Lawn mower won't start

chewed

looking for some advice. I have a lawn mower with a briggs and stratton Instant Start battery. It was working perfectly up to last weekend. I had the mower on its side for 10 minutes while I was cleaning it. When I turned it back and tried to start it, the engine clicked but wouldn't start. The lights on the battery were flashing and it got very warm as I tried to start it a few times. I left it a week and tried again this morning, but still won't start. I'm not sure if this is an issue with the battery or whether something happened while it was on its side.

darragh o meara

chewed wrote: »

looking for some advice. I have a lawn mower with a briggs and stratton Instant Start battery. It was working perfectly up to last weekend. I had the mower on its side for 10 minutes while I was cleaning it. When I turned it back and tried to start it, the engine clicked but wouldn't start. The lights on the battery were flashing and it got very warm as I tried to start it a few times. I left it a week and tried again this morning, but still won't start. I'm not sure if this is an issue with the battery or whether something happened while it was on its side.

Find the starter motor and give it a couple of light taps with a hammer while trying to start it. Sounds like it’s stuck. If it starts and happens again you will need a new starter.

Callan

Have you checked the air filter? It's possible oil may have soaked it if you tilted the mower with the air filter facing the ground.

chewed

Thanks guys. I'll check both of these tomorrow

darragh o meara

chewed wrote: »

Thanks guys. I'll check both of these tomorrow

Might be worth checking the battery too, might need a charge.

chewed

Callan wrote: »

Have you checked the air filter? It's possible oil may have soaked it if you tilted the mower with the air filter facing the ground.

I checked the air filter and it was covered in oil. It was one of those paper filters. I've ordered a new one, so hopefully that might fix it. Thanks

Callan

chewed wrote: »

I checked the air filter and it was covered in oil. It was one of those paper filters. I've ordered a new one, so hopefully that might fix it. Thanks

You could try turn the engine over without the air filter installed to confirm.

chewed

Callan wrote: »

You could try turn the engine over without the air filter installed to confirm.

Thanks Callan. I didn't know I could do that. Just tried it there and unfortunately same issue! I've included a video of me starting it below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mQzu-IEyjw

Purgative

chewed wrote: »

Thanks Callan. I didn't know I could do that. Just tried it there and unfortunately same issue! I've included a video of me starting it below.

Chewed, that sounds like the starter. Had a Cortina where the teeth on the spindle wore down, so it would jam. There was a lug on the motor you could turn with a spanner to get you going.


Kinda miss that "seat of ya pants" motoring - no use as a getaway car though

CJhaughey

Take the sparkplug out and crank it over, sounds like the cylinder is full of oil and could be hydrolocking it.

chewed

CJhaughey wrote: »

Take the sparkplug out and crank it over, sounds like the cylinder is full of oil and could be hydrolocking it.

Sorry, as a complete Luddite to engines, what to do mean by "crank it over"?

Explosive_Cornflake

chewed wrote: »

Sorry, as a complete Luddite to engines, what to do mean by "crank it over"?

Try and start it.

Pkiernan

chewed wrote: »

Sorry, as a complete Luddite to engines, what to do mean by "crank it over"?

Try starting it.

With no plug, the battery will still try to turn the starter motor.

If it turns over like it is trying to start, then the cylinder was flooded with oil or fuel.

Watch out for any liquid that may shoot out from the spark plug hole.

Staplor

Try tilting it up and elevating the front wheels for a few minutes, worked on mine last year when mine wouldn't start after being on it's side. I don't know why that worked, but mower is starting ever since.

TimHorton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGF_ynkc3C0

Same happened my Lidl/Aldi mower like that , I had to clean carb just like the video and mower is flying again.

chewed

I went out and bought a spark plug socket wrench. It doesn't fit!

How do I know what size wrench I need? The Spark plug I have is an XC92YC spark plug, so would i be right in assuming this is a 14mm size?

chewed

SUCCESS!

Turns out it was a 16mm wrench. I removed the spark plug and started it and a bit of oil spluttered out. I then replaced the plug and it started fine.

There was quite a bit of smoke and oil dripping, but I assume this will calm down as the oil is being ejected?

Thanks a million for your tips and advice guys!

CJhaughey

chewed wrote: »

SUCCESS!

Turns out it was a 16mm wrench. I removed the spark plug and started it and a bit of oil spluttered out. I then replaced the plug and it started fine.

There was quite a bit of smoke and oil dripping, but I assume this will calm down as the oil is being ejected?

Thanks a million for your tips and advice guys!

Make sure you monitor the oil level once it has finished vomiting it out and then topup as needed.

Papa_Bear

What does it mean when the spark plug is fouled up? I fixed up a Pro-User petrol 5.5hp power washer recently but it cuts out occasionally. Brand new spark plug it it but it always seems to be jet black with carbon deposite/sutt. Do I need to open the cylinder head and clean inside - I've tried everything else including fresh fuel (and tank cleaning), carb cleaning, new fuel filter and line.


Thanks

Purgative

Papa Bear - idk, but take a look at this guy, he knows his stuff as far as small engines.

Papa_Bear

ok Purgative thanks for that.