Fixed my mower. Possibly for good. (1 Viewer)

[worrierking]

http://diy.repairclinic.com/2013/07/01/what-to-do-if-you-tip-over-your-lawn-mower-and-then-it-wont-start/

See #2

Only thing is, it's thick white smoke. Not black.

Yay! There's a new Pope!

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

Are we on to attempt #2 yet? All this talking about it is getting tiresome. I want action.

Sorry. Can't start working on it until I get home. I think the bridal company would frown upon me bringing a lawn mower into my cubicle. Stupid bridal companies.

You do alterations there?

No. Model. They needed a bride with B cups.

Is that a firm B or....You know what? Nevermind.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Are we on to attempt #2 yet? All this talking about it is getting tiresome. I want action.

Sorry. Can't start working on it until I get home. I think the bridal company would frown upon me bringing a lawn mower into my cubicle. Stupid bridal companies.

You do alterations there?

No. Model. They needed a bride with B cups.

Is that a firm B or....You know what? Nevermind.

They look good in the package. That's all you need to worry about, mister.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

White smoke? That's usually coolant burning.

Did you check the coolant level in the radiator?

 

[the moops]

It is highly recommended that you wear goggles when mowing the lawn

I once tore a meniscus mowing the lawn. Seriously. ####### hate mowing lawns.

 

[belljr]

So your filter got oil on it. You can't clean an air filter.get a new one

 

[3C's]

So your filter got oil on it. You can't clean an air filter.get a new one

A little Dawn (that's not pronounced like Don) and hot water will do. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/clean-briggs-stratton-lawnmowers-air-filter-81699.html

 

[Tchula]

There is a little tool you use to hold the blade in place when you take the bolt off.

 

[3C's]

There is a little tool you use to hold the blade in place when you take the bolt off.

Block of wood works. As mentioned if there's a hole a screwdriver might work. I do have one of those tools though. Makes life easier when dealing with 3 blades and having to use a sledge hammer to break the nut loose. http://blog.cubparts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Arnold-Blade-Removal-Tool.jpg

 

[belljr]

White smoke? That's usually coolant burning.

Did you check the coolant level in the radiator?

could be the power steering leaking

 

[msommer]

Will your fiancée be live tweeting the event?

 

[ClownCausedChaos2]

White smoke? That's usually coolant burning.

Did you check the coolant level in the radiator?

could be the power steering leaking

Oh man. I hadn't thought about those things. Sheik, GB, you'll want to check these. If you're having trouble locating the coolant level dipstick, it's usually right near the fusebox.

 

[SWC]

fat nick i respect your knowledge about small engines and i hear you about taking things apart an learning from that me i could never afford much of nothing so from my first car on it has been buy cheap or get free and make it work so i hear you and i guess you are right go on ahead with your bad self iron sheek and i hope that you get it running do not blow yourself up and also learn that the washington football team name is racist as all hell and then take it to the bank bromigos.

 

[belljr]

Fetzer valve, imo

 

[Johnny Rock]

I thought for sure the blades were going to be flying off when I opened this thread. Damn ankle biters.

 

[msommer]

So when do you get your new mower?

 

[Fat Nick]

So when do you get your new mower?

Update?

Maybe it DID blow up...Sheik....Sheik...

 

[Guest]

A little smoke is a good thing. The bunnies can't see you coming.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I got home last night and forgot we were going out to dinner. Our daughter is going down to the Shore with her grandparents this week, so it was a farewell meal. So that really cut in to my mechanical fixin' time.

When I got home, I emptied the oil and gas. It looked like wet sludge. Never seen any oil look like that before. Guess that's what gas and oil look like. I cleaned the filter and put in new oil and gas.

Then I gave a quick prayer to any God listening and pulled on the rip cord. Nothing. Pulled again. Nothing. I was out there for about 10 minutes pulling on that cord, each time it sounded like it was just about to start. As darkness settled in, I almost passed out from pulling on that thing. Have to give it another shot tonight.

So the good news is, no white smoke is coming out and no oil is bubbling over. The bad news is, the engine won't start.

