Alan asked ... Problem with JCB 3CX transmission?    |    Lou asked ... Mac Allister 35cm electric lawn mower?    |    Ronald Charlwood asked ... Beko fridge/freezer not cold enough?    |    John Broadbent asked ... Advise?    |    suzy asked ... Brother kh-940 not in sync with DAK9 in interactive knitting?    |    Click here to ask your question

mower wont start?

I inherited an older snapper riding mower, It has not been run in about 3 yrs. I have replaced the plug, cleaned the gas tank, changed the oil, and replaced the battery. It will turn over all day long, can smell gas and cranks harder when you put on full choke, but nothing. I have noticed the neg cable on the battery that grounds will heat up and smoke a little when craking. any ideas?
billy, July 2009
The cables shouldn't heat up at all really - unless you have been cranking for ages...it shows that one of the connections has a resistance due to dirt or rust. Anyway - did you check that the plug is actually sparking? Take it out, lay it on a metal part of the engine, and crank away, looking for a tiny blue spark. If there is a spark, try a spoonful of fuel down the plug hole, and see if the engine fires that way.

John, July 2009
link Click here to see other fixes for Snapper.