pegasus bridge Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 does anyone have any advice on how to fix my lawnmower ? Had not used it since october ( working fine ) got it out today and it wont start - the pull cord wont pull out -any advice will be appreciated - its o mountfield petrol mower by the way .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 You are keen keen cutting grass at 9:00am! (I like your style) Could be two things 1 pull cord jammed or 2 piston (engine jammed) Try taking the spark plug out and get some wd-40 in, even try pushing down on piston (carfully) with a plastic stick typ thing that will not spliter or break off in the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 cheers - i will give that a go . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Try truning it over by the blade. It probably has a load of crud around the shaft that has dried out over the winter. I have just cut my grass and mine started first pull. £60 form B & Q 4 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Try truning it over by the blade. That would be better than pocking a stick down the spark plug hole, unless it is a belt drive and it might slip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 What mower you got mate? FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shabbyshot Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 As V8landy said try removing the plugs and put a small amount of oil into the cylinders. Thay might be dry causing lack of compression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Is it a rotary or a cylinder? If a rotary, check that the rotor is not clagged up and then, having first removed the plug and squirted a little oil or WD40 down the plug-hole, try to turn the engine with the rotor. If it turns easily then investigate the starter cord mechanism which may be jammed. If a cylinder, check that the cylinder is not clagged up and rotates freely with the drive disconnected. Having removed the plug and squirted a little oil or WD40 down the plug-hole, and the drive reconnected, try to turn the engine with the cylinder If it turns easily then investigate the starter cord mechanism which may be jammed. If none of this works - get down to B&Q - I reckon on breaking a mower about every 5 years, but they are so relatively cheap, it just ain't worth frigging around with them. You can strip them down if the piston is siezed, get a new one from Mountfield and get the barrel rebored - but hey why bother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 thanks for all the advice gents - unfortunatley i have had to abandon the job half way through - the wifes nan is on her last legs so i have had to drive her to cardiff and cancel my shooting tomorrow . I will try all of these on my return . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myzeneye Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 as stated, if your gonna start rotating blades by hand, do it with the spark plug removed..im guessing you could "bump start" your mower maybe and maybe loose a testicle or two...? i know mine you have to squeeze a grip on the handle to get it to start and if you let go it cuts out, but this could easily be accidentallly engaged if i were to flip the mower over and start wrestling with the ******... i know its unlikey chaps and tipping it rigt over will only result in it flooding etc etc ...but you never know...i hate to give someone advice which could result in a nasty injury.... incidentally, my mower has a sticker on it banging on about a winter service... can anyone tell me what this should consist of so i can do it myself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 (edited) incidentally, my mower has a sticker on it banging on about a winter service... can anyone tell me what this should consist of so i can do it myself... Depends what sort of mower it is Petrol engined - change the oil, clean the air filter, lubricate the gears (if any) Cylinder cutter - check that the blades are true and adjust the base plate - blades might need sharpening by running the cylinder backwards with valve grinding paste on the base plate. Oil the bearings Rotary cutter - Clear the old grass out from the underneath (if you just left it in the shed last Autumn) and check that you haven't knocked any lumps out of the blade by mowing stones!! If so get a new blade. If the edge is just dull, sharpen it with a stone or grinder - but don't forget to balance up both sides, or you will vibrate your mower to *******. Edited March 8, 2009 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted March 8, 2009 Report Share Posted March 8, 2009 Lawn mowers are like Christmass tree lights, you put them away when you have finsihed with them in working condtion only to bring them out 6 or 12 months later and every bulb has blown and the engine is knackered! Why is this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted April 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 You are keen keen cutting grass at 9:00am! (I like your style) Could be two things 1 pull cord jammed or 2 piston (engine jammed) Try taking the spark plug out and get some wd-40 in, even try pushing down on piston (carfully) with a plastic stick typ thing that will not spliter or break off in the engine. a month of grass growth later, and i finally found the time to sort this out - took off the spark plug, used the wd40, and it spluttered into life first pull! left it running for half an hour though to burn this off- it was producing huge amounts of smoke, thanks for the advice gents (not cut the grass yet - i will do that next week ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicW Posted April 10, 2009 Report Share Posted April 10, 2009 The easiest winter servicing you can do is to give it good hose down before you put it away,spray it with WD40 to get the water off and then start the mower once a week throughout the winter to keep the cylinder bore coated in oil. You'll get some funny looks from the neighbours if you do it on Christmas Day but it keeps them amused!! Vic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gubby_uk Posted April 12, 2009 Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 I've had thought. Does it have one of those annoying safety handles that you have to keep squeezed in to run it. My machine had the cable stretch so even with it in it didn't release the deadmans brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted April 12, 2009 Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 next winter b4 you put her away-clean her up+remove spark plug and squirt a spoonfull of oil down the hole then turn the beast over a couple of times+turn the petrol off and drain the float bowl+pop the plug back in and wrap her up for the duration-my honda is 15 this year and fired up first time (as she does every year)-my next door neighbour is on her third mower since i got mine and that is on its last legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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