And if I wasn't so out of breath, I really might have picked that thing up like it was first base and Lou Pinella'd it as far as I could have. Right now, I'd put the chances of getting a new mower around 65%.

 

[3C's]

In before someone mentions mechanic in a bottle.

 

[Fat Nick]

So it sounds like that gas/oil sludge probably got into your carbeurator. You can do two things to check, but you'll have to make a trip to the store.

Buy a can of starter fluid and a can of carb cleaner. Remove the air filter. Try starting the mower, but right before you pull the cord (or better yet, get a helper, one pulls, the other sprays) spray some of the starter fluid into the hole in the air intake. If it turns over and runs, that basically means that the engine is fine, but it's not getting fuel as the starter fluid spray is the only fuel it's getting and it's not getting anything from the carb. Try and keep it running with little bursts of starter fluid. If you can keep it idling for a few seconds, sometimes this will work out all the gunk.

If not, spray the carb cleaner into that same air intake hole. If the can came with a little plastic nozzle, jam it way in there and spray. Be liberal with the use. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeat the starter fluid thing. See if that works.

If that doesn't do it, then you likely have a REALLY gummed up carb, and the only option is to start taking that thing apart to clean it...AKA Sheik buys a new mower.

 

[The Goat]

Buy a goat.

I could probably fix his mower, yes.

 

[DocHolliday]

Get a new filter.

Your spark plug may be covered in oil. Take it out and clean it off. You should also scrape the metal tip with a small screw driver to make sure you see metal. Do not bend that tip.

 

[TheIronSheik]

My hands still smell like gas. I feel manly. And also a little woozy.

 

[The Goat]

After a quick skim:

1) You got mixed your fuel and oil together when you flipped it over, and soaked the air filter. Hence the smoke. Draining everything and cleaning/replacing the filter was the right move.

2) Fat Nick is right about the carb cleaner. It's $5. Worth a shot.

3) Your neighbor who told you that your mower would be destroyed by running it with oil in the gas was wrong. You probably just gummed up the carb.

If you get it running with carb cleaner/starter fluid...let it run for a while. The more gas gets through it, the better.

 

[3C's]

I've heard good things of this stuff called mechanic in a bottle. Seems right up IS's alley. Magic you can just pour out of a bottle.

 

[Guest]

Did you previously disconnect the spark plug? Just wanted to make sure you reconnected it.

Sorry, I hate to state the obvious, but thought I should ask.

 

[Fat Nick]

Get a new filter.

Your spark plug may be covered in oil. Take it out and clean it off. You should also scrape the metal tip with a small screw driver to make sure you see metal. Do not bend that tip.

DocHolliday's point about the plug is a really good one. Try that first. It's free. Just take the plug out, scrape it clean, and try again.

 

[Keerock]

So it sounds like that gas/oil sludge probably got into your carbeurator. You can do two things to check, but you'll have to make a trip to the store.

Buy a can of starter fluid and a can of carb cleaner. Remove the air filter. Try starting the mower, but right before you pull the cord (or better yet, get a helper, one pulls, the other sprays) spray some of the starter fluid into the hole in the air intake. If it turns over and runs, that basically means that the engine is fine, but it's not getting fuel as the starter fluid spray is the only fuel it's getting and it's not getting anything from the carb. Try and keep it running with little bursts of starter fluid. If you can keep it idling for a few seconds, sometimes this will work out all the gunk.

If not, spray the carb cleaner into that same air intake hole. If the can came with a little plastic nozzle, jam it way in there and spray. Be liberal with the use. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeat the starter fluid thing. See if that works.

If that doesn't do it, then you likely have a REALLY gummed up carb, and the only option is to start taking that thing apart to clean it...AKA Sheik buys a new mower.

That "starter fluid" you speak of is the stuff you put on charcoal to get it going in the grill, right?

 

[TheIronSheik]

After a quick skim:

1) You got mixed your fuel and oil together when you flipped it over, and soaked the air filter. Hence the smoke. Draining everything and cleaning/replacing the filter was the right move.

