Lawnmower Advice

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networkn

Networkn
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#93388 19-Nov-2011 23:27

Hi There!

My mower stopped working all of a sudden and I am unsure why, not particularly mechanically minded but if it's simple to fix I can probably have a go. If it's going to be a major expense, I'd likely sell it on TM cheap and either stop mowing our lawn and get a contractor, or buy a new better one.

Essentially it was working fine, I stopped it to empty the catcher and couldn't restart it. I then thought it might be low on petrol and topped it up, to find it leaking petrol at quite a rate, around where I have marked on the photo. I can't see any obvious holes etc..

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/577/20111119192044.jpg/

Thanks.

Boeingflyer

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#547339 20-Nov-2011 00:01

Mine did the same, I replaced the air filter and spark plug and it started first pull. Try that, parts only cost $15. Another thing is dirty old fuel. Hope that helps.

RunningMan

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#547368 20-Nov-2011 09:23

A couple of things to check:

1. There is a rubber tube about 15mm diameter which carries the fuel from the tank on top down to the carburettor which is where your arrow is. Make sure this tube isn't split and leaking.

2. Remove the air fllter (black plastic cylinder on it's side under the fuel tank) - it will turn anticlockwise about 10mm then pull out. You should get a better view of where the fuel is coming from. If it is coming from the air inlet to the carb that the air filter connects to, then the needle valve is probably stuck open, and letting fuel run through all the time. A couple of moderate taps with a screwdriver handle to the side of the carb (the bit with the silver bowl on the bottom) may free it up.

Failing either of those, then the carburettor most likely needs servicing. This could be either dirt buildup inside, or dried out gaskets/seals. They are pretty basic to work on with basic screwdirvers / spanner / pliers if you are game...

networkn

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#547444 20-Nov-2011 14:14

RunningMan: A couple of things to check:

1. There is a rubber tube about 15mm diameter which carries the fuel from the tank on top down to the carburettor which is where your arrow is. Make sure this tube isn't split and leaking.

2. Remove the air fllter (black plastic cylinder on it's side under the fuel tank) - it will turn anticlockwise about 10mm then pull out. You should get a better view of where the fuel is coming from. If it is coming from the air inlet to the carb that the air filter connects to, then the needle valve is probably stuck open, and letting fuel run through all the time. A couple of moderate taps with a screwdriver handle to the side of the carb (the bit with the silver bowl on the bottom) may free it up.

Failing either of those, then the carburettor most likely needs servicing. This could be either dirt buildup inside, or dried out gaskets/seals. They are pretty basic to work on with basic screwdirvers / spanner / pliers if you are game...

Wow thanks for that explanation, I'll examine that. If the carb needs servicing, would you by chance have any idea on the approximate cost? Are we talking < $100 > so I can determine if it's worth repair or replace the whole mower?

RunningMan

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#547447 20-Nov-2011 14:38

I don't know what a mower service shop would charge, but if it just needs a clean out, then it's time only, if you have a go yourself. It would pay to take the carb apart, carefully clean it out, and at the same time, clean out the fuel tank, as that's where the gunk will most likely have come from to start with.

Phone your local mower parts shop for a price for a gasket/seal kit - even if you replaced all the seals, air filter and spark plug, I wouldn't have thought the parts would be more than $100. Provided of course you do the labour!

John2010

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#547455 20-Nov-2011 15:17

It looks to me that your arrow points between the carburettor and the air filter. If so and if it just suddenly started leaking petrol out the air cleaner side (and possibly dampness around the muffler) then there is a good chance that it is as simple as just the needle valve in the carburettor float bowl has stuck or there is dirt in the valve it seats into. As it normally requires no parts and very little skill to fix that is what I would normally tackle first if no obvious signs of the problem being different.

The needle valve is operated by a float in the white chamber (so a.k.a the "float needle valve") that can be seen in your photo under the carburettor. If the valve gets dirt in it (it has just a small orifice) or the needle jams somehow so it doesn't seat properly then petrol will flow continuously through it to leak out on the air cleaner side. Normally this all comes apart very easily for cleaning, you aim to get the bowl off and this is usually by just undoing a bolt in the bottom of it. All will be pretty much obvious inside and hard to get yourself into trouble with - you should also be able to find instructions and video of how to do so on the internet.

If no problem there, then that is when I would start getting into more adventurous disassembly.

It is possible, but unlikely that the needle is damaged or the valve seat it sits into cracked in which case you should be able to get replacements, in which case the gaskets, etc you find should be replaced as well.