Lawnmower Petrol Is it broken?-HELP !!!

bobbyss

Just finished mowing the lawn. It had been getting harder and harder to push. I got someone to tilt it up and I saw old Cordyline leaves bound tight around something. I removed them as I just thought they were tightening everything up.

I decided to see if it made a difference.so started it up again. Pulled on the cord thing with a bit of difficulty. Got it started. But heavy smoke immediately started to come out. I never saw that before so I immediately stopped.

Now did I break it? It was tilted straight up so I could pick out those binding leaves. Did that do damage? Will it start up again? What did I do wrong?

Any advice appreciated.

mikewest

Blue smoke?

You probably managed to spill some oil on the air filter or maybe into the cylinder. Check your oil level and top up if necessary. Start it up and upset the neighbours for a few minutes as it burns off.

You could also strip it down and dry all oil out of places it shouldn't be, reassemble and run.

bobbyss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119223141#Comment_119223141

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate it. However I am absolutely useless at DIY. Can't do anything. Stripping it down and reassemble? I think you need to be a rocket scientist to be able to do that. That's not going to happen!!!

I did check the oil and there seemed to be sufficient.

The lawnmower was smoking something awful. I thought it was going to explode.

What will happen if I try and start it up again next week? Will; there still be smoke? Will it ...... explode? will I damage it beyond repair? Is it f..... ?

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119223450#Comment_119223450

Start it up and let the oil burn off and the smoke will stop after a short while. Don't panic; it's not unusual after tipping a mower up.

BorneTobyWilde

Yep, just start her up, and driver her on. Bit of oil is harmless will burn off

bobbyss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119223829#Comment_119223829

OK next dry day i will start her up again. I had never seen such smoke. I had visions of a bomb about to explode.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119247996#Comment_119247996

Just start it up now. It doesn't have to be a dry day.

bobbyss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119248367#Comment_119248367

It is a huge hassle bringing it out of the garage onto the lawn. (But it is not a good idea to mow the lawn when grass is sogging?? )

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119248426#Comment_119248426

It's not about mowing the lawn. Start it up anywhere outside and just let it run for a few minutes to burn the gunk off.

bobbyss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119248451#Comment_119248451

OK got you. I am very stupid when it comes to stuff like this. I have no idea of what a carburetor, spark plug filter is and all that stuff. No interest in it. I pull that cord thing and off i go . That is until i do something stupid like tilt a mower.

Let me ask another stupid question. Can i start it up on a path? Could bot the blades hit the concrete as they hit grass and damage them.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119249656#Comment_119249656

If the path is clear of debris it'll do no damage, as the blades are clear of the ground.

Seth Brundle

Just don't put your hand in under to check when it's running!