Eugene has a keen interest in DIY and gardening. Over a period of 30 years he also self-taught in maintenance of garden power tools.
Help! My lawn mower won't start after the winter
It's summer again, drag the lawnmower out of storage and of course refuses to start. Or it starts once, then it refuses to start again. Typical!
To start an engine, it basically requires two things: fuel and a spark. If you do not receive a spark in the plug or if the fuel does not reach the engine (known as fuel shortage), the machine will never turn. After storage during the winter, gaskets, pumps and valves in the carburetor may have been gummed with varnish deposits if fuel is left in the tank. During the summer, dust and dirt can block the fuel system or clog the filters.
In this article, you will find a ten-point checklist to start your lawnmower. If that doesn't work, you'll get more detailed information about fuel, oil and ignition system problems, carburetor fault search, poor compression testing, and other problems that could prevent engine startup.
Please note that this guide covers troubleshooting in four-cycle petrol engines.