DIYbanter - how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

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how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

I've been having problems with my Murray lawnmower. It idles very low
and stalls frequently.

This problem started when the wheel broke on my lawnmower, so I had to
tilt the mower back to add a new bolt on it. Since i did that, all
kinds of fluids are inside parts that aren't supposed to have fluids.

I took off the part above the gas tank (sorry, I'm a computer geek,
not a lawnmower handy man, so I don't know the names of these parts)
and noticed that the greenish colored filter was soaked with a liquid
that smelled like gas and looked like oil. I squeezed it dry as much
as I could with a large rag and replaced it.
Then I removed the spark plug and noticed that there was oil in the
threads and the top of the plug was very black and looked burnt. I
wiped it clean as much as I could and replaced it.

Then I added new gas since I heard that last season's gas might be the
cause of the low idle problem.
I still have the problem of low idle and frequent stalls.

So basically my question is this: what else can I try and how do I
clean all the parts that're full of fluids that aren't supposed to be?

Thanks in advance!

how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

"fantabular" wrote in message
om...
I've been having problems with my Murray lawnmower. It idles very low
and stalls frequently.

This problem started when the wheel broke on my lawnmower, so I had to
tilt the mower back to add a new bolt on it. Since i did that, all
kinds of fluids are inside parts that aren't supposed to have fluids.

I took off the part above the gas tank (sorry, I'm a computer geek,
not a lawnmower handy man, so I don't know the names of these parts)
and noticed that the greenish colored filter was soaked with a liquid
that smelled like gas and looked like oil. I squeezed it dry as much
as I could with a large rag and replaced it.
Then I removed the spark plug and noticed that there was oil in the
threads and the top of the plug was very black and looked burnt. I
wiped it clean as much as I could and replaced it.

The foam filter element should have some oil in it to help the filtering
action. I clean mine and oil it at the start of every mowing season. I over
oiled it once and the engine ran badly. It wasn't getting air so I squeezed
out the excess and it ran perfect. You may have also have gotten gas in the
oil. That happened to me when I tilted the mower over.

Then I added new gas since I heard that last season's gas might be the
cause of the low idle problem.
I still have the problem of low idle and frequent stalls.

The gas could have gone stale as they call it. I always dump left over gas
into the car in the Fall and start with new gas in the spring.

So basically my question is this: what else can I try and how do I
clean all the parts that're full of fluids that aren't supposed to be?

Thanks in advance!

how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

did it leak gas in the oil, is the level high, change it.

how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

fantabular wrote:

I've been having problems with my Murray lawnmower. It idles very low
and stalls frequently.

This problem started when the wheel broke on my lawnmower, so I had to
tilt the mower back to add a new bolt on it. Since i did that, all
kinds of fluids are inside parts that aren't supposed to have fluids.

I took off the part above the gas tank (sorry, I'm a computer geek,
not a lawnmower handy man, so I don't know the names of these parts)
and noticed that the greenish colored filter was soaked with a liquid
that smelled like gas and looked like oil. I squeezed it dry as much
as I could with a large rag and replaced it.
Then I removed the spark plug and noticed that there was oil in the
threads and the top of the plug was very black and looked burnt. I
wiped it clean as much as I could and replaced it.

Then I added new gas since I heard that last season's gas might be the
cause of the low idle problem.
I still have the problem of low idle and frequent stalls.

So basically my question is this: what else can I try and how do I
clean all the parts that're full of fluids that aren't supposed to be?

Thanks in advance!

Oil in the filter (green foam thing)? I beg to disagree. There shouldn't
be any there. Clean it by pouring gas through it or buy some carburetor
cleaner at a car parts place. Spray it into the foam and squeeze it out.
Do it a few times until the foam is clean. Let it air dry. Then
replace. If it is choked up with oil, it can't breathe. And the engine
won't run correctly.

Sure, old gas can cause problems. But have you been running it all spring
or was this the first time you ran it? If the former, then you don't have
a gas problem. If the latter, it's still iffy. I think this stale gas
thing is overhyped. I've never experienced it myself. But it couldn't
hurt to replace with fresh gas either.

Oil and grunge on the plug. PROBABLY the culprit. The spark plug is one
of the more important things to have clean and fresh on a lawmower.
Followed closely by a clean air filter (green foam thing). Personally, I
advise buying a new spark plug at your local dealer or home improvement
store very spring. Wiping it clean won't do. Brushing with a wire brush
will often extend the life, but for all of two or three bucks, just get a
new one. You'll be amazed at how better a lawnmower will run with just a
plug change.

Just my two cents...

how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

Sixeye wrote:

fantabular wrote:

I've been having problems with my Murray lawnmower. It idles very low
and stalls frequently.

This problem started when the wheel broke on my lawnmower, so I had to
tilt the mower back to add a new bolt on it. Since i did that, all
kinds of fluids are inside parts that aren't supposed to have fluids.

I took off the part above the gas tank (sorry, I'm a computer geek,
not a lawnmower handy man, so I don't know the names of these parts)
and noticed that the greenish colored filter was soaked with a liquid
that smelled like gas and looked like oil. I squeezed it dry as much
as I could with a large rag and replaced it.
Then I removed the spark plug and noticed that there was oil in the
threads and the top of the plug was very black and looked burnt. I
wiped it clean as much as I could and replaced it.

Then I added new gas since I heard that last season's gas might be the
cause of the low idle problem.
I still have the problem of low idle and frequent stalls.

So basically my question is this: what else can I try and how do I
clean all the parts that're full of fluids that aren't supposed to be?

Thanks in advance!

Oil in the filter (green foam thing)? I beg to disagree. There shouldn't
be any there. Clean it by pouring gas through it or buy some carburetor
cleaner at a car parts place. Spray it into the foam and squeeze it out.
Do it a few times until the foam is clean. Let it air dry. Then
replace. If it is choked up with oil, it can't breathe. And the engine
won't run correctly.

Sure, old gas can cause problems. But have you been running it all spring
or was this the first time you ran it? If the former, then you don't have
a gas problem. If the latter, it's still iffy. I think this stale gas
thing is overhyped. I've never experienced it myself. But it couldn't
hurt to replace with fresh gas either.

Oil and grunge on the plug. PROBABLY the culprit. The spark plug is one
of the more important things to have clean and fresh on a lawmower.
Followed closely by a clean air filter (green foam thing). Personally, I
advise buying a new spark plug at your local dealer or home improvement
store very spring. Wiping it clean won't do. Brushing with a wire brush
will often extend the life, but for all of two or three bucks, just get a
new one. You'll be amazed at how better a lawnmower will run with just a
plug change.

Just my two cents...

Hi,
Doesn't foam filter need a thin coat of oil to be effective?
Tony

how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

Sixeye,

Many lawn mower air filters are oiled. The OP should check his owners
manual for proper maintenance.

Dave M.

how to clean a lawnmower's engine (stalling problems)

IRONDOG wrote:

Sixeye,
You had better look at this link:
http://www.briggsandstratton.com/dis...sp?DocID=64059

DOHHH! Sorry for the bad info!