2) Fat Nick is right about the carb cleaner. It's $5. Worth a shot.

3) Your neighbor who told you that your mower would be destroyed by running it with oil in the gas was wrong. You probably just gummed up the carb.

If you get it running with carb cleaner/starter fluid...let it run for a while. The more gas gets through it, the better.

To be fair to him, that's what I think he said. He was on his mower when mine went all night club smoke machine. He drove over, parked his mower next to me and then started yelling to me what he thought was wrong.

 

[3C's]

Did you previously disconnect the spark plug? Just wanted to make sure you reconnected it.

Sorry, I hate to state the obvious, but thought I should ask.

Good point. You never know. Way back when a woman at NASA said her printer wasn't working. Did you try x, y, z? Yes. It was unplugged.

 

[TheIronSheik]

So it sounds like that gas/oil sludge probably got into your carbeurator. You can do two things to check, but you'll have to make a trip to the store.

Buy a can of starter fluid and a can of carb cleaner. Remove the air filter. Try starting the mower, but right before you pull the cord (or better yet, get a helper, one pulls, the other sprays) spray some of the starter fluid into the hole in the air intake. If it turns over and runs, that basically means that the engine is fine, but it's not getting fuel as the starter fluid spray is the only fuel it's getting and it's not getting anything from the carb. Try and keep it running with little bursts of starter fluid. If you can keep it idling for a few seconds, sometimes this will work out all the gunk.

If not, spray the carb cleaner into that same air intake hole. If the can came with a little plastic nozzle, jam it way in there and spray. Be liberal with the use. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeat the starter fluid thing. See if that works.

If that doesn't do it, then you likely have a REALLY gummed up carb, and the only option is to start taking that thing apart to clean it...AKA Sheik buys a new mower.

Oddly, I understand what you're saying.

One question, if I take off the air filter, I can press the choke and see it pull gas into that area. Wouldn't that mean that gas is getting there? So by spraying that starter fluid, I would assume that wouldn't fire it up. Or is that a wrong assumption?

 

[3C's]

So it sounds like that gas/oil sludge probably got into your carbeurator. You can do two things to check, but you'll have to make a trip to the store.

Buy a can of starter fluid and a can of carb cleaner. Remove the air filter. Try starting the mower, but right before you pull the cord (or better yet, get a helper, one pulls, the other sprays) spray some of the starter fluid into the hole in the air intake. If it turns over and runs, that basically means that the engine is fine, but it's not getting fuel as the starter fluid spray is the only fuel it's getting and it's not getting anything from the carb. Try and keep it running with little bursts of starter fluid. If you can keep it idling for a few seconds, sometimes this will work out all the gunk.

If not, spray the carb cleaner into that same air intake hole. If the can came with a little plastic nozzle, jam it way in there and spray. Be liberal with the use. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeat the starter fluid thing. See if that works.

If that doesn't do it, then you likely have a REALLY gummed up carb, and the only option is to start taking that thing apart to clean it...AKA Sheik buys a new mower.

Oddly, I understand what you're saying.

One question, if I take off the air filter, I can press the choke and see it pull gas into that area. Wouldn't that mean that gas is getting there? So by spraying that starter fluid, I would assume that wouldn't fire it up. Or is that a wrong assumption?

That's a primer bulb most likely, not a choke.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Did you previously disconnect the spark plug? Just wanted to make sure you reconnected it.

Sorry, I hate to state the obvious, but thought I should ask.

Good point. You never know. Way back when a woman at NASA said her printer wasn't working. Did you try x, y, z? Yes. It was unplugged.

Missed this post. Yes, the spark plug is reconnected. As someone who used to work in IT, I wanted to make sure I didn't make any stupid mistakes like that. If only there was an off and on switch. I could try turning it off and on.

 

[TheIronSheik]

So it sounds like that gas/oil sludge probably got into your carbeurator. You can do two things to check, but you'll have to make a trip to the store.

