How to Make Your Petrol Mower Start First Time

Spring is on its way and your lawn mower has probably been tucked away in the corner of the garage for several months now. The time for cleaning up the garden throwing away the remains of your Christmas tree and raking up the leaves and twigs is approaching fast.

So now is the perfect time to take your lawnmower out of winter hibernation and prepare it for the first cut of the season.

The big question is will your mower start?

Here is our simple guide to giving your lawn mower a pre-season health-check and ensuring it starts well and runs well every time…

Quick Checklist

1. Read the Manual
2. Oil
3. Air filter
4. Fuel
5. Cutter blade
6. Blade sharpening

1. Read the Manual

Many mower problems can be completely avoided by reading the operator’s manual. These include using the wrong fuel, wrong oil, overlooking safety procedures, tipping the mower up incorrectly and flooding the air filter or exhaust with oil. Don’t be tempted to guess or ‘wing it’… you can buy a lawnmower operator’s manual for just a few pounds and it can save you hours of time and costly repair bills.

2. Oil

Always check the oil every time you use your mower. To check the oil, stand the mower on a level surface and take out the oil dipstick, (refer to your owner’s manual to locate it). Clean off the dipstick with a dry cloth and re-insert it. Now take it out again and check the oil level indicated on it. It should be perfectly level with the mark on the dipstick.

Top up if necessary using the correct oil (many mowers use very specific oil so don’t be tempted to top it up with any old oil you have lying around).  Always check the oil at least 3 times.

3. Air filter

When did you last inspect the air filter on your mower? The air filter is a vital part which ensures that no abrasive particles can enter the engine.  If it gets clogged up or blocked, it starves the carburettor of oxygen and causes poor starting, poor fuel economy and potential engine damage.  The air filter is located on top of the mower or beside the carburettor. It contains either a paper or foam filter depending on the make and model. Foam air filters can be cleaned (see manual for details), whilst paper air filters must be replaced when contaminated with dust and grass.

4. Fuel

One of the most common causes of a lawn mower that won’t start is stale fuel. Petrol is an organic hydrocarbon and like all organic substances it breaks down naturally over time. If the fuel in your mower is more than 10 to 12 weeks old you should drain it and replace with new, fresh fuel. This will dramatically improve your mower’s starting and performance. Note: Don’t just refill it with fuel from a jerry can because it is probably as old as the fuel in the mower itself. Instead, replace the whole lot with new fuel from the pump and only ever buy fuel that you will use within a few weeks of purchase.

5. Cutter blade

Safety Warning: Always remove the spark plug cap before working on or near the cutting blade because having done so the mower cannot start unexpectedly.

When inspecting the cutting blade always remember to turn the mower over correctly. Failing to do so can cause numerous problems including flooding the air filter or exhaust with oil which will make it impossible to start and can lead to costly repair bills.

The correct way to turn your mower over is to push the main handles down to the ground making sure the spark plug is facing upward.

Particularly important for the first cut of the year; winter grass is extremely tough and can very quickly blunt a blade, so always keep your mower cutting blade sharp. A blunt blade will give a poor cut, labour the engine causing engine wear and increase fuel consumption.

Cutting blades spin at very high speeds and so always need to be balanced. Stones, roots and other garden debris can damage the cutting blade which will put strain on the engine and can cause rapid engine wear resulting in serious and costly damage and repair bills.

6. Blade sharpening

Remember mower cutting blades can be sharpened and balanced, (refer to your owner’s manual for details) or call your local dealer or mower service centre.

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