What makes my lawnmower start and then quit running in 6 seconds?
I have a Yard Machine, 6 h.p., 22-inch cut, self-propelled, big wheel lawnmower. It has worked great for the last two years. Now, after priming, it runs for 6 seconds and quits. I have installed a new spark plug, cleaned the gas tank and gas line, and cleaned the air filter. I have even left the gas cap off to see if the engine was not receiving gasoline. The engine does not have an adusting screw at the carburator, or least I have not located it. This is a mystery to me. I generally can repair anything mechanical, except this lawnmower. Question: what makes my lawnmower start and then stop, after 6 seconds?
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6 Answers
Check the fuel filter or the carb seals. It sounds like the engine is running out of fuel.
Take the bottom bowl off the carburetor. There are only ~4 machine screw holding it in place. Or you might have the bowl that has a spring clip holder. See the tube extending down to the bottom of the bowl? That is the main jet. It is most likely plugged. Your model probably has a 0.024” or 0.028” jet. Run a similarly sized drill through it to clean it out.
You’re welcome. ;-)
Worriedguy, thanks. I will let you know.
That is a frustrating but common problem. If you don’t have a drill bit that size you can run a wire up inside. It is easier than it sounds – and so satisfying when it works.
@worriedguy nailed it. My then 14 yr old son started autos class this year and one prerequisite was to bring in a non running small motor to work on so we went to a lawnmower repair place that donates trashed motors to the students. We went and picked up a nice Honda self propelled mower they couldn’t fix or the repair was more than the owner wanted to pay. He had the mower running in 30 minutes for the exact same problem described above and we now have a killer lawn mower. He fixed 6 more discarded mowers before he found one that needed a serious rebuild and all of them was a simple carb cleaning.
Worriedguy, you are the man! I seriously want to thank you for your advice. I took the carburator off the lawnmower and discovered the float inside was stuck in the closed position. I cleaned each part, put it all back together(I did have one extra screw) and she fired like crazy.
Now, if I can just talk my wife into cutting the grass, I will be a happy camper.
Again, thanks. jp
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