Buy a can of starter fluid and a can of carb cleaner. Remove the air filter. Try starting the mower, but right before you pull the cord (or better yet, get a helper, one pulls, the other sprays) spray some of the starter fluid into the hole in the air intake. If it turns over and runs, that basically means that the engine is fine, but it's not getting fuel as the starter fluid spray is the only fuel it's getting and it's not getting anything from the carb. Try and keep it running with little bursts of starter fluid. If you can keep it idling for a few seconds, sometimes this will work out all the gunk.

If not, spray the carb cleaner into that same air intake hole. If the can came with a little plastic nozzle, jam it way in there and spray. Be liberal with the use. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeat the starter fluid thing. See if that works.

If that doesn't do it, then you likely have a REALLY gummed up carb, and the only option is to start taking that thing apart to clean it...AKA Sheik buys a new mower.

Oddly, I understand what you're saying.

One question, if I take off the air filter, I can press the choke and see it pull gas into that area. Wouldn't that mean that gas is getting there? So by spraying that starter fluid, I would assume that wouldn't fire it up. Or is that a wrong assumption?

That's a primer bulb most likely, not a choke.

My bad. You'll have to excuse my ignorance on the names. It's that rubber thing that you press three times if the engine doesn't start. I assume it puts gas into the area where the spark will happen to help get the engine going. I just call it the choke. But, I am an idiot. So. There's that.

 

[3C's]

So it sounds like that gas/oil sludge probably got into your carbeurator. You can do two things to check, but you'll have to make a trip to the store.

Buy a can of starter fluid and a can of carb cleaner. Remove the air filter. Try starting the mower, but right before you pull the cord (or better yet, get a helper, one pulls, the other sprays) spray some of the starter fluid into the hole in the air intake. If it turns over and runs, that basically means that the engine is fine, but it's not getting fuel as the starter fluid spray is the only fuel it's getting and it's not getting anything from the carb. Try and keep it running with little bursts of starter fluid. If you can keep it idling for a few seconds, sometimes this will work out all the gunk.

If not, spray the carb cleaner into that same air intake hole. If the can came with a little plastic nozzle, jam it way in there and spray. Be liberal with the use. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then repeat the starter fluid thing. See if that works.

If that doesn't do it, then you likely have a REALLY gummed up carb, and the only option is to start taking that thing apart to clean it...AKA Sheik buys a new mower.

Oddly, I understand what you're saying.

One question, if I take off the air filter, I can press the choke and see it pull gas into that area. Wouldn't that mean that gas is getting there? So by spraying that starter fluid, I would assume that wouldn't fire it up. Or is that a wrong assumption?

That's a primer bulb most likely, not a choke.

My bad. You'll have to excuse my ignorance on the names. It's that rubber thing that you press three times if the engine doesn't start. I assume it puts gas into the area where the spark will happen to help get the engine going. I just call it the choke. But, I am an idiot. So. There's that.

Yeah, it throws a small amount of gas in the carb to help starting. Starter fluid is used because it has a lower combustion temp and fires up quicker than gas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUNlD7d3TTE

 

[Fat Nick]

Yeah, it throws a small amount of gas in the carb to help starting. Starter fluid is used because it has a lower combustion temp and fires up quicker than gas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUNlD7d3TTE

And also because the starter fluid is aerosol based, so it'll flow into the combustion chamber easier. Does it start, then die? What if you pump the primer bulb while it's running (before it dies?) This could also sort of simulate what starter fluid would do, just not as well. Basically, what we're trying to determine is if the engine will run off of a fuel source other than the carb (be it starter fluid manually injected, or the primer bulb manually injecting gas). If it will run like that, but not without manual fuel injection, you can pretty much say the issue is in the carb's ability to supply gas.

That "starter fluid" you speak of is the stuff you put on charcoal to get it going in the grill, right?

Not quite...It's actually an aerosol can. I imagine you could use the engine kind on your grill, but the grill kind probably wouldn't work as well in an engine...maybe. Maybe it would...??

 

[Keerock]

That "starter fluid" you speak of is the stuff you put on charcoal to get it going in the grill, right?

