Lawnmower woes

[Lumberjack]

Stupidly, I didn't pay enough attention to my mower. Two seasons without any maintenance or upkeep and it won't start. I think in trying to fix it, I've only made the problem worse.

I tried to start it last week. Cord pulled fine, regular amount of tension, but it wouldn't start. Realized that I'd had this gas for two years, and while I had put some stabilizer in it when I first bought it, it was a tiny amount vs 4 gal of (regular) gas. So then I decided to drain the gas by tipping the mower onto it's side. I get most of the gas out. For kicks, I try again. On first pull, engine ignites with a big surge of black smoke, idles for 10 seconds, and then shuts off. I fill it with fresh gas. It doesn't start.

I tip it over again (stupid, I now realize) and clean out the underside to ensure nothing is blocking the blade. Still nothing. Guy at Lowes tells me to use Gumout in the carburetor, so I do...except in hindsight it's not the carb - I spray almost the whole bottle into the muffler. Miscommunication there. He also told me to siphon out the old oil (I got a siphon) and replace it. Well I overfill the oil to a hilarious degree (and don't realize it at the time) and it still won't fire. So next I replace the spark plug - still nothing.

In the course of all this, I've tipped, tilted, and turned this poor mower over 10+ times. There is now oil seeping out of the air filter, to the point that it's dripping out of the air filter casing.

At this point, I realize that I should've put a bit more thought into this and I watch a bunch of youtube videos and review some diagrams. Now I understand all the things I've done wrong, and I am waiting on a replacement air filter.

But what I can't figure out from the internet is if, in all my mishandling, I've brutalized this poor engine beyond amateur redemption. Given the severity of this mistreatment, is it possible I've doomed this mower? Or might the new air filter (arriving Thursday) solve the problems? Any other modest maintenance I can do or things I should check if the air filter doesn't do the trick, or have I crossed into small engine mechanic territory now to undo all my damage? Any speculation or advice is welcome.

[Aggie1999]

Most likely the carb is gummed up from letting the gas sit for a couple years. Spraying carb cleaner into the assembled carb won't always fix the issue as it doesn't get into all the little places. I had this same problem with a power washer I let sit for 3+ years with gas. I took the carb apart and got all the brown gunk out with carb cleaner. Had to do it twice as the first time I didn't clean the "needle" thoroughly enough that regulates the gas. After cleaning twice it fired right up. Take the carb apart and clean it. It's not that hard. Just go slowly and keep track on how to re-assemble it. If that doesn't work then take it to a small engine shop, assuming the mower is worth the repair. You can also get cheap full carb replacements on ebay but I think that is typically for the 2-stroke weed eater type mowers.

On the oil, you shouldn't need a siphon. On the bottom of the motor under the deck there will be a drain plug. Tilt the motor on it's side where the drain plug is at the top, remove the drain plug and then put the motor back upright on top of a oil pan. The oil will run out. When empty (5 mins or so) re-install the oil plug and fill the engine up with oil through the dip stick tube.

[katsiki]

If the mower is worth it (ie not cheap, $99 one), you might consider taking it to Home Depot.  Their tool & rental department will diagnose it.  If it is a dirty or clogged carb, it will be about $80.  I understand you can do this yourself if you're handy too.

[trammatic]

Find the engine brand and size.  Look for a replacement carb on Amazon.  Just a random search shows a briggs and stratton carb for a 5.5 hp engine on sale for $32.  Swap it out and let 'er go.

[Cranky]

Is there not actually a lawn mower repair place? We take ours in every other year to get the blades sharpened. They also fix snowblowers.

[zolotiyeruki]

Take apart and clean the carb.  Make sure to put in the right amount of oil.  Put in some gas, let it sit for a couple minutes to make sure it gets into the carb.  Then start it.  It may take a bunch of pulls the first time, but once it gets going once, it should be easier after that.

