Troubleshooting
Problem
Problem
Problem
Problem
Engine fails to start
Engine fails to start
Engine fails to start
Engine fails to start
Engine runs erratic
Engine runs erratic
Engine runs erratic
Engine runs erratic
Engine overheats
Engine overheats
Engine overheats
Engine overheats
Engine hesitates at high
Engine hesitates at high
Engine hesitates at high
Engine hesitates at high
RPM
RPM
RPM
RPM
Engine Idles rough
Engine Idles rough
Engine Idles rough
Engine Idles rough
Excessive vibration
Excessive vibration
Excessive vibration
Excessive vibration
Mower will not mulch grass
Mower will not mulch grass
Mower will not mulch grass
Mower will not mulch grass
Uneven cut
Uneven cut
Uneven cut
Uneven cut
30
Cause
Cause
Cause
Cause
1.
1.
1.
1.
PTO/Blade Engage knob engaged.
PTO/Blade Engage knob engaged.
PTO/Blade Engage knob engaged.
PTO/Blade Engage knob engaged.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Parking brake not engaged.
Parking brake not engaged.
Parking brake not engaged.
Parking brake not engaged.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Spark plug wire(s) disconnected.
Spark plug wire(s) disconnected.
Spark plug wire disconnected.
Spark plug wire disconnected.
4.
4.
4.
4.
Throttle control lever not in correct starting
Throttle control lever not in correct starting
Throttle control lever not in correct starting
Throttle control lever not in correct starting
position.
position.
position.
position.
5.
5.
5.
5.
Choke not activated
Choke not activated
Choke not activated
Choke not activated
6.
6.
6.
6.
Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel.
Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel.
Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel.
Fuel tank empty, or stale fuel.
7.
7.
7.
7.
Blocked fuel line.
Blocked fuel line.
Blocked fuel line.
Blocked fuel line.
8.
8.
8.
8.
Faulty spark plug.
Faulty spark plug(s).
Faulty spark plug(s).
Faulty spark plug.
9.
9.
9.
9.
Engine flooded.
Engine flooded.
Engine flooded.
Engine flooded.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Unit running with CHOKE activated.
Unit running with CHOKE activated.
Unit running with CHOKE activated.
Unit running with CHOKE activated.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Spark plug wires loose.
Spark plug wires loose.
Spark plug wire(s) loose.
Spark plug wire(s) loose.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.
Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.
Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.
Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.
4.
4.
4.
4.
Vent in gas cap plugged.
Vent in gas cap plugged.
Vent in gas cap plugged.
Vent in gas cap plugged.
5.
5.
5.
5.
Water or dirt in fuel system.
Water or dirt in fuel system.
Water or dirt in fuel system.
Water or dirt in fuel system.
6.
6.
6.
6.
Dirty air cleaner.
Dirty air cleaner.
Dirty air cleaner.
Dirty air cleaner.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Engine oil level low.
Engine oil level low.
Engine oil level low.
Engine oil level low.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Air flow restricted.
Air flow restricted.
Air flow restricted.
Air flow restricted.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Spark plug gap too close.
Spark plug gap too close.
Spark plug(s) gap too close.
Spark plug(s) gap too close.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Spark plug fouled, faulty or gap too wide.
Spark plug fouled, faulty or gap too wide.
Spark plug(s) fouled, faulty or gap too wide.
Spark plug(s) fouled, faulty or gap too wide.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Dirty air cleaner.
Dirty air cleaner.
Dirty air cleaner.
Dirty air cleaner.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Cutting blade loose or unbalanced.
Cutting blade loose or unbalanced.
Cutting blade loose or unbalanced.
Cutting blade loose or unbalanced.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Damaged or bent cutting blade.
Damaged or bent cutting blade.
Damaged or bent cutting blade.
Damaged or bent cutting blade.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Engine speed too low.
Engine speed too low.
Engine speed too low.
Engine speed too low.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Wet grass.
Wet grass.
Wet grass.
Wet grass.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Excessively high grass.
Excessively high grass.
Excessively high grass.
Excessively high grass.
4.
4.
4.
4.
Dull blade.
Dull blade.
Dull blade.
Dull blade.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Deck not leveled properly.
Deck not leveled properly.
Deck not leveled properly.
Deck not leveled properly.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Dull blade.
Dull blade.
Dull blade.
Dull blade.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Uneven tire pressure.
Uneven tire pressure.
Uneven tire pressure.
Uneven tire pressure.
Remedy
Remedy
Remedy
Remedy
1.
1.
1.
1.
Place knob in disengaged (OFF) position.
Place knob in disengaged (OFF) position.
Place knob in disengaged (OFF) position.
Place knob in disengaged (OFF) position.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Engage parking brake.
Engage parking brake.
Engage parking brake.
Engage parking brake.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Connect wire(s) to spark plug(s).
Connect wire to spark plug.
Connect wire(s) to spark plug(s).
Connect wire to spark plug.
4.
4.
4.
4.
Place throttle lever to FAST position.
Place throttle lever to FAST position.
Place throttle lever to FAST position.
