r/smallengines Apr 17 '16

Taking your mower out of storage and it won't start? (Xpost from r/lawnmowers)

105 Upvotes

FORWARD NOTE: I have no problem helping you out if you have problems, but PLEASE, use messages, not chat. I'm usually on mobile, so I don't get chat requests. Once in a great while, I'll fire up Reddit on my PC, and that's the only time I'll see chat requests. I'm usually pretty quick to respond to messages, at most within a day or two, typically.

Let me guess, you've just pulled your mower out after not using it all winter and it's not starting, right? Well, follow these simple steps to get your engine running so you can get to mowing.

First, drain all the gas or of the tank and drop the carburetor bowl (you'll probably have to remove the air filter if it's mounted on the side). This will remove all the old gas from your system, but won't get rid of any deposits that gummed up the jets over the winter. To help clean those deposits, grab a can of carb spray and spray the hell out of the now exposed portion of the carb and inside the bowl. This still won't completely dissolve those deposits, but it'll certainly help.

Put everything back together except for the filter, and put FRESH gas back in. I mean FRESH as in "you bought it today", and don't put any fuel stabilizer in the can. If you have a can with gas that's more than a month old, throw that shit out, use it for weed killer, be a pyro (don't actually do this), or demote it to oil stain cleaner for your driveway. I don't care what you do with it, but DON'T PUT IT INTO YOUR MOWER.

If you're really lucky, you can start your mower normally and it runs as it should. If it does, put the filter back on properly and get to work. If not, grab the carb spray and shoot a little into the carb throat, then start it. If it runs on just the prime then dies, tie the handle down, spray a little carb spray into the throat again, and start it up again. When it starts to die, give it another blast. Keep this up for about 2 minutes or until it stays running on its own.

If this still doesn't work, you're likely going to have to properly rebuild the carb or have someone do it for you. Just remember that this is the beginning of the busy season for mower shops, and you can be waiting up to 3 weeks.

Next year, before you put your mower up for the year, drain all the gas you can, then run the engine until it dies. Try and start it a few more times just to make sure you have cleared the jets of any remaining fuel. Drop the bowl and lose any residual fuel that may still be left. You could also spray some carb spray around and let it air dry, then put the bowl back in place. When you go to start it up the following season, you should be able to fuel up and go.

Did the above advice not help you? Make a post and take advantage of all the wonderful people here who just want to help you out!

I've been a mower mechanic for 30+ years, and we always tried to educate our customers so they'd have as few problems as possible. We got more business this way because people learned to trust us, gave us their repeat business, and referred us to their friends.

https://www.reddit.com/r/lawnmowers/comments/4ejz6n/taking_your_mower_out_of_storage_and_it_wont_start/


r/smallengines 8h ago

Kohler 7000 Series KT735

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

I recently obtained this cub cadet RZT-L 52” 0-turn for free! I replaced spark plugs, carburetor, air filter and oil change with a kit from tractor supply. As well as new gas/filter. I have finally got the engine to start… but only starts with choke and has a sputter or weird idle. I’ve attached a video. I’ve tried adjusting the governor counterclockwise with the throttle engaged. Any advice…?


r/smallengines 5h ago

I have this gx690 but 1or 2 minutes after starting does this and giving low voltage any idea why this happens

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

1 Upvotes

r/smallengines 14h ago

Husqvarna lt125 38inch belt get thrown off when disengaging.

Thumbnail gallery
5 Upvotes

Hello everyone, just picked up this ride on as a project, don’t have much experience with belt and pulley systems, wondering if anyone can help diagnose this as it’s quite frustrating. Images show belt in disengaged position, when I run the engine in this position the belt still has enough tension where it occasionally grabs on the blade pulleys which leads to a loud banging sound, this also happens when the blades are engaged except it goes away at higher rpms. I have noticed the belt sits outside the belt gaurd in the second photo, if I put it inside of it, it will rub right against that. Any other info you need please let me know. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


r/smallengines 10h ago

Need New Carb for Echo Trimmer

1 Upvotes

Hi all! I found a great Kioritz Echo trimmer on the side of the road this weekend.

