Help! My lawn mower won't start

The return of warm weather signals lawns to come out of dormancy and spring into action. But if you have a lawn mower that won't start, you could quickly drown in a knee-high sea of green.

Dan Hale, owner of highly rated Broad Ripple Lawn Equipment in Indianapolis, says most mower problems are the direct result of failure to perform routine lawn mower maintenance at the end of the mowing season.

"People don’t really address the standard maintenance issues that are important to keep a mower running," he says. "It’s a piece of equipment that nobody wants to own for a job nobody wants to do."

"The biggest problem that people have is leaving old gasoline in the mower," he says. "Over the winter months [gasoline] loses volatility - then, in the spring when they try to start it, they have a problem."

To prevent old gas from keeping you from your lawn-cutting duties, completely drain the gasoline at the end of each mowing season, Hale suggests.

One other big reason mowers fail to start in spring: clogged, broken or corroded components. Something as simple as a clogged air filter can compromise the entire mower, Hale says.

"If they don’t clean their air filter, it fills up and the unit runs more inefficiently. Then you get carbon building up on the cylinder and the spark plug to the point it will cause the spark plug to foul and not work," he says.

For those who don't like getting grease under their fingernails, Hale recommends a professional tuneup, which involves replacing the spark plug and air filter, sharpening the mower blades and changing the oil and gasoline. For optimal performance, schedule the tuneup at the end of the season. Then, all it should take is some fresh gasoline in the spring to get it started again.

For a step-by-step on tuning up your lawn mower, please read, How to Tune Up and Maintain a Lawn Mower

If you do find yourself with a dead lawn mower and need a professional tuneup, expect a wait. Hale says he always sees a huge influx of needed mower repairs in spring because most people don’t realize their mower won’t start until their grass has already started to grow.

Lawn mower starting tips

Check the gasoline. Is it the same gas you used last year? If the gas is older than 30 days, empty it from the mower and start fresh.

Check the oil. Each mower is different, but you should measure the amount of oil and check color consistency. Change the oil if it appears dark black in color.

Check the air filter. Is it clogged or damaged? Paper filters should be replaced and foam-type filters should be cleaned or replaced annually.

Check the spark plug. Is it corroded? Spark plugs are inexpensive and easy to replace.

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