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Made in us
Evasive Eshin Assassin






so my mower won't start and im looking for ideas.
Its a self propelled push mower.
I had a hard time starting it a few weeks ago but it eventually started.
Today i tried and no joy.
I tilted it on its side a little and it fired right up but it smoked so bad i thought it was on fire.
I ran it until the smoke died down and made about two passes on my lawn and then it started smoking again.
I gave up and let the handle go and the damn thing kept running for two or three seconds.
Im going to try changing the fuel but I'm not sure how to get it out yet.
Can too much oil cause a problem?
Any suggestions?
I only bought it last year and it worked great, it started on the first pull every time.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/07/01 18:34:38


 
   
Made in us
[DCM]
Savage Minotaur




Baltimore, Maryland

Few ?’s:

You use regular gas?
Is it a two stroke premix?
Did you put a fuel treatment into the gas before you let it sit for the offseason?*

*Edit: Probably just bad gas, put a fuel treatment like “Seafoam” “Startron” or any thing similiar(there are tons of brands that make fuel treatments). If it was regular gas, it probably had ethanol in it, and depending on the ethanol content, the gas can turn to varnish very quickly and clog fuel systems. Its a major problem in small engines.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/03 20:26:27


"Sometimes the only victory possible is to keep your opponent from winning." - The Emperor, from The Outcast Dead.
"Tell your gods we are coming for them, and that their realms will burn as ours did." -Thostos Bladestorm
 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Denison, Iowa

Remember to NEVER put ethanol based gas in a lawnmower. That can screw with it.

Is the smoke dark black, or is it whiteish-grey with a hint of blue? If it's black, that's gas burning. If it's the white-grey-blue color it's the oil.
   
Made in us
Evasive Eshin Assassin






Thanks guys.
The smoke is white.
It uses standard gas.
I'm not sure what premix means but i think you're asking if i mix the gas and oil, i do not, they have separate reservoirs.
I did not treat the gas.
After goggleshooting it some this is what gave me the idea of trying to change the gas.
I just thought it was odd that once it was running it would stay running but would not start.
Does it require something different from the gas to get started?

Will the oil eventually burn off?
The smoke is frightening, lol.
   
Made in us
[DCM]
Savage Minotaur




Baltimore, Maryland

Sounds like a fuel issue to me. Drain or pump the old gas out, put some new fuel in it with a treatment and try it from there. Or even try to put a fuel treatment in the old gas and see if it can break up where its clogged.*

Check your spark plugs as well.

Those are usually the easiest things to try before getting too involved with taking things apart.

*Amsoil Powerfoam is the latest fuel treatment that we started using and selling in my shop:

Spoiler:



Seafoam is tried and true, and less involved than powerfoam. I recommend this if you aren’t mechanically inclined:

Spoiler:

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/06/03 20:59:22


"Sometimes the only victory possible is to keep your opponent from winning." - The Emperor, from The Outcast Dead.
"Tell your gods we are coming for them, and that their realms will burn as ours did." -Thostos Bladestorm
 
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka






Fuel nozzle might be clogged as you’re not treating the gas in the off season and are using regular gas. Drain the gas with a syphon pump and put in non-ethanol gas with some seafoam treatment. Spray some carb cleaner in the carburetor for good measure. Make sure your air filter isn’t dirty either.

"The Omnissiah is my Moderati" 
   
Made in us
Evasive Eshin Assassin






Thanks guys.
Do i need to worry about the smoke?
It's a lot.
   
Made in us
[DCM]
Savage Minotaur




Baltimore, Maryland

I wouldn't worry about the smoke, tbh. Obviously avoid inhaling copious amounts, but its "normal" for that to happen with bad gas.


"Sometimes the only victory possible is to keep your opponent from winning." - The Emperor, from The Outcast Dead.
"Tell your gods we are coming for them, and that their realms will burn as ours did." -Thostos Bladestorm
 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






Burtucky, Michigan

I have a weed eater that did that its 2nd year too and it was bad gas. I had to dump it out and clean everything to fix that problem. Once the cleaning was done its been running fine ever since and that was a couple years ago. Ive since learned to toss out any old fuel during the off season.

And the smoke I wouldnt worry about itll clear up. That color is a sign of either water in the gas or bad gas in general
   
Made in us
Evasive Eshin Assassin






Thanks for the help guys.
Apparently my mother law added oil to it and must have filled the entire reservoir.
After i saw that i dumped the extra oil and dumped the gas and put new in and it started right up.

One problem that I'm left with though is the fact that it doesn't seem to want to prime.

It's a self priming briggs and Stratton but i can pull that cord all day and it won't start.
If i tip it sideways for just a second it will fire right up. If i stop it i can restart it with no problems too. It's only hard to start after sitting idle for a while.
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka





TN/AL/MS state line.

What do you mean by self-priming? Doesn’t have the primer bubble?


And to add on to the gasoline- even if it says it can handle ethanol gas, it lies. It’ll turn to sludge in a couple months of letting it sit. It’s hell on 2-stroke engines. Go to your local Co-op, or whoever sells non-ethanol and only use non-ethanol in tools. I’d recommend it for your vehicle too if you don’t mind paying the little extra for it.

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Plus other games- miniature and cardboard both. 
   
Made in us
Evasive Eshin Assassin






Yeah, no primer bubble.
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






Burtucky, Michigan

My push mower has the same feature, just pull a couple times and itll fire right up after sitting all winter. Pretty nice.



Id say you still need to clean a screen or filter or something. Running gas that is old is going to cause issues somewhere. Specially since you said tipping it starts it. I think youve got a blockage somewheres
   
 
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