Place throttle lever to FAST position.
5.
5.
5.
5.
Pull the CHOKE control outward.
Pull the CHOKE control outward.
Pull the CHOKE control outward.
Pull the CHOKE control outward.
6.
6.
6.
6.
Fill tank with clean, fresh (less than 30 days
Fill tank with clean, fresh (less than 30 days
Fill tank with clean, fresh (less than 30 days
Fill tank with clean, fresh (less than 30 days
old) gas.
old) gas.
old) gas.
old) gas.
7.
7.
7.
7.
Clean fuel line and replace fuel filter.
Clean fuel line and replace fuel filter.
Clean fuel line and replace fuel filter.
Clean fuel line and replace fuel filter.
8.
8.
8.
8.
Clean, adjust gap or replace plug.
Clean, adjust gap or replace plug(s).
Clean, adjust gap or replace plug(s).
Clean, adjust gap or replace plug.
9.
9.
9.
9.
Crank engine with throttle in FAST position.
Crank engine with throttle in FAST position.
Crank engine with throttle in FAST position.
Crank engine with throttle in FAST position.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Push CHOKE control in.
Push CHOKE control in.
Push CHOKE control in.
Push CHOKE control in.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Connect spark plug wire(s).
Connect and tighten spark plug wires.
Connect spark plug wire(s).
Connect and tighten spark plug wires.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Clean fuel line; fill tank with clean, fresh
Clean fuel line; fill tank with clean, fresh
Clean fuel line; fill tank with clean, fresh
Clean fuel line; fill tank with clean, fresh
gasoline and replace fuel filter.
gasoline and replace fuel filter.
gasoline and replace fuel filter.
gasoline and replace fuel filter.
4.
4.
4.
4.
Clear vent or replace cap if damaged.
Clear vent or replace cap if damaged.
Clear vent or replace cap if damaged.
Clear vent or replace cap if damaged.
5.
5.
5.
5.
Drain fuel tank. Refill with clean, fresh
Drain fuel tank. Refill with clean, fresh
Drain fuel tank. Refill with clean, fresh
Drain fuel tank. Refill with clean, fresh
gasoline.
gasoline.
gasoline.
gasoline.
6.
6.
6.
6.
Replace air cleaner paper element or clean
Replace air cleaner paper element or clean
Replace air cleaner paper element or clean
Replace air cleaner paper element or clean
foam precleaner.
foam precleaner.
foam precleaner.
foam precleaner.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Fill crankcase with proper amount and
Fill crankcase with proper amount and
Fill crankcase with proper amount and
Fill crankcase with proper amount and
weight of oil.
weight of oil.
weight of oil.
weight of oil.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Clean grass clippings and debris from around
Clean grass clippings and debris from around
Clean grass clippings and debris from around
Clean grass clippings and debris from around
the engine's cooling fins and blower housing.
the engine's cooling fins and blower housing.
the engine's cooling fins and blower housing.
the engine's cooling fins and blower housing.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Remove spark plug and reset the gap.
Remove spark plug and reset the gap.
Remove spark plug(s) and reset the gap.
Remove spark plug(s) and reset the gap.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Replace spark plug. Set plug gap.
Replace spark plug. Set plug gap.
Replace spark plug(s). Set plug gap.
Replace spark plug(s). Set plug gap.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Replace air cleaner element and/or clean
Replace air cleaner element and/or clean
Replace air cleaner element and/or clean
Replace air cleaner element and/or clean
pre-cleaner.
pre-cleaner.
pre-cleaner.
pre-cleaner.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Tighten blade and spindle.
Tighten blade and spindle.
Tighten blade and spindle.
Tighten blade and spindle.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Replace blade.
Replace blade.
Replace blade.
Replace blade.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Place throttle in FAST (rabbit) position.
Place throttle in FAST (rabbit) position.
Place throttle in FAST (rabbit) position.
Place throttle in FAST (rabbit) position.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Do not mulch when grass is wet.
Do not mulch when grass is wet.
Do not mulch when grass is wet.
Do not mulch when grass is wet.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Mow once at a high cutting height, then
Mow once at a high cutting height, then
Mow once at a high cutting height, then
Mow once at a high cutting height, then
mow again at desired height or make a
mow again at desired height or make a
mow again at desired height or make a
mow again at desired height or make a
narrower cutting swath.
narrower cutting swath.
narrower cutting swath.
narrower cutting swath.
4.
4.
4.
4.
Sharpen or replace blade.
Sharpen or replace blade.
Sharpen or replace blade.
Sharpen or replace blade.
1.
1.
1.
1.
Perform side-to-side deck adjustment.
Perform side-to-side deck adjustment.
Perform side-to-side deck adjustment.
Perform side-to-side deck adjustment.
2.
2.
2.
2.
Sharpen or replace blade.
Sharpen or replace blade.
Sharpen or replace blade.
Sharpen or replace blade.
3.
3.
3.
3.
Check tire pressure in all four tires.
Check tire pressure in all four tires.
Check tire pressure in all four tires.
Check tire pressure in all four tires.
8