Lawn mower won't start troubleshooting video: can't pull recoil pull cord

Tools and equipment needed

• Work gloves

• Screwdriver

• Spark plug wrench

• Clamp

Hi, this is Wayne, from PartsDirect. Today we’re going to talk about some troubleshooting steps to figure out what's wrong when you can't pull the recoil starter rope, also known as a pull cord, on your lawn mower.

Something is blocking the blade

First, let’s check for a blade obstruction. Disconnect the spark plug wire, put on some work gloves and tip the mower on its side with the air filter up. If you see a branch or other item under the mower deck that’s preventing the blade from spinning, remove it. Reconnect the spark plug, and you should now be able to start the mower.

If you didn't find anything blocking the blade, there might be a problem with the recoil starter or the engine might be locked up.

The recoil starter doesn't work

We'll remove the blower housing to check the recoil starter. On this type of engine, the blower housing is easy to remove, and the recoil starter conveniently comes off with the housing. Disconnect the spark plug again and release the rope from the lawn mower handle. Remove the screws from the blower housing and pull the housing off the engine.

Pull the starter rope to see if the recoil starter works. If the starter is locked up or cracked, replace it. The recoil starter is easy to replace in this lawn mower. Pull off the recoil starter guard and then release the recoil starter from the tabs on the blower housing. Remove the recoil starter and snap the new one into the tabs. Reinstall the recoil starter guard and then you're ready to reattach the blower housing to the engine.

The engine failed

If the recoil starter works, then the engine could have oil in the cylinder that is causing a hydraulic lock. Tipping the mower forward or to the side with the air filter down can fill the cylinder with oil. The piston can't compress the liquid oil, so the engine seizes up. To check for this problem, remove the spark plug. Clamp the bail control bar down to release the blade brake. Manually rotate the starter cup to see if the engine rotates with the spark plug removed.

If the engine spins with the spark plug removed, reinstall the blower housing and pull the cord several times to clear the oil out of the cylinder. Remove the clamp from the bail control bar. Reinstall the spark plug and reconnect the spark plug wire. You may find that the engine starts after clearing the cylinder. The engine may sputter and smoke until the cylinder burns off the oil.

If you can't rotate the starter cup with the spark plug removed, then the engine likely has had an internal failure such as a bent crankshaft or locked-up piston. Have a service technician examine and repair the engine.

Once you have the engine repaired, you can get back to mowing.

I hope this video helps you out today. Be sure to check out other videos on the Sears PartsDirect YouTube Channel. Subscribe if you like them, and you’ll be among the first to know when we upload new repair videos.