I have a Toro mower that was new this spring. It has worked great all summer up until now. I do use the additive to the gas to make the mower start easily ( on the first or second pull). I just added the bottom inch or so left in my gas container and now the mower will not run. It will start but will not run. On the first start it ran for about 2 minutes or so and I started mowing before it died out. On subsequent starts it dies after a few seconds.
The fact that it ran on the first start makes me think that there may have been water in the gas that I added. I did check the gas container to make sure there was no settlement in the bottom. I live in MS so it is very humid here and the can sits outside. I have had this problem once before with a mower from Sears. At that time I had not added any gas. Upon having that mower serviced the carburator was the problem as it did have water in it. I would like to know how I can avoid this problem in the future and how I can clean and dry the carburator assuming this is the problem. To me it seems the likely answer.
I am a 65 year old woman so I don't think I can take the carburator off and clean it? My son could if he had instructions on how to do it. Should I replace the plug and filter even though this was a new mower and has not been used more than 10 times or so?
Going for repairs is getting to be expensive! Thanks for any help you can offer -
PS Could I dump all the gas in the mower and add new and keep starting it until the fresh gas gets into the carburator? Would that get the water out of the carburator - assuming this is the problem? Or could I spray the carburator with something that would dry it?

June Bailey, August 2004

June I'll try to help you.Yes try and get as much of the old gas out of the mower that you can. Then take the spark plug out and crank the motor over several times. This will forse any water or gas that might be in the motor out.Than have your son hook the plug wire back on the plug. Do not put the plug back in the mower. Instead with rubber gloves hold the plug base against something metel on the mower. Look at the end of the plug where the fire comes out to see if you are getting fire. It should be a light to medium blue ark.If you don't see this than replace the plug. It has fouled out and will not work propertly. After doing this replace the plug old or new and put clean gas back into the mower. Don't fill it up. Just enough to start and run the mower. If it starts and runs problem solved. Store in a shed or shelter with a tarp over it. This will help with condensation problems. If this doesn't work.Have your son go to the library and Ask for a lawn mower repair manual for that type of motor. It will give him detail information on how to remove the carb and repair it. Good luck and I hope I have helped you.

Lester (chetsbro1@cs.com), September 2004