It's not worth taking in for repair as the labour would cost more
then the thing is worth.
Definitely, especially if it is something you can do yourself. I bought a
brand new Murray lawnmower a couple of weeks ago for $20 that the guy
couldn't get running, and all I did was clean the float bowl and stick a
needle in the jet.
I know nothing about your experience with external combustion engines. All
in all, they are fairly simple, and a one cylinder L head lawnmower is about
as simple as it gets, yet they ARE cranky, and any small obstruction or
problem will cause them not to work, and be very frustrating.
First, check and see if the spark plug is sparking. Take it out, put the
cable on there, and sit it on the metal around the hole it came out of. It
is much more fun if you have a brother-in-law or kid who will hold on to it
while you crank it, but they only fall for it once. Spin it and see if you
have a spark. No spark, that's your problem, and go from there.
If it is sparking, try priming it. Sometimes just the attempted starting of
a motor, or a short starting will suck loose the obstruction, or at least
get it running so you can further diagnose it.
That being said, priming and starting motors can be a very dangerous thing
to do. You basically do not want more than one cup of gasoline near what
you're doing. Drain the tank, or just tip the mower over, and get rid of
the gas in the tank. Smell it first. If it smells like gas, it's probably
good. If it smells like varnish, it needs to be dumped. Take off the air
cleaner, and with a short hose, or little eyedropper (or any equivalent,
like a ketchup squirter) put a LITTLE gas in the opening. Now be sure to
put the rest of the gas about ten feet away. Crank the motor, and see if
you can get it to do anything at all. If you get a sign of life, try to
prime it a couple of times and see if it will run.
If not, the next thing to do is to remove the float bowl. That is on the
bottom of the carburetor, and on lots, it is held in place by one central
bolt that is also the jet. Unscrew that and CAREFULLY take off the bowl,
trying not to screw up the gasket. Look in there and see if there is water
or crud. Wash it out with gas. Take a needle and insert it in the jet and
wash that with gas, too. On some models, it is held in place by four or
more screws, and you have to take the carb off the motor.
Here's where it gets complicated. If priming and checking the float bowl
don't solve your problem, you will probably have to take off the carb and
clean it. These are not rocket science, but they do have some small parts,
and intricate nuances. Sit out a towel on your work bench, and keep it
close down on the towel so that if a spring or rod or small part falls out,
you don't lose it.
They make carb rebuild kits for almost any small engine. Included in these
are gaskets, primer bulbs, and other things. By the time you get the carb
apart, you should be able to see something that is amiss, such as rust,
crud, a split primer bulb, cracked float, etc.
Now, on to the major components.
Could be cracked ring, burned valve, burned piston, seized piston, stuck
valve, broken valve, foreign matter keeping valve open, all sorts of stuff
that may either be fatal or easily changed.
Only you know what your capabilities are, but if you have a dead lawnmower,
what harm is it to pull the head and learn by doing an autopsy? Learn how
they work, and fiddle with the thing until you get how it works.
Most generally, unless the motor has been run without oil, it is a simple
carburetor problem. The timing is set because the flywheel is on a keyway,
and there is no ignition timing adjustment. It either fires or not.
Sometimes removing the flywheel, and sandpapering the components that
generate the spark solve the problem, or at least help by making the spark
more robust. Rust inside the area that creates the spark is a common
problem.
Small motors are simple yet challenging. And many times when you do find
the problem it's one of those DUH moments.
Unless you want to spend $50 or more and take it to a shop, most times you
can DIY, which is why we're here, isn't it?
No? ....................
Steve
visit my blog at
http://cabgbypasssurgery.com watch for the book
A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.