Hi,

Thanks for your responses. I don't think it's the flywheel key, because the blade starts when I pull the cord (unless I don't know what I'm talking about).

I have a nice, easy to use digital camera, and when I was trying to put my carb back together, it dawned on me that I should have taken pictures before tearing the carb apart. When I put the lawnmower away, gas started pouring out of the air filter. I think I may have put the dang thing together incorrectly. That may be my whole problem at this point.

The blade will still turn with a sheared key. If you remove the nut under the starter spring, you be able to see if the key is sheared. You'll then have to retorque the nut to proper specs. The flywheel only has to move a tiny bit for the engine not to start.

The more I think of it, I would check the flywheel key. When they start to go, you go through a process of starting, to hard starting, to kickback, to no start. All these symptoms you have described.

Hmmmmmm. Interesting.

I have to first put the carb back together properly, so it doesn't pour gas out of it. Once that's done, I'll look at the flywheel key.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

Hmmmmmm. Interesting.

I have to first put the carb back together properly, so it doesn't pour gas out of it. Once that's done, I'll look at the flywheel key.

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

Hi,

I still have a dead mower. I know that the original problem is still there, but now I have this additional issue of gasoline rushing out of the air filter when I put some in the tank.

Ideally I would like to be able to fix my mower by myself, since the last time I brought it in for a key replacement (hit a rock), it cost me almost as much as a new mower.

Can someone figure out for me what I must have done to allow gas to come out through the air filter? I took the carb apart again, and checked the needle valve. I think that it's closing OK, and that the float is moving freely. I didn't do any adjustments to its height because I don't have the manual and because I didn't want to turn any of those screws in the carb yet.

One other question about the linkage: I said before that I didn't take notes before disassembling the carb. As a result I have all these different holes in the movable part of the carb, attached to the butterfly valve. Can someone tell me if that valve is supposed to be fully open or fully closed, when the mower is off? The mower doesn't have a control on the engine speed, and it doesn't have a choke that I can control.

Thanks again.

Thanks again for

One other questio

You should be able to see the wear marks around the linkage hole, otherwise I would put the valve in the fully open position.

If you have a push bulb primer with a leak in it, the gas can push out of there. Otherwise, remove the bowl and hold the float up with your finger and see if the gas flow is stopped.

I'm on here with the same kind of problem...I think. As for the gas rushing out of the air filter, did you connect your gas line to the top or bottom connection? The only way I can guess that you're getting gas to come out of the filter is if you put the gas line into the top connection instead of the bottom.

MY problem is that for no reason, the mower will stop. I've had this problem once before a few weeks ago, and I took the carb off, cleaned it as best I could, and the mower started working like it always had. A few mows later, It was working regular, but then just cuts off. I pull on the chain a few times (it likes to do the "pull out but not go back in" thing too), and it doesn't start. I'll prime it again for the hell of it, and occasionally I'll get it to start, but only for a few seconds, as if it is only able to use the gas from the priming I just gave it.

Yesterday, it started on the first pull, but I had placed to go and only tried it for the hell of it to see what it'd do. I let it run for about 15-20 seconds, and shut her off, planning on mowing this evening.

I believe I have the same mower this guy does. It's a Toro 6.5 hp with a Tecumseh. I took the carb off and looked in the bowl. There were some very, very small red specks. I cleaned it out, then tried to start it again. Didn't work, so I took it back off and the specks were there again. I completely removed the carb and blew air through every opening I could, and it all seemed clear.

Put it back on and it's a no go. What do you guys suggest?

I thought about making a whole new post, but I'm already here and if our problems are related, then great. Anywho, please help!

Sometimes when you see red specks, it's water in the gas and they form small bubbles of water at the very bottom of the bowl.

Crack open the nut at the bottom of the bowl until the gas runs out and retighten. Then try to start.

I've done that during my many carb emptyings, to no avail...

Look at the link

Here is a link that might be useful: Link

Oh-oh...the dreaded red specks,...Maybe
old Stabil?

who knows what the problem is. I've gone out twice since that post (without time to mow, unfortunately) and it's started and ran just fine each time.

It's supposed to be sunny tomorrow, I have time to mow, and I bet it won't start.

I was right, it went to crap again. Ran for about 30 seconds, then crapped out on me. I'm getting a condo.

Had same problem w/ mine. Ran supper first 3.5 tanks of gas. Started on 2-3 pulls. Idled well. Used proper mixture and didn't seem to be running lean or rich. While cutting 15" log it died like I hit the off switch. While trying to start it locks up. Pulled plug and pulls free. Plug looked OK but no spark. Replaced plug, still no spark, bought a new coil and had spark again but still pulled hard w/ plug in. Took all apart (pulled piston, pulle apart carb, etc.) found no issues all parts well lubed, and good shape, etc. Air filter almost looks brand new. Puzzled I put back together and it started right up and ran well for another half tank, went to start again and same thing w/ locking up. Ended breaking cogs on pull wheel. Now sitting in trash can.