need help with lawnmower

 My lawnmower has been on the fritz all summer.  It started cutting out when
it was running.  I took it to the local neighborhood guy (he has a
landscaping business & fixes mowers on the side) and he "tuned it up" and
etc. and it ran fine.  For awhile.

Then the pull rope broke.  I replaced it.  It ran fine.

Then a couple weeks later it became difficult to start.  As in 15-20 pulls
and a shoulder almost out of joint trying.  And when it was turned off it
wouldn't start again.

I took it back.  He said it was the starter, and replaced it.  Cost $80 for
that and a wheel lock which was broken.

I took it home.  I couldn't start it.  I took it back.  He said it was
fine--he could start it on the third pull.  Sometimes the first.

Meantime I'd borrowed my neighbor's mower which was indeed possible for me
to start on the first pull.  In fact, I often didn't even have to pull the
rope out all the way.

I still can't start mine and am at my wits end.  I think he doesn't know how
to fix it, and doesn't see the problem.  He says "its old" and like old
things & people is now more difficult to start.  I can't agree.

Oh, and by the way, he let me try to start his lawn mower.  I had no
trouble.  The rope gives a lot of resistance, but you can feel it engaging
the motor.  I don't get that kind of feedback from mine.

Yet he insists there is nothing wrong with mine.

Does anybody have any ideas before I take it to another repair shop and have
to pay another $80?  I am pretty strong, but unwilling to destroy my arm
yanking on this crank.

  My best advise: Buy a Honda

 
Brand, model, age, size of mower and engine?

 Betsy wrote:

When was the last time you replaced the spark plug? Maybe it's time to
do so again.

Does it smell "gassy" when you pull it over and it doesn't start? If it
doesn't by the third or fourth pull then if it has a choke, that isn't
working, or if it doesn't have one but uses a primer bulb you press two
or three times, that isn't doing it's thing.

Try buying a spray can of automobile "starter fluid" and spray some into
the air cleaner, then try and start it. If it fires right up, then you
have a choke or primer problem.

Let us know what works and doesn't,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented."

 Thanks.  It has a primer bulb.  I push it about 10 times (at his
suggestion).  I used to only have to push it 3 times.  It smells gassy when
I pull it and it doesn't start.  I have wondered if I flooded it, so have
come back and tried to start it without pushing the bulb.  No dice.

He maintains the plug is fine.  I witnessed him start it several times
today.  He has no problem.  But he is a lot stronger than me.  But I used to
have no problem with it, either.  I just don't get it.