Many of us don’t know or forget to winterize our lawn mowers properly for the cold season. As a result, your lawn mower won’t start after winter. So, what could be the reason for your battery or gas-driven lawn mower’s failure to start after winter? The reality is that there could be several reasons, ranging from a dirty carburetor to a dead battery. Keep reading to discover the primary culprits and how to get your lawn mower up and running.
Why Your Lawn Mower Won’t Start After Winter?
Whether you have a battery or gas-driven lawn mower, understanding the issues why it won’t start can save you time and money. Below are some common culprits behind your machine’s inability to run after winter:
- Old Fuel: This should be your first port of call if the lawn mower isn’t running. Gasoline can degrade over time, especially when left sitting for extended winter periods.
- Faulty Carburetor: Left gasoline in the mower tank can evaporate, leaving residue in the carburetor. A faulty or dirty carburetor can make it impossible to start the machine.
- Worn Out Spark Plug: The spark plug is responsible for igniting the fuel-air mixture in your mower’s engine. It can become faulty in winter due to oil contamination or carbon fouling.
- Air Filter Problems: If the mower’s engine cranks but doesn’t start, that’s probably an issue with the air filter. A clogged air filter can cause problems when starting the machine.
- Dead or Weak Battery: Your mower’s battery can discharge if not properly stored during the winter. In addition, battery cells can die after extended use, something that may show up after staying idle during the winter season.
- Blocked Deck or Blades: Sometimes the starter rope may be hard to pull, or the mower can cut grass unevenly. In that case, the problem could be a blocked deck or blade. Excessive grass build-up under the deck or broken blades are the main culprits.
- Other Issues: Another problem can be a low oil level, triggering a safety response that blocks the motor from starting. You can also check for a faulty start switch or a broken flywheel key.
How to Start a Lawn Mower After Winter: Step-by-Step Process
You must do a few things to ensure your lawn mower starts without issues after the extended cold season. Below are the steps on how to start a lawn mower after winter:
Step 1: Check the oil and fuel levels.
Before starting your lawn mower, check if it has enough oil and fuel. Some people drain oil and fuel during winter to avoid degradation. Therefore, start by adding new oil and fuel.
Step 2: Check the spark plug condition.
The next step is to remove the spark plug and examine any signs of rust, carbon build-up, and corrosion. Regardless of its condition, clean the spark plug with a wire brush and reinstall it as needed.
Step 3: Prime the engine.
Priming the lawn mower engine is the process of drawing fuel into the carburetor. The primer bulb is a small rubber tool often located on the side of the engine next to the carburetor. If your machine has one, push it three or four times while engaging the choke.
Step 4: Connect the battery.
Some modern lawn mowers are battery-driven. It’s advisable to remove the battery and connect it back after winter. Start by cleaning the terminals with a wire brush and then attach the positive cable (red) and negative cable (black). You can apply dielectric grease to the terminals before connecting your battery.
Step 5: Start the lawn mower.
Now crank the engine by pulling the starter cord to start the lawn mower. Let it run for a few seconds for the oil to run through the metal components as you listen carefully for any unusual noise. If it doesn’t start, you can switch the spark plug with a new one. You should be ready to hit your lawn in minutes.
How to Prevent Lawn Mower Start-Up Problems Next Year
The last thing you want in spring is for your reliable companion to act up when you try to start it. Fortunately, there are several tips you can use to ensure your lawn mower gets to work without any issues. Below are a few tips to properly winterize your lawn mower:
- Remove the Battery: If your mower is battery-powered, disconnect it before storage. Clean the battery terminals with a metal brush and store it in a cool, dry place. Moreover, the battery charge should be between 30 and 60%.
- Drain Fuel: Gasoline can degrade during the dormant winter periods. Therefore, you can drain the fuel before storing your mower. If that’s too much work, you can fill the tank and add a fuel stabilizer. Make sure you run it for a few minutes after adding the solution.
- Drain the Oil: Before tucking away your machine, drain the old oil and replace it with a new one. This will ensure that the metal components of the machine will be in pristine condition come next year.
- Replace Air Filter: Inspect your lawn mower’s air filter for any signs of dust and debris before storage. If it’s dirty, you can clean it or replace it. That shouldn’t cost you much.
- Sharpen the Blades: Okay, your lawn mower should run smoothly even if the blades are blunt. However, you can remove the blades and sharpen them before storage to avoid too much maintenance work during spring. Check for any signs of damage or wear.
A Smarter Way to Handle Cleaning
Gas-driven lawn mowers are still the go-to choices for most people due to their efficiency and low price points. However, this can come at the expense of frequent maintenance or even replacements. Without proper winterization, you may face expensive repair bills in spring. Of course, frequent refilling of gas is also expensive.
Thankfully, times are changing with robot lawn mowers taking over. You can say goodbye to fumes, noise, gas, and messy oil changes. These little whizzes can quietly glide through your lawn, trimming grass with precision as you watch a movie or sip coffee. You don’t need to drag any horses or endure the smelly smoke. It’s like having a tiny gardener free of charge.
A great example is the eufy E18. This robot machine uses pure vision FSD technology and multiple high-precision cameras for a hands-free mowing experience. It provides precise position and distance measurements to create effective maps and mowing paths. Moreover, it uses 3D perception to avoid obstacles and collisions as it goes about its business. It’s a must-have in spring!
Sum up
These tips should help you get your lawn mower up and firing come the cleaning season. The trick lies in proper winterization, which ensures your machine goes into “hibernation” in good condition. However, if you experience any trouble, you may want to clean internal components like the carburetor. In that case, seek professional help from the manufacturer. Enjoy the holidays!
