Mowing your lawn several times a month during the growing season keeps your yard well-groomed while encouraging healthy grass growth. However, equipment issues could prevent you from tending to your lawn and garden. This guide will outline common problems associated with lawnmowers, how to address them, and when to seek lawnmower repairs.

4 Common Lawnmower Problems

1. Failure to Start

If your lawnmower won’t start and you’ve recently added fuel, check the tank. If it’s empty, the reservoir may have a leak. Dirty and contaminated fuel can deteriorate the interior of the container, creating holes. Replace the tank and protect it by using a fuel stabilizer to keep the fluids fresh. 

2. Engine Smoke 

Smoke coming from your engine can cause panic. However, it’s probably less critical than you think. The oil chamber may be too full, so check it for overflow. The oil cap could also be loose.

If the problem persists after removing excess oil and tightening the cap, hire a mechanic to check the chamber for leaks. 

3. Breakdowns

If your lawnmower engine sputters out while in use, the filter may be clogged. Try removing and cleaning the filter before replacing it. Grass that is too tall for the mower blades could also cause your lawnmower to stall. Adjust the cutting height of the blades.

If these fixes don’t work, you may need to replace the engine’s spark plugs to provide the proper ignition and combustion power to the fuel chamber.

4. Resistant Starter

If the starter rope is stuck, this could indicate a lack of engagement with the engine’s flywheel brake. Make sure you press the brake firmly against the handle when pulling the rope. 

If this doesn’t solve the issue, inspect the lawnmower blades. If they’re dragging on the ground or covered in clippings, put the lawnmower on a steady surface, unplug the spark plugs, and clean the blades before trying again. If the equipment is still giving you trouble, hire a mechanic to perform lawnmower repairs like replacing the flywheel brake or cutting blades.

Restore your lawn care equipment to its proper function with lawnmower repairs from You Save Auto Repair. They also provide auto parts, accessories, and vehicle repairs to drivers throughout Covington, KY. Call (859) 360-3465 to get a quote on repairs and place an order for car parts. Visit their website to learn more about their service offerings.