For a lawn enthusiast like me, there’s nothing better than the smell of freshly manicured grass. It can be a real heartbreaker when I get ready to trim tall grasses only for my lawn mower to start and then die down immediately after.
Why does my lawn mower only run for a few seconds then die? When the engine of your lawn mower starts and then sputters, it can be very frustrating for you but these problems are a lot more common and fixing it can be easier than you think.
Below are four major causes why your mower may experience these problems and how you can solve them:
Possible reasons why your lawn mower starts and then dies
If you notice that your lawn mower starts, runs for a short period, and then dies, there are four major reasons why this may occur:
Dirty carburetor or a clogged carburetor bowl:
If you notice that your engine quickly fires up then dies after a while, then your carburetor might be dirty. Here are two instances you may consider:
- If you’re living in the Northern region, it is very possible for your mower to sit through the winter without being used at all.
- If you live in a temperate region, you may have to use your lawn mower all year round
Whatever the situation is, your carburetor may need some extra care and maintenance.
How do you fix a lawn mower that won’t stay running?
- If you have noticed that the spark plug in your lawn mower is loose, dirty or disconnected, below are a few steps on how to solve this issue:
- Take out the spark plug
- Clean off the debris
- Reconnect the spark plug and make sure it is tightened
- For a dirty air filter:
- Clean or replace the air filter
- Blocked fuel delivery:
- Tap the side of the carburetor gently to aid the flow of gasoline to the engine.
- If you have done this and the gas is still not flowing, you may need to consider getting a new fuel filter.
Importance of the Carburetor
In order for your engine to run efficiently, it needs a constant flow of gasoline. The purpose of the carburetor is to ensure that the gasoline is mixed with the right amount of oxygen so that a combustion reaction can occur.
This reaction makes sure that there is a continuous rotation of the crankshaft which is very vital for the engine of the mower to run effectively.
Once your carburetor is dirty or the bowl is blocked, it may affect the process and although your engine may start, it will not run properly and will die immediately after you pull the cord.
Solution
To fix this problem, you can give your carburetor a good blowout using an aerosol can of carburetor cleaner. Carrying out this procedure will cost you less than $10 and you can be sure that this will last you a season or even two.
The WD-40 Specialist Fast Acting Carb/Throttle Body Parts Cleaner is highly recommended for cleaning your carburetor. Using a solvent formula, this cleaner is able to break down carbon contaminants in your carburetor thereby leaving it clean and gum free.
Before mowing, it is advisable to clean the carburetor with the WD-40 Specialist Fast Acting Carb/Throttle Body Parts Cleaner.
Drawbacks
This cleaner does not contain a straw so targeted spraying is not possible. However, if you want to get a more precise application, you can opt for the Gumout cleaner, This cleaner has a jet spray applicator and can still do the job of cleaning your carburetor effectively
The process involved in cleaning your carburetor
- Unscrew the carburetor bowl and spray the cleaner over the carburetor
- Ensure that you clean the screw and hole with the carburetor cleaner (you may need to employ the use of directional spraying straw)
- Do not overtighten the screw when placing the bowl back as this could cause the threads to strip and distort the seal.
Personal Methods Employed For Carburetor Maintenance
- Before you start the mower, give a light spray near the air intake hole of the mower’s engine. This is located just behind the air filter
- Take off the filter and then spray in the hole
- Replace the filter after this
Once you do this, the spray will go into the engine of the mower and clean the dirt and food it’s in your carburetor.
Old gasoline that has probably spoilt
Gasoline is essential for the running of your lawn mower but the quality of the gas you’re using for your lawn mower is equally important and should not be overlooked.
If you have left gasoline in your mower for a long prior, it is very likely that evaporation has occurred and formed a residue that will not allow your mower to function effectively.
These damaging residues leave particles that block your mower’s internal components. As a result, the gas flow in the engine is restricted and this causes your mower to start and then die off immediately. In other cases, it is possible that the mower will not even fire up at all.
- Dirty spark plugs
- Excess oil in the reservoir
Other reasons a lawn mower to run for a few minutes then stops
Apart from the four major reasons listed above, other reasons your lawn mower can run for a few minutes and then die afterwards include:
- Blocked fuel delivery
- Air supply problems
Once you encounter this issue, some parts that you should check first are:
- The carburetor
- The fuel cap
- The spark plug
FAQs
Why Does my Lawn Mower Only Run for a Few Seconds Then Die?
The most common culprits are: a faulty spark plug or ignition coil, blocked fuel delivery, and air supply problems.
What would cause a lawn mower to run for a few minutes then stops?
The most common culprits are: a faulty spark plug or ignition coil, blocked fuel delivery, and air supply problems.
Why does my lawn mower stop running after 5 minutes?
Damaged or worn spark plugs can be the problem. Remove the plug and inspect it.
Why does my mower run then stop?
Four most common reasons can cause this and they include
- Dirty carburetor
- Clogged carburetor bowl
- Old gasoline that has gone bad
- Dirty or defective spark plugs