On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 21:57:12 GMT, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:

Pull the spark plug wire off, and secure it well away from the spark
plug.

Leave the plug in.

Tip the mower on its side, and try to turn the blade backwards of the
usual direction.

I thought with the plug in, the blade could kick back when released or
when it slipped out of one's hand. Not enough to cut off a finger,
but enough to hurt, no?

And the engine won't start because the spark plug wire is off and
"secured" "well away", if it really is. The first time, it probably
will be. The second or third time, one might forget. And I used to
hook the wire to the fuel line, which in an old mower was a convenient
place, but sometimes it sprang loose and went back to within a quarter
inch of the plug, close enough for the engine to run.

And anyone who is pushing the blade backwards might want to push it
forwards too, not realizing it would be more likely to start.

One could use a stick to push the blade backwards. God only gave us
10 fingers.

If it spins freely, scrap the mower, and get another one. If it binds
and gets hard to turn at one or two places in the revolution, then you
have compression. Proceed to look for other problems.