Fixing A Lawn Mower That Won’t Start | Sea Foam

HOW TO FIX A LAWN MOWER
THAT WON’T START

HOW TO FIX A HARD-STARTING LAWN MOWER

Whether it’s the first mow of the season or the last mow before storage, it’s frustrating when your lawn mower is hard to start or won’t start at all.

The good news is that most of the time, lawn mower problems are the result of dirty components or poor fuel storage; sometimes both.

Luckily, these problems are usually simple to fix and can be taken care of at home with a few common tools and a little bit of time. Let’s take a look at some of the primary culprits that could keep your mower from starting and how to fix them.

PREVENTING
PROBLEMS

The main way to prevent a mower from developing starting issues is to develop good fuel practices.

Use fresh gas — no more than a month old — whenever possible. Also, adding fuel treatment, like Seam Foam Motor Treatment, will help stabilize and optimize your fuel’s performance. Sea Foam Motor Treatment can be used to stabilize fuel for up to two years, making it ideal for storing seasonal equipment.

For regular maintenance, add 1 ounce of Sea Foam Motor Treatment per gallon of fuel. To clean your fuel system, add 2 ounces or more per gallon.

diy lawn mower maintenance

THE FIRST STEP TO AVOIDING ENGINE TROUBLE IS TO GET IN THE HABIT OF routine maintenance.

To fix most mowers that start hard or won’t start, you’ll first need to gather a few things: a Phillips-head or standard screwdriver, spark plug wrench (usually ⅝”), a socket set, Sea Foam Spray, Sea Foam Motor Treatment, and a container to catch fuel. Then it’s time to get started.

CLEAN OR REPLACE YOUR SPARK PLUGS

Spark plugs in gas lawn mowers wear out, just like those in your vehicle’s engine. To locate your spark plug, check your owner’s manual. Once you’ve located your spark plug, remove the rubber boot and take the plug out using a spark plug wrench or socket.

If the electrode end of the spark plug is dark with carbon deposits, you can give it a good clean with a soft wire brush and Sea Foam Spray. If your plug won’t come clean or appears damaged, it’s best to replace it. If replacing, be sure to get the plug recommended in your owner’s manual and gap it correctly.

CLEAN OR REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER

The air filter housing is typically on the side of your mower and will be flat and shaped like a square or rectangle. It can usually be easily removed using a screwdriver. Once you get into the housing, check the condition of your air filter. Most foam filters can be gently washed with dish soap and water. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly before reinstalling. A paper air filter can often be vacuumed or sprayed with an air hose. If the air filter is too dirty or damaged, replace it.

CLEAN YOUR CARBURETOR

When fuel sits for a long time, it deteriorates and can gum up your carburetor with sticky varnish deposits, causing tiny passageways to clog. When this happens, your engine can’t get the appropriate air/fuel mixture, resulting in hard starts, rough idle or no start at all.

If your engine starts, but runs rough, or if it’s starting hard, you can try cleaning your carburetor by adding Sea Foam Motor Treatment to your fuel and running Sea Foam Spray through your intake as shown in this video.

If your mower is not starting, you may have to remove your carburetor, clean it and reinstall it, or replace it entirely. This is a simple job for a small engine technician, but is also a DIY project if you have a little patience and a few tools. Though they all operate the same, carburetors differ by manufacturer, so you’ll want to consult a service manual for your model for proper disassembly.

Most importantly, you’ll want to make sure that the float bowl and primary jet are clean. You can do this with Sea Foam Spray and a soft wire brush.

HOW SEA FOAM fixes carburetor problems

Gum and varnish buildup from degraded fuel is the #1 cause of engine problems in carbureted engines.

Sea Foam Motor Treatment cleans gum and varnish from the entire fuel system. It’s an easy way to clean carburetor jets, fuel passageways, and float bowls without removing engine parts.

To clean a carbureted engine that won’t start or run right, first drain any old fuel. Then, add 8 oz of fresh fuel and a high concentration of Sea Foam to the tank (up to a 1:2 ratio of Sea Foam to fuel). Crank/rope pull/prime the engine to draw the mixture into the tank, and let it sit overnight before starting.

Sea Foam Motor Treatment can also be used as a fuel stabilizer for engines that aren’t used frequently, preventing gum and varnish from dirtying carburetors and fuel passageways.

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WATCH customer stories

QUALITY OF PRODUCT

mega dose cleaned up gummy carb

“My gas trimmer was a bear to start and keep running. I added a Mega dose of Sea Foam to the tank and ran the trimmer until almost empty on fuel. What a difference after about 10 minutes of running. Now starts and runs like new again. I have done this numerous times with different gas engines and it really works to get the carbs cleaned up.”

★★★★★

t05ks / SMALL ENGINES / DO-IT-YOURSELFER IN MINNESOTA

EFFECTIVENESS

FIXES 4 OUT OF 5 WITHOUT TAKING CARB APART

“Fixes gummed up carburetors. Cleans injectors and absorbs moisture in fuel lines.”

★★★★★

DANGEROUS DAN / PRO ENGINE OPERATOR/MECHANIC IN WISCONSIN

EFFECTIVENESS

WORKS FANTASTIC

“Solves lots of problems – starting problems – cleans carbs – easy to use”

★★★★★

RESPIRATORY RICK / 2014 FORD FUSION / VEHICLE ENTHUSIAST IN FLORIDA

EFFECTIVENESS

RUNNING SO MUCH BETTER!

“Bought a garden tractor that kept stalling for no reason. Ran seafoam in the gas tank and problem went away like magic 3rd time cutting grass. Purrs like a kitten.”

★★★★★

Bumblebea / TRACTOR

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