Why Won't My Lawn Mower Start?

Few things are as frustrating as repeatedly pulling the starter rope over and over on your lawn mower and having it refuse to start. Need to get your lawn mower running ASAP? The good news is most starting problems can be diagnosed quickly and without special tools. Follow these simple checks to narrow down the cause of your no-start lawn mower and get to mowing now! You don't have to be stuck wondering why my lawn mower won't start?

Check for Fuel in the Tank

This may seem obvious but did you forget to add gas to the tank? Unscrew that gas cap and have a look inside your fuel tank for the presence of fresh, clean gasoline.

Pro Tip: If you are aware of the age of the gasoline and it is less than 30 days old, granted it is clean and uncontaminated, it should fire the engine properly. If it is known to be older, or its age is unknown, look to drain and refill with fresh gas.

Improperly Adjusted Controls

Not everyone is familiar with the starting procedure of a lawn mower. Sometimes improperly set controls can prevent a lawn mower from starting. Things to look for include: does your lawn mower have a primer bulb? A manual lever labeled 'choke'? Electric key starter? Or none of these (making it an auto-choke.) We will discuss each variation in greater detail next.

Look for a solid red or transparent button or bulb that you can press like a button to "prime" or get the engine ready for use.

Your mower's primer bulb will look something like this

Pro Tip: Try to avoid pressing this button excessively, as two to three presses should be enough.

If no primer bulb is present look for a lever near the handle of the mower that says 'choke' or has the universal choke symbol on it. Make sure you move the choke to the closed position when starting.

Universal symbol for choke 'closed' position

Some mowers have an electric key start as an option. however if this feature does not work you can still start the mower manually.

Finally if none of these features are present then you are using a mower with auto-choke capability. All this is required to start the mower is you must place the blade brake bail or bar down first then proceed to pull the starter rope. These last two steps are required for all lawn mower types.

If your mower has fresh fuel and the controls are properly set but it still refuses to start, the problem may be:

A fouled spark plug

A clogged carburetor

A blocked air filter

A faulty ignition system

Or internal engine issues

Diagnosing these problems correctly can save hours of frustration and prevent unnecessary parts replacement.

The simple checks in this article solve many of the common starting problems, however some issues require a deeper look at the fuel system, carburetor, spark plug and air filter to name a few. That's why we created the Ultimate Lawn Mower Maintenance and Repair Guide.

Don't waste time watching random videos; this resource provides maintenance measures that prevent issues before you have to search for solutions to them

Inside you'll learn how to:

Diagnose hard-to-find starting problems

Perform routine maintenance with confidence

Troubleshoot fuel and ignition issues

Avoid costly repair shop visits

Extend the life of your lawn mower

Whether your a first time mower owner, or a seasoned DIYer, this guide provides the step-by-step instructions you need to keep your mower running reliably season after season.

Get your copy of the Ultimate Lawn Mower Maintenance and Repair Guide today and take the guesswork out of mower maintenance. A single avoided repair bill can pay for the guide many times over.

Never the Norm!