What's wrong with my lawnmower?

[Tim Ford]

This is the second year I've had it.  I have cut my grass 3 times.  Earlier this week, I took it to an old ladies house and cut her grass.  When I tried to crank it when I got it back home, it just sort of putted for about 10 seconds, then petered out.  I tried to crank it again, but it wouldn't turn over at all.  The next day, same thing... The first time it putted for a few seconds. But after that it would never turn over.  I think I may have flooded it while getting it in and out of my truck.  Any help is much appreciated.  It has plenty of gas.

[Long Mike]

Did you drain the gas after last season?  If you didn't, you will have to remove the gunk from your carberator.

[Muddy]

I think you got that wrong mike at our age we need to clear the gunk out of our carberators! ;D

[firefightn15]

This is the second year I've had it. I have cut my grass 3 times. Earlier this week, I took it to an old ladies house and cut her grass. When I tried to crank it when I got it back home, it just sort of putted for about 10 seconds, then petered out. I tried to crank it again, but it wouldn't turn over at all. The next day, same thing... The first time it putted for a few seconds. But after that it would never turn over. I think I may have flooded it while getting it in and out of my truck. Any help is much appreciated. It has plenty of gas.

Sounds like a petered out putter or a puttered out ...... ;D  Sorry no help here.

[MitchIsFishin]

Uh, it's called.....

MAINTENANCE!

Try it, it works.

[burleytog]

Did you drain the gas after last season? If you didn't, you will have to remove the gunk from your carberator.

While that may have been true 30 years ago, these days gas just won't gunk up.  My mowers sit with gas in them every winter and they start right up in the spring.  Our combine sat for about 4 years with gas in the tank.  We started it last week to move it out of the barn and it ran like a top.

As for the original question, it sounds like a fuel flow problem.  I assume it is a push mower.  I would remove the carb/fuel tank assembly and replace the diaphragm.  The part should only run around $3 from NAPA.  

[dave]

Mine does the same thing.  Hole in float or clogged.

[cart7t]

I've had the same type of problem due to bits of dirt and grass that get into the fuel tank and then clog the carb.

Clean the carb.

[harshman]

Sounds to me like you got your timing flap shaft  is linked to your fuel spark cutter, which means you'll have to back off the ball house gear to make the flow valve whirler match the bell head cover

Or

You have a fuel flow problem, probably a dirty carburetor

Harshman

[Fisher of Men]

Before you tear the carb apart, look at your air cleaner.  Mine appartently was so full of dust and dirt from last season that, after keeping the mower under a cover over the winter, moisture had turned the whole thing to a mass of dried mud and paper.  It ran for a few minutes (the clogged filter acted like a choke) and after warming up died.  I replaced the filter, waited a day for the flooded gas to evaporate and it started right up.  Check the filter first.

-Fisher

Also, before going into the carb, use a spark tester or screw driver to check for spark from the ignition.  I've had ignition modules just go out like that as well.

[Palomar]

Yep check the filter, that was a problem for my tiller

[Dan:]

I agree, check the air filter. My neighbor had a mower that would leak oil into the air filter if you turned it on its one side. You might have done that while getting the mower into your car.

[Muddy]

Check the air filter and make sure the choke throttle is working and engaged correctly before you rip anything apart. Standing fuel should not be your problem.

[BigBassGuy]

Check/replace the fuel line, it may be cracked and sucking in air.

[Eddie Munster]

Flux capacitor obviously not fluxing.

I agree; sounds like a fule issue.

[Bull Hurley]

Your generator's not gening, carbeurator's not carbing, lifter's aren't lifting and your piston's they don't work either.    

[Cajun1977]

do you have a fuel shut off on it? coulda been pushed closed while loading and unloading the mower

[Bankbeater]

Pull the air filter all of the way out and see if it will start.  If it does start then clean the filter according to the manual.