Have you ever been in the middle of mowing your lawn, and your lawn mower just cuts out? You try to restart it, but it just won’t turn on? This can be frustrating, especially if you’re unsure what’s causing the problem.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at why does my lawn mower keep cutting out as well as provide some tips on how to fix them.
Read on.
Contents
- Why Does My Lawn Mower Keep Cutting Out
- 1. The Gas Tank is Empty
- 2. The Spark Plug is Broken or Damaged
- 3. The Air Filter Needs to Be Replaced
- 4. There is Oil Leaking from Somewhere
- 5. Grass or other Debris Clogging the Area Around the Engine
- 6. The Pull Cord is Stuck in the Pulled Position
- 7. The Mower Deck is Misaligned
- 8. The Spark Plug Wire is Disconnected from the Spark Plug
- 9. The Mower Blades are Dull or Damaged
- 10. The Battery is Dead or Damaged
- Maintenance Tips to Prevent Your Lawn Mower from Dying
- FAQs- Why Does My Lawn Mower Keep Cutting Out
- Why Does My Lawn Mower Only Run for a Few Seconds then Die?
- Why Does My Lawn Mower Cut Out When I Try to Accelerate?
- How Do You Fix a Lawn Mower That Starts Then Dies?
- Author
Why Does My Lawn Mower Keep Cutting Out
Some of the most common reasons why your mower might be cutting out are:
1. The Gas Tank is Empty
If you run out of gas while mowing, you’ll notice that there’s no more power to the engine. When this happens, it’s essential to fill up the tank before restarting the mower.
If you don’t, your engine will crank but won’t start because it’s not getting any gas. Fill up the tank, try again, and it should work fine.
2. The Spark Plug is Broken or Damaged
The spark plug provides a nice explosion of power to get the engine started. If the spark plug is broken, your mower won’t start. You may need to remove and replace the spark plug if this is the case.
3. The Air Filter Needs to Be Replaced
Sometimes, an air filter will become clogged with dust and dirt, and other general gunk over time. If this happens, you’ll notice that your mower’s engine will start to sputter and choke for instance a riding mower. You can usually replace the air filter with a new one.
4. There is Oil Leaking from Somewhere
Over time, an engine may leak oil due to the various moving parts and other forces at work. If this happens, you’ll notice that your lawn mower will start to smoke as it’s running.
This is a sign that there’s oil leaking from somewhere, and if it continues for too long, the engine may seize up altogether.
Also read: best oil extractor pump for mower
5. Grass or other Debris Clogging the Area Around the Engine
If there’s too much grass and gunk around the engine, it can cause your mower to start sputtering and stopping as you cut. To fix this problem, wash off the area around the engine with some water so that it’s nice and clean.
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6. The Pull Cord is Stuck in the Pulled Position
If you pull up on the pull cord and it doesn’t come back down, then that’s a pretty good sign that it’s stuck in the pulled position.
You’ll need to remove the spark plug and then insert a long screwdriver into the hole to fix this problem. Push against the inside of the pull cord assembly until it releases.
7. The Mower Deck is Misaligned
If the mower deck is out of alignment, this can cause many problems as you cut your grass.
For example, if the mower deck isn’t sitting flush with the ground and it’s angled upwards or downwards (or left and right), it will make cutting difficult and probably cause your mower to vibrate a lot as potentially cut the cord.
Also read: Universal grass catcher bag for zero turn mower
8. The Spark Plug Wire is Disconnected from the Spark Plug
If this happens, then your engine probably won’t start because it can’t transmit any power from the battery to the ignition coil. It’s a good idea to check the spark plug wire and ensure its properly connected.
9. The Mower Blades are Dull or Damaged
Sometimes, a lawn mower just won’t start because the blades themselves aren’t sharp enough to cut through the grass efficiently. In this case, just replace your blades with new ones.
10. The Battery is Dead or Damaged
In some cases, a lawn mower may have a tough time starting because the battery has been drained of power. If this happens to you, just replace the battery with a new one.
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Maintenance Tips to Prevent Your Lawn Mower from Dying
- Change your air filter regularly: While it may not be difficult to replace an air filter, you should do this at least once per year (ideally twice) to keep your mower running at its best.
- Keep your mower clean: It’s also a good idea to regularly wash the outside of your lawn mower with a hose. This will prevent grass from building up around the engine and other parts.
- Sharpen your lawn mower’s blades: Over time, dull blades will make cutting the grass more difficult. Fortunately, you can use a sharpener to sharpen your blades.
- Replace your spark plug: Over time, a spark plug may fail and stop working. Like you should change your air filter regularly, replacing the spark plug is also a good idea.
- Service your mower’s engine: If you don’t regularly maintain your lawn mower, it will eventually start sputtering and dying. Service your mower at least once per year to keep it running well.
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FAQs- Why Does My Lawn Mower Keep Cutting Out
Why Does My Lawn Mower Only Run for a Few Seconds then Die?
If your lawn mower runs for just a few seconds before dying, then there’s probably something wrong with the air filter.
Often, if the air filter is dirty, it can’t supply enough oxygen to your lawn mower’s engine. This will cause it to die after a few seconds.
Why Does My Lawn Mower Cut Out When I Try to Accelerate?
If your lawn mower cuts out whenever you press down on the accelerator, then there’s probably something wrong with the carburetor.
This part gets clogged up with gunk, and if you don’t clean it out, it can’t deliver fuel to the engine properly.
How Do You Fix a Lawn Mower That Starts Then Dies?
There are a few things that you can do to fix a lawn mower that starts then dies:
1. Make sure that the spark plug is connected correctly and functioning
2. Check if the blades are dull or damaged and replace them if necessary
3. Try cleaning out the carburetor to see if that fixes the problem
If all of these solutions fail, then you may need to get your lawn mower serviced or replaced.
If your lawn mower is cutting out, it could be several things. We’ve outlined the most common reasons why this might happen and how you can troubleshoot them.
Hopefully, this article will help you get your lawn mower up and running again in no time. Have you tried any of these solutions?
Let us know in the comments below.
