12 Lawn Mower Problems You Can Fix Yourself

Posted by Delta Gatti on Friday, April 5, 2024
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Lawn Mower Loses Speed

If your mower slows noticeably during use, check the blade. Any buildup of dirt and grass clippings can restrict the blade’s movement, causing the engine to work harder.

Shut off the mower, disconnect the spark plug wire, then turn the mower over. Clean dirt and grass from the blade and underside of the mower deck.

Another possibility is a dirty air filter. Dust and debris can restrict air as it moves through the engine, leading to improper combustion and loss of power. Fix this by cleaning or replacing the air filter.

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Lawn Mower Won’t Turn Off

Sometimes a lawn mower will start and run just fine, but won’t turn off when you release the blade control handle. This is often caused when the mower’s switch stop tab doesn’t contact the control bracket when you release the handle. Chances are the mower took a hard impact at some point, knocking these two parts askew.

The fix is easy as long as you know where to look. Remove the protective shroud from the top of the engine, then find the switch stop. (Refer to your owner’s manual if you’re unsure.) Grab a screwdriver and gently bend the switch stop downward until it touches the control bracket. Once that’s done, your mower should shut off just fine.

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Lawn Mower Consumes Too Much Gas

Most times when I’ve dealt with a lawn mower that burns too much gas, it’s because of a dirty air filter. Air filters allow a specific amount of air into the engine to create the gas-air mixture needed for proper combustion. If your engine is running too rich, chances are there’s a dirty filter restricting air flow, causing it burn more gas and less air than it should.

Remove the air filter and give it a good cleaning with an air compressor, or simply buy and install a new one.

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