The number one cause of mower engine surge is using gasoline that is old or contaminated – perhaps by water condensation, usually as a result of leaving gas in the mower over the winter. These loose particles can clog the fuel line, fuel filter and carburetor. Need to mend your John Deere lawn mower? You make your way to the garage or shed, ready to tackle the day's yard work, only to find that your lawn mower won't start. Any gasoline still in the tank should be siphoned out, as attempting to use the same gas again after fixing the mower will cause the problems to return. Run the engine until it stops from lack of fuel. Sputtering of the engine while mowing is often an indication of bad mower maintenance, not a fault with the machine. Old gas can also lead to problems starting. Of course, many factors contribute to how long gas can be stored, including storage location, temperature, condition of the fuel container, and more. When we put gas in it, it leaked all over the place. Do not tip the mower on its side like other people do to avoid oil from dripping and contaminating parts of the engine. Some of these problems can occur when in the middle of mowing. If you aren't sure, loosen the fuel line and let a few drops of fuel drip onto a scrap piece of wood or metal. On a four-cycle lawnmower engine, the oil and gas go into separate areas of the motor. Hiring a lawn mower repair pro to fix your lawn mower, you will likely spend between $40 and $90. If this guide doesn't help, check out my mower repair video library, it walks you through step by step, how to diagnose and fix a no starting mower, but the library covers a ton of other common mower repairs too.It's packed with 25 years experience, tips, tricks and hacks and the best part, you'll save a packet on mower repair bills. Gas does go bad, but in my experience a mower will run on gas left over from last fall. Unplug the spark plug and tilt the mower on its side to empty the tank. Black smoke is most likely because the air filter is dirty, which is an easy fix. When using expired fuel, these are some key signs: Mower has difficulty starting; Lawn mower doesn't start at all; Thumping noise coming from the engine; Before you take your mower in for maintenance, check the gasoline, and make sure it's still good. Water forms globules in the gasoline, and these are usually visible -- they look like bubbles. Move the mower into the shade or bring it indoors, and then shine the flashlight into the tank. I drove it for about two minutes and it stalled. This is called “spark advance” This maximizes the energy created when the compressed fuel mixture is ignited. Your lawn mower's engine timing may be off, causing it to misfire. I own 6 gas-powered items: mower, 2 chainsaws, leaf blower, weed whacker, pressure washer. Cub Cadet Troy-Bilt Remington MTD Products Inc. MTD Products LLC P.O. Dirt in the system as well as bad fluids will make the mower perform inefficiently. To fix a surging Honda lawn mower engine, clean the carburetor, gas tank and fuel filter. Problematic fuel lines affect whether the lawn mower get adequate amounts of fuel and it not. That simple. This can cause a vapor lock. Depending on … Lawn mower troubleshooting basics - When gas goes bad . If your lawn mower is difficult to start, idles roughly, stalls out, or makes a “pinging” sound, you may have a case of “bad gas”. You may need to spray starting fluid in the carburetor's bore to get it running again. Locate the fuel line that runs from the gas tank to … Clean the line and replace the fuel filter to solve this problem. If possible, remove this drainage bolt and let the fuel run out of the float tank. The engine will not fire if there is not enough fuel in the carburetor. After the mowing season, always drain the gasoline from the fuel system or use a fuel stabilizer to keep the gas fresh for up to a year. Then remove the bowl (Photo 1). There is a strong gas smell coming from the mower even after it has been sitting for several days. So you dont need to folllow all of the instructions posted by me or other posters. Fearing that the gas was "watery" or had "broken down" I added about 4 to 6 ounces of STP gas treatment. How to Fix a Lawn Mower that’s Not Getting Gas. Then, remove the entire carburetor. A clogged carburetor is most commonly caused by leaving fuel in the lawn mower for a long period of time. Check the manual related to your model for more specific repair instructions. Therefore, check the hole in your lawn mower cap to make sure it’s clean. The float in the carburetor connects to a solenoid that regulates the fuel flow into the engine. How To Repair Bad Fuel in Lawnmower Drain old gas from the tank. No mower will run without gasoline in the tank, so always check the fuel level before using the mower. If you can get the mower running with good gas, then you have fixed it. If you’re here reading this article, then you most probably have a lawn mower carburetor that is clogged with bad gas, dirt, corrosion, and varnish. And no, we’re not talking about the after-effects of dinner at your favorite Mexican restaurant. The price of lawn mower repair can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code). Once this happens, the lawn mower will not start. Active 4 years, 11 months ago. Refer to the owner’s manual and use the manufacturers instructions to clean the mower blade. How to Fix a Lawn Mower that’s Not Getting Gas. Briggs n Strattion quantum XP 6.0 Snapper lawn mower. Drain the gas tank, clean the gas bowl, and add a fresh batch of fuel. Use a siphon if you have one – and save spills on the engine and floor. I’m with Fubaya - diagnosis before repair is always wise. The easiest way to do this, of course, is to just open the throttle wide open and let the engine run until it's out of gas. If your lawn mower is leaking gas, refer to our troubleshooting and repair guide to help you find the appropriate part to replace. It’s usually in a plastic box that’s screwed or clipped into place. If the wrong fuel was added to the tank, this will cause the mower to stop running, or in some cases, not run at all. At some point, lawnmower batteries tend to lose their capacity to hold a charge due to several reasons such as age. If your gas cap has improper venting, too much air can be allowed to enter the gas tank (or too little). Clean the line and replace the fuel filter to solve this problem. Gasoline Breakdown When gasoline breaks down, several factors are at work.