Your lawn mower has been sitting for a period of time and now it won’t start. When your lawn mower sits for a period of time, certain parts may need to be cleaned, tightened, or replaced. There are many reasons a lawn mower will not start including old fuel, a bad spark plug, electrical issues, etc. You may have left the gas in the mower from the last time you mowed and it is no longer usable. We will list the 5 most common reasons why your lawn mower will not start and how to fix it! These NO START methods are for all lawn mowers including Craftsman, Honda, Troy-Bilt, Lawn-Boy, AAVIX, Yard Machines, Poulan Pro, Husqvarna and Briggs & Stratton.
Gas Lawn Mower Will Not Start
5 Things To Check To Get It Running
5 Common Reasons Why Your Lawn Mower Will Not Start:
1 – Lawn Mower Gas Tank Is Empty?
Problem: The fuel tank on your lawn mower is empty. (Small amount of fuel may have evaporated from the year or season before)
Solution: Fill your lawn mower gas tank with new fuel and start it up.
2 – Old Fuel In Lawn Mower?
Problem: Gas from the last mowing season may have been left in the lawn mower gas tank.
Solution: Remove the old fuel by draining it out – Replace with new fresh gasoline and add some fuel system cleaner to the new gas – Start mower.
NOTE: By adding some fuel system cleaner to the new gas, this will remove any gunk or debris in the fuel system and help your mower run smoother.
3 – Faulty or Dirty Spark Plug In Lawn Mower?
Problem: The spark plug that starts your lawn mower may be faulty and needs to be replaced, or loose and not making a connection, or it has dirt and debris on it and needs to be cleaned.
Solution: Clean and tighten the spark plug – Or change out the old spark plug with a brand new one – Be sure to clean where the new spark plug is going to be installed in case there is dirt or debris buildup. Install the new spark plug or clean the old spark plug and start mower.
Small Engine (Lawn Mower) Replacement Spark Plug
Lawn Mower Replace Engine Spark Plug
Where Is Spark Plug Located On Lawn Mower
4 – Lawn Mower Air Filter Clogged?
Problem: Air filter on lawn mower is dirty – clogged – caked with grass.
Solution: Clean off the old air filter or buy a new air filter cartridge – This is to let your lawn mower get the proper amount of air into the intake to run smooth.
Lawn Mower Air Filter Cartridge
5 – Fuel Not Getting To Engine – Carburetor Or Fuel Filter?
Problem: Gas is not getting to the lawn mower engine and therefore it will not start.
Solution: The carburetor can be checked or simply tap on the side of it to attempt to let the fuel flow – You may need to also check the fuel filter to see if it is clogged and needs to be replaced. If the fuel filter is clogged, the engine will not receive gas and the mower will not start. Replace the fuel filter and start the mower.
Fuel Filter For Lawn Mower Engines with Fuel Pump
New Lawn Mowers – Gas and Electric
Craftsman, Honda, Troy-Bilt, Lawn-Boy, AAVIX, Yard Machines,
Poulan Pro, Husqvarna and Briggs & Stratton Lawn Mowers.
Another more complex issue that may be causing your lawn mower to NOT START:
Remove the spark plug and check if it is wet with fuel. If it is wet with gas, then you know the lawn mower engine is receiving fuel. You may have an electrical issue. It may be a bad plug, ignition module, safety shutoff, or bad plug wire. If you find that the plug is completely dry then you will know it is not getting fuel. If this is the case, you should check the carburetor and clean it. Once the carburetor is completely clean and adjusted accordingly, start the mower.
Lawn Mower Carburetor
If you need some help getting your lawn mower running, let us know your issue below and we will be happy to help.
Brand new TB220 troy built self propelled 21 inch mower. Worked fine until my neighbor hit something, will not start again.
I have Briggs & Stratton lawn mower 14.5 ohv that turns over but wont crank.
We checked the spark plug it’s good, it’s wet, we checked the air filter, we replaced the coil pack thinking that would do the trick, but it’s something electrical, we’ve checked the switch that’s under the seat, what should I try next?
2013 Huskee LT 3800, MD# 13A276LF031 with Power More 420cc engine MD# 4P90JUB Riding lawn mower runs for approximately 10 t0 15 minutes before starving for gas and shutting off. I have replaced starter, carburetor with fuel solenoid, new Coil, fuel filter with arrow pointing towards the motor, new gas lines, new spark plug, gas tank with new breather attached, replaced oil filter and changed oil. New air filter. Not sure but think the kill switch wire from coil gets too hot lying on motor and shuts me down. HELP! Thanks
Suspect reason lawn mower starts and then dies is because the control cable is faulty and does not fully release the brake. Does that sound right? The plug is good and getting spark. The filter is new along with gas.
This is the second mower that is practically brand new not used but 6 times since it was bought and im in Hawaii so they dont sit very long. The thing is so new the carburetors plastic. I have done everything you mentioned here as I am a mechanic but for the life of me can’t figure out why this thing isnt getting fuel.
With starting fluid, it will start then stall.
I’m having problems with my riding mower, it’s a kohler 7000 series model kt745. I have replaced the plugs, getting fire to the plugs, check my fuel filter, all it does now is turns over but it doesn’t run at all. If anybody out there can direct me to troubleshoot I’m willing to start from the beginning and try to figure this problem out.
My mower is slow to start. I can pull all day on the pull string and it won’t start. I put my drill to it like an electric starter, and it cranks and runs beautifully, although it shakes pretty bad. There is a crack on the deck. Could that be the reason it’s not pull starting? I don’t see how, but it’s all i am left with. HELP! lol
My lawn mower is only a year old but I did leave gas in it over the winter. I have drained the old fuel, changed the spark plug. & air filter, checked/cleaned the carburetor bowl, & refilled with new gas and a fuel stabilizer. It still won’t start. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
I find with my briggs n stratton (very old) but when its sat for a while I check n clean it up incl the spark plug etc but then if it wont start, find I need to actually use the manual fuel pump button and flood it first (distinct excess fuel smell), let it sit 5-10 mins and without pumping the button again, try to start it – then it starts up just fine!
One time when it wouldnt start, it was because the pull start cable was not fully unwinding so dad said it was because there wasnt enough ‘oomph’ to boost it properly – probs not the technical term but it was understandable for me lol
Also I did have an issue a few yrs after I got it because it had sat for 2yrs and I actually forgot what position the starter switch on the handle had to be in – didnt help that the paint of the writing had worn off – dad to the rescue again, had me use a pencil n paper to trace the slightly raised printed area so I could work out the words and then he told me to put up on high to start it (fyi – my machine for some odd reason has High at the bottom, not at the top – Dad thinks it was put on upside down n nobody picked up in quality checks! Not very logical but pencil n paper worked it out!)
Hope it helps someone else!
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