{"id":6934,"date":"2021-04-20T12:28:42","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T12:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/notsealed.com\/?p=6934"},"modified":"2023-07-27T06:59:07","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T06:59:07","slug":"how-to-fix-a-lawn-mower-that-runs-for-a-while-then-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/notsealed.com\/how-to-fix-a-lawn-mower-that-runs-for-a-while-then-dies.html","title":{"rendered":"How to fix a lawn mower that runs for a while then dies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
I want to show you what to do if your lawn mower runs for a while and then dies. It is one of the most common problems affecting older lawn mowers but it’s an easy fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is happening is that the lawn mower is starving for fuel, spark, or air. You will need all three for a long-running engine. In this post, we will show you how to check for all three issues easily and fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lawn mower will get up to running temp within a few minutes. This is about the length of time it takes for fuel to run out of the carburetor. This is a great indication that you have a fuel restriction in the carburetor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens is the fuel is not getting from the bottom of the carburetor bowl into the engine. Often this is because of a swollen needle seat, sticky float, or a blockage. You will need to remove the carburetor to fix this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fuel restrictions can be either foreign material like grass, dirt, or air filter material or a swollen pilot needle seat in the carburetor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A quick test is to start your lawn mower and remove the fuel tank cap. This will test if there is a problem with the one-way valve in the filling cap. If your filling cap is blocked a vacuum will prevent fuel from going into the carburetor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your lawn mower still runs for a while and then dies with the fuel cap off then check for blockages in the fuel lines. Sometimes the fuel lines can swell up and restrict fuel flow. <\/p>\n\n\n