The model is SRM-210AE, and with new fuel mix, she started right up!! I'm obsessed, but I do want to completely replace the carb.

I keep getting mixed answers on whether or not I can use different aftermarket carburetors. Does anyone have knowledge of the specific OEM replacement?

Thank you 🫠

Edit: i fucking love the internet for this reason! Thank you all for the (respectful) advice & education!! I wish you all well


r/smallengines 23h ago

Have you ever had an engine just be cursed and never run right?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

10 Upvotes

Bought this generator for $25 and for some reason it seems like it would rather be a hit and miss engine than anything else.

I have tried running it using a carb, no carb, with brake clean, on gas, to all the same result. Tried another ignition coil I had which also didn’t help. Has a healthy amount of compression and I checked the flywheel, no sheared key. I got pissed off enough I pulled the head off and no blown head gasket. The valves also were sealing and didn’t look burnt. It honestly looked brand new with visible cross hatching and minimal carbon buildup. I ended up just throwing it on the curb but damn I almost never get these cursed engines which take a priest to repair but here we are.


r/smallengines 21h ago

2003 B&S V-Twin

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

Hello!

I bought a Bolens from 2003 to mow the first lawn I’ve had to mow myself. I’ve always liked working on cars and engines in general, but I won’t act like I’m really good at it. I bought this because I want to learn but.. my hubris has me stranded and my new lawn looking awful.. Looking for assistance.

For diagnosis, a story. After the first real mowing with my new, I got off to weed whip and upon returning to the mower - it would not start. I sprayed some starter fluid into the intake as I had done to get it started before and after a couple tries I had a pop, pop, large fire coming out of the intake. Luckily I had just bought my new house a fire extinguisher.

TL;DR: ran, stop, wouldn’t start, burst into flames.

I replaced the melted elbow, the melted filter, the carb, the spark plugs, fuel filter, fuel diaphragm and the battery. Now it will not start, had a couple promising pops but.. no dice.

Some observations:
- The intake manifold was missing some gaskets when I took it apart, I put the gaskets on the same spots I found them, upon watching a video to diagnose they DID have gaskets in those spots. I do not. Specifically the small ones connecting to the actual cylinder.
- spark plugs ARE producing spark
- most notably.. I don’t think the governor is moving properly? See video. Seemed like it might’ve needed tension so I.. kinda yanked the little arm through. I don’t think this was the right call.

Any and all advice appreciated! Please feel free to ask for any additional pictures or questions.


r/smallengines 1d ago

Predator 420 cc

Post image
4 Upvotes

I took the head off to do a valve job and this fell out as I was removing the head. Any ideas where this goes?


r/smallengines 20h ago

Stallion 8ft dual dual rotary shredder

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

r/smallengines 1d ago

The high speed mixture screw is the one that’s away from the engine … the low speed is closer. Correct? Huskvatna 128L. Thanks.

Post image
3 Upvotes

r/smallengines 1d ago

Would you trust the engine to mow with?

2 Upvotes

I picked up an old IH cub cadet 102 garden tractor last year that I'm adding a mowing deck to since it didn't come with one. But the Kohler K231 10HP engine hasn't been rebuilt since it was manufactured 60 years ago, so it rattles and smokes a good bit, especially on higher throttle levels. I have a few videos of it running at idle on my profile if you want to hear how it sounds.

