While these tips apply to lawnmower engines, they are equally valid for other small four-stroke engines used in gardening equipment such as portable generators, air compressors, welders, pumps, cultivators (for example , Rotary cultivators, commonly known as "Rototiller" and "Rotavator"), Snow Plough, compactors (wackers), cement mixers, etc.
Two-stroke engine troubleshooting
If you have encountered this page and need information on how to operate a 2-stroke engine (installed on hedge trimmers, string trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, small generators and some lawn mowers), check my solution Troubleshooting Guide: The trimmer will not operate: 2-stroke engine and carburetor troubleshooting.
How does a lawn mower work?
A lawn mower motor is quite simple and basic compared to the one installed in your car, although the principle of operation is the same. In general, this type of engines are single-cylinder and four-stroke (four-cycle) and run on gasoline or "gas", which is known as gasoline outside North America. His formal name is "motor Spirit".
"Four times" means that there are four different phases or cycles by which these engines pass before the process is repeated:
First, fuel flows from the tank to a device called a carburetor (often shortened to carb in the U.S. Or carby in Australia) that mixes a thin mist of gasoline with air to form an explosive mixture.
- First Stroke (admission): The inlet valve opens and the mixture is sucked into a hollow cylinder in the engine block.
- 2nd Stroke (compression): The inlet valve closes and the mixture is compressed.
- Third Stroke (Power): The mixture ignites with a spark and burns to generate power. The rapid rise in temperature and pressure forces a piston to descend through the cylinder, and this makes a crankshaft turn to turn the blade.
- 4 º Blow (exhaust): The exhaust valve opens and the burned gases are expelled from the cylinder.
The entire four-stroke process is repeated about twenty times per second when the engine runs at maximum speed.
- 4 stroke engine cycle
- 4-Stroke Motor cycle
Warning!!!
Always read the engine and manual of the mower before starting, operating or servicing your engine. Disconnect the spark cable and ideally remove the plug before cleaning the bottom of the platform or turning the blade
If you're trying to start the motor, check the spark connection. But if you need to clean under the deck or turn the blade, then remove the spark plug first.
If you try to turn on the engine, check the spark connection. But if you need to clean under the platform or turn the blade, first remove the spark plug.