I tried starting my mower at the weekend and on the first pull there was a clang a bit like someone hitting the engine with a hammer. After this it wouldn't start for quite a few pulls - sometimes just not starting and other times there was so much resistance that the front wheels came right off the ground. It did finally start but was then pumping out white smoke. I suspect something is very wrong but don't know where to start looking. The mower is a Flymo LC400.

Peter Lusmore, April 2010

Mower starts but cuts out after a few seconds

Paul, August 2012

i have done what peter said with mine and it works but the engine is still having mixed revs?????

matt, July 2011

Had another play yesterday, it started on the 3rd or 4th pull and seemed to run OK but as it warmed up the white smoke started to appear again. Does this help point to anything?

Peter Lusmore, May 2010

The mower was cleaned underneath before it was put away at the end of the season and worked perfectly since the start of the season until last Sunday. Oil was replaced over a month ago and was cutting perfectly after that.

Peter Lusmore, April 2010

Have you recently cleaned it underneath, and if so did you tip it on its side to do this and whilst on its side did you move the blade around?

Has the mower been used since you filled it with oil and was it working fine when you put it away after last using it?

pleasant, April 2010

The mower hasn't been overfilled with oil as I filled it at the start of the season and was scrupulous about not putting too much in. Also, it is stored flat in my shed not tipped up in any way.

I have read somewhere about this possibly being caused by a head gasket failure or valves/rings or something but don't know how to check for this. Any ideas or do I take it into a repair shop and hope they can fix it for a reasonable sum? It isn't a hugely expensive machine so I don't want to throw wads of money at it if it is truly bust.

Peter Lusmore, April 2010

Absolute rubbish from Husqvarna man. White smoke indicates the engine is burning oil. Resistance in the recoil tells me it is either overfilled with oil or you have stored the mower with the front facing down. Take out the dipstick wipe it and then re-check the level. It shouldn't be above the highest mark on the stick. If it is remove the excess then re-check the level. If it's been stored nose down then oil whas drained past the piston rings and got into the compressiuon chamber. If this is the case- remove the spark plug and pull over the engine. Any excess oil will be forced out of the plug hole. Clean the plug and replace. Start the engine ad leave running to burn off excess oil that has migrated into the exhaust and engine breather. After a minute or so there shoul be less white smoke. Stop the engine and check the oil level and top up if necessary.

pleasant, April 2010

Terminal engine failure, new engine or short block and rebuild.

Husqvarna man, April 2010