Kitchen Garden Forum

I`d be grateful for ideas.
To start my petrol mower you have to put a lever to the top of the control on the handle and pull the string thingy to start the engine. Then you have to move the lever down to the 'go' position to start mowing.
Well, the engine starts first time but when I put the lever to 'go' the engine stops again.
I don`t think it can be the spark plug because it starts each time.
I`ve been trying it for five or six times a day for a couple of weeks, hoping it will resolve itself.
Sorry if I don`t explain it too well.
What do you think?
Have I got to get a new one.

Some more information would help others to help you.

Make and model of mower, ditto for the engine.

When was it last serviced?

I`ll make a note of the details when I go up to the allotment.
Never thought of that.

It was bought last summer - not been serviced since then.

Right - I`ve fished out the instruction booklet.
It`s a 'Power devil' with a 3.5hp engine.

To start it - you have to move the 'throttle control lever' to the position labelled 'Start' and pull the starter handle rope.
Then you move the 'lever' to the position labelled 'slow'.
To start mowing, move the lever to 'fast'.

Only the engine stops as soon as I move the lever out of the 'Start' position.

What d`yer reckon?

Sounds as if you have a slight blockage in the carburettor, probably gummed up a little, if petrol was left in the tank over the Winter.

Now for someone a little cleverer to tell you what to do about it.

So, is the engine a Brigg & Stratton?

Thanks OH!
Sounds uncomfortable.
There was a bit of petrol left in over winter. I filled it up when I got it out for the grass cutting this Spring.
Oh - - -

I don`t think the engine has a name.
Is that bad?

Hello Elderflower
This may or may not help.
Many of these small engines have a few little control levers and springs on top of the carburettor. These can sometimes get jammed either with bits thrown up by the mower or an oily gunge. This leads to erratic running or starting problems. Try to find the carburettor - follow the throttle cable to the engine and you'll get there - and give the top of it a good blast with something like WD40 (don't oil it though as this will just attract more dirt). It might work!

John

Elderflower,
All this 'advice' isn't helping I'm afraid.
If people would read the brief, a lot of help is there with the info. that you have provided.

Your machine is only 12 months old - right?
Therefore it's unlikely to have any mechanical faults.

You have filled with new fuel(?) this season-in with last years left overs?
It starts very easily so it starts/runs OK. initially.

You start the mower in 'start' which closes the carb.air intake to operate in 'rich fuel mode' or 'choke'.
You should only then need to move the throttle to 'run'.
When you start the machine & run it in the same throttle position, does black smoke come out of the exhaust? If so the throttle cable is set in the right position. If not, it's moved & you can't proceed to the run position witout going to slow & cutout.
If this is so, it's a very simple job to adjust the throttle cable.
Let us know if this is useful?
Thanks.

Oh - right -

No black smoke at all.

So - just adjust the throttle cable?
I`ll have a bit of a look at where it goes into the engine then.
Thanks to all for being so helpful

Dear Elderflower, if you are not sure what you are doing it might be better to leave well alone and get someone to have a lok at it for you.

If you start altering things, it can make it harder for the person that has to fix it.

Just a thought.

i had something similar with my jcb (looks like a honda engine apparently) mower this spring after about 3 hours use it lost power and would only run on choke... i took it into our local mower workshop , they took the bottom off the carb (float chamber?) blew compressed air up the inards... and its been ok since....presumably i had some sort of blockage .... yours sounds similar... but once youre into petrol and carb blockages you need someone who knows what they are about , mine took the expert 5 minutes.

Thank you so much, people!
I`ll book it into the servicing-type shop.
Better not try any blowing air into its innards myself.
Thank you all for your kind advice!