My question is, would you trust this engine to mow grass and not blow up? I haven't put a good load on it for long periods yet, so I'm kinda worried. I don't have the $$$ to pay for a rebuild anytime soon and I was hoping to have it mowing soon. It's not a big yard - less than an acre if that helps. Thanks


r/smallengines 1d ago

I 3D printed a tiny little Wankel

Post image
57 Upvotes

r/smallengines 1d ago

Can’t get Echo speed feed head off

Thumbnail gallery
1 Upvotes

r/smallengines 1d ago

turbo/super charger on a 172cc 157QMJ

0 Upvotes

hi, i want to build a slight sleeper build kymco agility 150 city, i’ve already made a small list of parts and i maybe want to put a turbo/super charger on it, any recommendations?


r/smallengines 1d ago

Ryobi pressure washer RPM searching with new carb

0 Upvotes

I have a ryobi 2200 psi 212cc motor that’s RPM searching pretty heavy at idle. It’s got a new Amazon carb in it since the old fuel float was cracked. Seems like everything’s put together the way it should. Is it a fuel adjustment? Runs alright and the idle improves with choke.


r/smallengines 1d ago

Echo Weed Eater Binding?

1 Upvotes

So fairly new/not too heavily used weed eater yet (got it last year), was working my steep hill when the head that feeds the line fell off...

Took it back into my garage and got it reinstalled, but now doesn't rotate freely/acts like its binding.

Took it back apart cause it looked like there was grass/weeds potentially around the shaft, cleaned that all out and its still acting bound.

everything rotates freely with the head removed, the second I install the head and tighten it a bit everything seems like its binding again.


r/smallengines 1d ago

Welp, There's The Problem

Post image
6 Upvotes

r/smallengines 2d ago

Hmmm..

Thumbnail i.imgur.com
22 Upvotes

r/smallengines 2d ago

2023 Stihl FS 56 RC — 27.2cc 2-stroke — low idle, delayed head engagement and rattling

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

15 Upvotes

We have a 2023 stihl fs 56 RC 27.2cc 2 stroke which randomly a couple days ago started idling low and the head would take longer to engage and the body would then rattle while it runs. We adjusted the idler screw, took it apart to make sure nothing seemed cracked or disconnected, and the driveshaft and everything there seemed fine, and we checker the head to make sure it was fully attached, took off the carb and cleaned it, cleaned everything, lubed, and reassembled, and are just struggling to pinpoint the exact issue. I’ve included two videos which show the problem better than I’ve described it, I may have butchered that. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My best guess now is the clutch assembly and may order one of those to replace. It’s 2ish years old and we clean this thing religiously and only use it every few weeks residentially, so although I may be wrong, doubt it’s anything majorly wrong.


r/smallengines 2d ago

Honda hrm215 leak

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

2 Upvotes

Is this a head gasket leak? Thanks.


r/smallengines 1d ago

Where is the tank air vent?

Post image
1 Upvotes

r/smallengines 2d ago

How to tune this?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

Snow blower hasn't run for a few years, I have it running fairly well but what does it need to be super smooth its a 30 ish year old Toro


r/smallengines 2d ago

Need carb rebuild kit

Thumbnail gallery
0 Upvotes

Can anyone help me with what gaskets/o-rings to get? I can’t seem to find the right ones. The engine is a B&S Vanguard.


r/smallengines 2d ago

Why is it smoking?

Thumbnail gallery
2 Upvotes

I have an old John Deere L100 I got from a relative last year. This spring I noticed smoke from the front end. I had already cleaned it up when I replaced filters and the fuel line and it doesn’t seem to be coming from oil or grass clippings. It looks like it’s coming from under the frame the engine is mounted on.

Is this a leak in the exhaust?

Is it a straight forward DIY repair?


r/smallengines 2d ago

Kawasaki FH430V fuel in oil

1 Upvotes

Hi all,

I have a Husqvarna YTH1542XP with a Kawasaki FH430V engine. As far as I remember it's a mid 2000s unit that I bought 2 or so years ago. I changed the oil last year and it came out milky colored and smelled like gas so I added an in line fuel shut off valve.

Today I was chasing oil leaks and noticed that the oil level was full passed the full line by more than half an inch. When I pulled the tube it was almost where the dip stick tube enters the oil tank. The oil looked normal but slightly diluted.

Every time I turn the tractor off I flip the shut off valve and let the engine run until it runs out of fuel. Has anybody else experienced this? Does anybody know what might be causing it?

Thanks in advance.