Woman driver...needs lawn mower advice :)

connie1946

16 years ago

A "friend" wrecked my lawn mower by hitting a metal pipe with it.

he assumes it's ruined as it now started very noisy and smokes and shakes.

Since he ruined mine....he boughr me the most inexpensive mower available at Walmart (because he didn't know how to fix the one he wrecked and the one he was replacing I had boought used a few years ago at a yard sale. But at least I could start mine by myself even with my somewhat whimpy muscled senior citizen arms.

Anyway...the one he got is a Weed Eater Briggs and Stratton gasoline engine...sat 4.5 on it. It is not self propelled.

It is difficult for me to start. I've had to wait for someone to come along and start it for me. They usually can start it with a few pulls.

yesterday I got it started on one pull but it stiopped in about 5 seconds. friend says the lawn mower doesn't run very well. I have cut my lawn with it in the past.

Question: Is there anything i can do to improve the starting?

I bought some spray type carburator cleaner and hope it may help start better if I clean the air filter and spray this stuff into what I THINK is the carburator when i take off the foam type air filter.

Very frustrating.

QUESTION 2 later this fall ...when it comes to putting the mower away for winter and removing the gas...is it ok to tip it over to pour out the old gas? If so..in which direction should i tip it..toward the air filter side or toward the opposite side? I figure that might be important because I picture oil going into wrong places if I tip it.

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Comments (5)

pastmaster
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Connie,
I wish I was closer so to give you a hand with the mower.....Check the oil frequently to make sure it is up to the full level, or close.....Instead of pushing the primer 3 times as it says, push it slowly 5, 6 or even a bit more, SLOWLY, so it has time to refill internally.....then push the mower away from you a bit with left hand while pulling firmly with the right hand on the starter.....That way you get better momentum....It's always best to haVE AT LEAST HALF A TANK OF FUEL FOR THAT TYPE OF ENGINE.....DURN CAPS LOCK. The other mower probably has a bent blade or worse yet a bent crankshaft.....If I had it here I would straighten the crank on my machine.....To service under the deck, always tip with the muffler up to avoid oil getting thru an open valve into the cylinder which would complicate things. Let us know if you need more info.....E T.....
larryf
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
This is most unfortunate. Is there any chance you could return this mower to Walmart? I doubt if you will be happy if the mower is difficult to start. Giving the engine an extra 2 primes may help.

If you decide to get a new mower, the "Ready Start" Briggs and Stratton mower engine and the Honda GC are both easy start engines. Neither engine requires priming and they both start on one easy pull - even in cold weather. These engines are usually installed on certain mowers that are sold by Sears, Lowes and Home Depot. Unfortunately, the sales staff are frequently not familiar with the easy start engines. The prices are usually in the $300 range.
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mikie_gw
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The fresher the gas, the easier they start.
connie1946
Original Author
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you all for the replies to my lawn mower problem. I haven't solved it yet...basically not much time to try. I did clean the foam filter though it was pretty clean as i had cleaned it just about 3 mowings ago. I made sure the oil is at the right level and there is gas in it of course. I checked to see if I could see light through the little holes inthe gas cap. I didn't buy new gas. This is gas from about 3 months ago. That should be ok I suppose. if the sun shinnes toomorrow I'll get different gas. I read the manual and paperwork for it from the person who bought it. The manual is pretty useless since this is probablty the lowest brand WeedEater makes. I believe the engine is similar or same as an inexpensive Poulan. The engine is series 300 (noot even comes up on the Web. It's B&S model 9S502.I looked on the Briggs & Stratton website but could not find more info. I don't think this moower has things like a screw to adjust the engine speed. It doesn't even have a lever or slider to control speed or to choke (if that's where a choke is). Just the basic bar in front of the handle that has to be pulled back to keep it running. We spayed some carburator "stuff" in the air intake when I had filter off. I wiggled a spring in that area and moved an object (explanation below). I then put the filter back and pushed the primer button 5 times. It wouldn't start for me. The friend pulled it once and it almost started but it didn't. And there was a small puff od dard smoke for the first time. He thought it was worse than the last time and wondered if I had "done" anything else to it since last time he started it.
Sooooo Now...I took a photo of the area under the air filter. Because there is a little spring there...and I am wondering what that spring does and if that spring has a problem because it has no tension on it. What makes the spring do whatever it does? I labeled my picture: Line #1 is pointing to the spring. I also labeled another part that has to things sticking out (but it all one part) #2 and wonder what that part is for? It is moveable but doesn't seem connected to anything. The photo I took is on Garden Web Photo galleries It's called Woman driver re: lawn mower. Link to the photo is http://photos.gardenweb.com/garden/galleries/2007/10/woman_driver_re_lawn_mower.html
If anyone sees something wrong in the photo I would be interested to know.
The friend may take the mower back. Thoigh I doubt that Walmart would do anyything about it since we've had it a couple months and it did cut the lawn about 10 times.
I also wonder...firstt replier pastmaster mentioned that My old mower that hit the pole may be fixable. If I took off the blade and tried to start it...would that tell me anything? I figure the blade would be dangerous if it did start.
If I wind the lottery I'lll buy a new mower. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: lawn mower photo
gorper99
16 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Does not look like my posting went through,so I will try again.Where are you?My mother lives in Antigo.#1 in picture looks like a governor spring and #2 looks like a choke lever.Put the air cleaner back on,prime it 4 times and then move the lever all the way opposit where it is.If it starts,move the lever back where it was.I have a Crapsman power washer and it looks the same.

Woman driver...needs lawn mower advice :)

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pastmaster

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Woman driver...needs lawn mower advice :)

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