[Lumberjack]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I watched some videos about cleaning the carburetor and...things didn't go well. Mine was not built the same way as the one in the video, and long story short when I opened it up the float fell apart. I thought I put it back together correctly (as correctly as I could infer given it came apart as I was taking the bowl off) but when I poured in fresh gas it started leaking everywhere. So new carburetor it is!

[Spork]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I watched some videos about cleaning the carburetor and...things didn't go well. Mine was not built the same way as the one in the video, and long story short when I opened it up the float fell apart. I thought I put it back together correctly (as correctly as I could infer given it came apart as I was taking the bowl off) but when I poured in fresh gas it started leaking everywhere. So new carburetor it is!

There is also the very high chance that the various little rubber gaskets are turned to snot (or dry/cracked... or stretched... or...).  Ethanol seems to be particularly hard on lawn equipment (or lawn equipment has not caught up to building things that are ethanol tolerant). 

New carb is an easy fix.  Carb rebuild kit might fix it as well.  (I've occasionally seen where the rebuild kit costs as much as a replacement though.)

[Just Joe]

You'd be shocked at how much abuse these little engines can tolerate. Don't be too hard on yourself. It is a worthwhile crusade to fix this one yourself. The shops here are behind by weeks already.

[intellectsucks]

Better solution: buy a fiskars reel mower on Craigslist. I got one that was used for one season for $70. It's as easy to push as any gasoline mower I've ever used. Also, I haven't had to deal with maintenance, noise, or emissions since I've had it. Better for your grass too.

[FLBiker]

My reel mower experience (w/ Florida "grass") was less positive than the previous posters, but with delicate grass / a small yard, I'd recommend it.  Personally, I switched to a corded electric mower a three years ago and I love it.  It's light, powerful, and dead easy to start / maintain.  I think I paid $130 or so on Amazon.

[Cache_Stash]

Put a little seafoam in the gas tank every time you fill it.  This will keep the carb from getting gummed up and it removes water from the gas, as well.

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

Reel mower or electric mower. Incredibly more convenient, better for your health, and better for the environment.

[tnevy4]

Whenever I get to the point where I have to mow again I am getting a reel mower. I will probably get a battery string trimmer too.

[Fishindude]

Put a little seafoam in the gas tank every time you fill it.  This will keep the carb from getting gummed up and it removes water from the gas, as well.

Good advice for all of your small gasoline engines.
Also, buy the non-ethanol fuel if you can find it.

[katsiki]

Seafoam?

[The Money Monk]

Seafoam?

This stuff: http://amzn.to/2r2CTXr

[katsiki]

Seafoam?

This stuff: http://amzn.to/2r2CTXr

Thanks!  Is this better than a fuel stabilizer, like Stabil?

[Spork]

Seafoam?

This stuff: http://amzn.to/2r2CTXr

Thanks!  Is this better than a fuel stabilizer, like Stabil?

I believe they serve 2 different purposes:
seafoam: clean out fouled up/gummed up engine/carb/etc.
stabil: keep ethanol based fuels from deteriorating as fast

Personally: I use Stabil on all small engines and on the "old car" that doesn't get driven much.  I hear people swear by seafoam, but have never tried it.  Usually if/when carbs get gummed up, I just pull them off and take them apart.  (Which means maybe I *should* be trying seaform first, minimally.)

[Milspecstache]

I use ethanol-free in all of my small engines after an $800 bill in 2011 cleaning carbs. Since then I've had no issues in the 5 engines I run at my place.

There is a new product available at Lowes and Home Depot called 'Mechanic in a Bottle' that is supposed to clean carbs.  I've used it on less-than-perfect running equipment and found it to be very helpful.  I'd try that as a cheap fix.

I also run Stabil in all of my ethanol-free fuel.  I store a good bit as I live in the country and pay the 'generator-tax' of keeping a generator with fuel ready to go at all times (lost power for 2 weeks and 1.5 weeks in the first year we lived here in 2011!).