Not quite...It's actually an aerosol can. I imagine you could use the engine kind on your grill, but the grill kind probably wouldn't work as well in an engine...maybe. Maybe it would...??

That was posted with tongue in cheek...

ETA: Sorry if anyone died because of it

 

[Fat Nick]

That "starter fluid" you speak of is the stuff you put on charcoal to get it going in the grill, right?

Not quite...It's actually an aerosol can. I imagine you could use the engine kind on your grill, but the grill kind probably wouldn't work as well in an engine...maybe. Maybe it would...??

That was posted with tongue in cheek...

ETA: Sorry if anyone died because of it

Gotta be careful...Sheik takes things pretty literally...

 

[TheIronSheik]

That "starter fluid" you speak of is the stuff you put on charcoal to get it going in the grill, right?

Not quite...It's actually an aerosol can. I imagine you could use the engine kind on your grill, but the grill kind probably wouldn't work as well in an engine...maybe. Maybe it would...??

That was posted with tongue in cheek...

ETA: Sorry if anyone died because of it

Gotta be careful...Sheik takes things pretty literally...

If I don't have starter fluid, can I just use charcoal and a match.

 

[SlimShady]

That "starter fluid" you speak of is the stuff you put on charcoal to get it going in the grill, right?

Not quite...It's actually an aerosol can. I imagine you could use the engine kind on your grill, but the grill kind probably wouldn't work as well in an engine...maybe. Maybe it would...??

That was posted with tongue in cheek...

ETA: Sorry if anyone died because of it

Gotta be careful...Sheik takes things pretty literally...

If I don't have starter fluid, can I just use charcoal and a match.

if you want to die a painful death.

buy some of this, spray it into the carb, pull the ripcord a few times.

http://www.grainger.com/product/20RW92?cm_mmc=PPC:BingPLA-_-Fleet%20and%20Vehicle%20Maintenance-_-Automotive%20Chemicals-_-20RW92&ci_src=18492716&ci_sku=20RW92&ef_id=U9Z2CwAAAfZhAl7M:20140826175220:s

 

[Cjw_55106]

So one of your neighbors is a mechanic, the other is a handy man and neither of them offered to help you with the mower?

Racists.

 

[Fat Nick]

That "starter fluid" you speak of is the stuff you put on charcoal to get it going in the grill, right?

Not quite...It's actually an aerosol can. I imagine you could use the engine kind on your grill, but the grill kind probably wouldn't work as well in an engine...maybe. Maybe it would...??

That was posted with tongue in cheek...

ETA: Sorry if anyone died because of it

Gotta be careful...Sheik takes things pretty literally...

If I don't have starter fluid, can I just use charcoal and a match.

Just fart in the intake.

 

[Guest]

Can you suck-start a mower like a leaf blower?

 

[TheIronSheik]

So one of your neighbors is a mechanic, the other is a handy man and neither of them offered to help you with the mower?

Racists.

No. Same guy. GF texted him today. Apparently she doesn't believe I can fix it. He said he'd look at it no problem.

I'm fairly sure if he fixes it, it's because I did 99% of the work. He's basically just pushing it across the finish line.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Can you suck-start a mower like a leaf blower?

I don't have money for a hooker AND a new mower.

 

[NCCommish]

Deathable. I like it.

Sorry you are still having problems. It does sound like your carb and/or spark plug is gooed up so yeah neighbor gets to look good after you did all the dirty work.

 

[Guest]

Can you suck-start a mower like a leaf blower?

I don't have money for a hooker AND a new mower.

Sorry, thought it was a DIY job.

Do you really need a mower?

 

[3C's]

Can you suck-start a mower like a leaf blower?

I don't have money for a hooker AND a new mower.

Sorry, thought it was a DIY job.

Do you really need a mower?

No, he needs a goat.

 

[Guest]

Can you suck-start a mower like a leaf blower?

I don't have money for a hooker AND a new mower.

Sorry, thought it was a DIY job.

Do you really need a mower?

No, he needs a goat.

I thought all of his people already had goats.