my lawnmower wont start eh I thought my PC throubleshooting could fix it....doh

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GamerOC

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#93526 23-Nov-2011 11:11

I discovered yesterday that my lawnmower would not start no matter how hard i pull the flipping cord then I used my pc troubleshooting skills to see if I could fix it like I fixed my LCD tv a few months back...doh

1- I check for overheating like in the PC so I pop the sparkplug out and seemed ok.
2- I tested then the PSU like the paper clip trick I pull the cord and banged the spark plug against the motor body and a pathetic spark came out so I replaced sparkplug.
3- I did a clean up like my regular PC clean up with compressed air at my local petrol station and after cleaning the ouside of the motor(heatsink), air filter ( fans and grills). and still no picture.
4- Must be thermaltake water cooling getting stale so I cleaned the fuel pipes and the fuel tank and put some new petrol and omg still does not start....Im about to kick this @#$ down a clift by now.
5- to be continue Im going now to clear the carburator and see what happens.

If anyone here have any tricks and would like to help me out by sharing I will be grateful,

Cheers,

Andy

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#548828 23-Nov-2011 11:20

When people ask me to fix their computer - I'll have a quick look and unless it's software related tell them to take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

I would generalise based on experience that those who service and fix lawnmowers are not the same ruthless people who service cars. There's not a lot on a lawnmower (no complicated electronics etc) so it would probably be a quick visit.

It's great to try to fix stuff - but at the end of the day - too much tinkering could cause signifcant damage. Remember that's petrol, sparks and sharp objects you are playing with.

Good luck :)

Procrastination eventually pays off.

SandyJ

152 posts

Master Geek

#548831 23-Nov-2011 11:23

Sounds like a carby job. If that fails, talk to it lovingly and ask it to start for you (while whispering sweet nothings in its .. on/off switch. Then tell it gently if it dosent start you will dismantle/dismember and spread its parts around the city.

It will start just fine..... :D

GamerOC

439 posts

Ultimate Geek

#548837 23-Nov-2011 11:30

StarBlazer: I agree with you in those guys will probably do a better job and faster but here where I live they are as ruthless as the local garage ahaha I took it there and omg wtf they told me that it will costt 20 bucks to check and that fixing it it will start at a 80 bucks price plus parts.
Also as you said "Remember that's petrol, sparks and sharp objects you are playing with" I would not miss out on the fun of playing with this thing and learning stuff as until today there has not been a thing I could not repair, including my nice big tv that someone was about to throw away as no warranty and expensive quote for repair. I fix it and all works great and I learnt heaps. I guess I like playing with things..

Cheers,

Andy

lurker

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#548840 23-Nov-2011 11:33

Check Youtube... I had trouble with mine, Briggs & Stratton motors are fairly common and people on Youtube have got videos on how to do certain things. Worth a crack maybe...

xpd

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#548842 23-Nov-2011 11:37

Install petrol 1.0.

XPD / Gavin

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Jaxson

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#548843 23-Nov-2011 11:37

Tried turning it off and on again?

And it's got fuel in it right?

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GamerOC

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#548844 23-Nov-2011 11:39

Lurker: thanks
I found a clip on youtube on how to clean the flipping carburator and it looks easy and I just managed to get the carburator off the lawnmower and yep it looks gunky so I will place it in a little container with petrol as per instruction on you tube but keeping plastics out of the petrol. If I fix this Im gonna be so happy!!:)

Andy

GamerOC

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#548848 23-Nov-2011 11:48

thanks for the replies:

SandyJ: man that is funnyj
Carb job and if does not fix it whispering will.ahaha

xpd:good one
I Installed petrol 1.0. and got a blue screen of death

Jaxson:
Tried turning it off and on again?

And it's got fuel in it right? ahaha lol thats funny specially I read yesterday a post about a noob that could not start the mower and it was just the petrol on and off switch not on...

Andy

xpd

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#548855 23-Nov-2011 11:54

You do know that if you get it working on your own, that you're going to be expected to do the lawns more often ? :)

XPD / Gavin

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GamerOC

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#548859 23-Nov-2011 12:01

xpd:
You do know that if you get it working on your own, that you're going to be expected to do the lawns more often ? :)

You are right... I rather be inside playing on the PC. However my misses is very happy when the lawns are done so I may get lucky as well...

Andy

xpd

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#548860 23-Nov-2011 12:02

ROTFL

XPD / Gavin

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#548873 23-Nov-2011 12:35

If it won't even fire up have you whacked the blade on something solid? To avoid having the flywheel twist the end of the crankshaft, the key is designed to shear and let the flywheel shift. That puts the timing out.

Gordy7

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#548880 23-Nov-2011 12:51

You haven't said how old the mower is.

When it did run was it smoky? Lacking grunt? Hard to start previously? First time use after winter storage?

When you had the spark plug out did you try putting your finger over the spark plug hole while cranking over the engine.... Plenty of suck and blow, etc?.... Sticky valves? Worn out valve stems or seats and valves not sealing?

Try heaps of CRC/WD40 down the spark plug hole while cranking over the motor.

You have got to check at the BIOS level.

Cheers

Gordy

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Bung

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#548883 23-Nov-2011 13:13

If you want to try a different operating system my neighbour at the beach highly recommends Start Ya Bastard linux in old mowers. He uses donated mowers clearing walking tracks and tries to avoid too much rebuilding.

TheUngeek

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#548888 23-Nov-2011 13:45

A weak spark suggests dodgy lead or magneto drivers.
Update your drivers

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