sible.
Power Lawn Mower

Experienced gardeners share their insights in answering this question :
Ouch! Is the clanking sound coming from the blade / deck or is it in the engine. It sounds like you hit a stump or a rock in that tall grass and stopped the blade. Under normal operation, what is suppose to happen is that the timing key will break off and you can replace it. If not, then usually the crank shaft will get bent and in such case, you probably need to replace the engine. It is also possible that on the lighter side, something got knocked out of kilter and the blade is hitting the deck on one side. Look underneath and turn the blade AFTER YOU REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE!!! NEVER EVER TURN THE BLADE WITH THE PLUG WIRE ATTACHED; THE ENGINE COULD START AND CUT OFF YOUR HAND!!! See if the blade is hitting anything in its full revolution. If it is, it’ll make a hell of a racket. Good Luck.James

How to Identify and Fix Common Gardening Problems ?

We provide a variety of viewpoints on how to identify and fix common gardening problems. Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced gardeners :

Take a look at the blade under the mower deck. Sometimes the knocking sound you hear could be the result of a loose, bent or wobbling blade. If you`ve recently removed or replaced the blade and it suddenly started knocking, this is quite possibly the cause of your issue.
Clear the mower deck of debris.

Grass clippings can clog the mower deck, especially while mowing a wet lawn, preventing the blade from turning. If the starter rope seems stuck or is difficult to pull, then it`s probably due to a clogged deck.

One of the more serious noises is a rattling sound, as this can signify that you have loose parts that might come dislodged. The minute you hear rattling, it is imperative that you tighten the blade, flywheel, and other parts.
The most common cause of excessive vibration is an unbalanced blade. If you`ve recently had your blade sharpened, it`s possible the blade hasn`t been properly balanced during the sharpening process. To fix this, the blade should be removed, rebalanced and refitted.
A car that makes a clunking noise when you start the engine usually indicates either a starter failure or broken teeth on your transmission`s flex plate. Starter motor replacement is not too big a job, though it is likely to take a mechanic several hours to complete.
It`s best to wait for wet grass to dry before mowing. Wet grass clippings can clog your mower, causing it to choke and spit out clumps of wet grass that could smother and kill your lawn if left unraked.
The most common reason for a surging lawn mower engine is a blockage in the fuel supply, but there are other possibilities: Bad gas. Bad spark plug. Dirty/faulty carburetor.
You can either clean the air filters, or you can replace them with new ones. If you have a foam filter, you can clean it with a drop of dish soap and warm water. Remember to air-dry them before using them again. But if you have paper air filters, you must replace them during the maintenance of your mower.
What are the symptoms of bad gas? If your lawn mower is difficult to start, idles roughly, stalls out, or makes a “pinging” sound, you may have a case of “bad gas”.
Clogged or Dirty Air Filters

Dirty air filters are one of the most common reasons lawn mowers sputter. Dirt can be present in the apertures that lead from the carburetor and the fuel filter and interrupt the flow of fuel supply to the combustion chamber. You want to be sure to clean or replace dirty air filters.

Low fuel pressure can cause a backfire when there`s too much air and not enough fuel in the combustion chamber. This can be rectified on lawn mowers with speed settings by simply increasing the speed and thus increasing the fuel supply. Another possible cause is a failing fuel pump or even an old fuel filter.
Touch the metal shaft of a screwdriver to both of the large terminals at the same time. If the engine turns over and starts, the solenoid is bad and should be replaced. If the starter motor does not run, the motor itself is probably defective.

Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

After mowing a heavy clump of long wet grass, my engine stalled and now makes a loud clanking sound at start up. No loose blade or anything visible.
ANSWER : Ouch! Is the clanking sound coming from the blade / deck or is it in the engine. It sounds like you hit a stump or a rock in that tall grass and stopped the blade. Under normal operation, what is suppose to happen is that the timing key will break off and you can replace it. If not, then usually the crank shaft will get bent and in such case, you probably need to replace the engine. It is also possible that on the lighter side, something got knocked out of kilter and the blade is hitting the deck on one side. Look underneath and turn the blade AFTER YOU REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE!!! NEVER EVER TURN THE BLADE WITH THE PLUG WIRE ATTACHED; THE ENGINE COULD START AND CUT OFF YOUR HAND!!! See if the blade is hitting anything in its full revolution. If it is, it’ll make a hell of a racket. Good Luck.James

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Blade replacement i can’t get my blade off my toro push mower to have it replaced/sharpened. I’m sure its reversed threads, but is there something else i should be doing?
ANSWER : I am sure you will find it turns normally. The problem is that these things normally are done up very tight, and as they are mowing wet grass and there is moisture in grass, the bolts can rust and siexe up a fair bit.
Fair chance you will need a bit of strength on it, but you will also need a well-fitting spanner or the nut will strip.
Also you need to be careful you don’t bang your knuckles when it does give – with the force required you can get hurt.
Maybe use a piece of pipe over the spanner to give you more leverage will help too.
How’d that go?

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I have a Poulan push mower that after mowing in a ditch started making a loud noise and running rough. It almost sounded as if metal was hitting metal. The mower was vibrating more than normal. I checked under the mower and nothing is hitting. After a few times of stopping the mower engine because it sound as if it is going to die down the mower will not start now. The shaft does not appear bent and the blade appears ok. The mower has oil, a good spark plug and a clean air filter. It was running fine until that moment. I did not see anything that I hit but it is possible I hit something in the ditch like a pine cone or branch. What could the problem be and how would I go about fixing it?
ANSWER : If you are sure the oil level is correct then it sounds like it’s about to die, unfortunately. A pine cone shouldn’t cause any damage, but a large branch may do so. Was it smoking before you shut it down? The vibration could be caused from a bent blade. It could also be caused from a part breaking in the motor. I wish I could have given you better news!

Good Luck,

Jim

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Engineer starts, and stop – Mtd 22" Yard Machine Push Mower
ANSWER : Clean fuel system
lines
tank
carburetor main jet, float bowl
check cable/linkage adjustments

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Toro 20022 grass buildup
ANSWER : At tractor supply has a paint called slip

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My 23 hp Kawasaki engine runs until it get warm, it will then stall and is hard to start after that. It seems to me as if something is cutting the fuel off, What could it be?
ANSWER : When it begins to stall, loosen the gas cap. If performance improves, clear the gas cap vent holes.

Gary

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Engin runs fine at idle but stalls out at high idle and wont rev up.
ANSWER : Hi 5flash… Get an assistant and a can of starter fluid. Remove the air cleaner and spray some starter fluid into the air intake. Start it up and spray the starter fluid as you move it to high idle, repeat until it works properly. Joe

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When I mow, it leaves a stip of grass in the area of the middle of the deck. It does not leave a clean area after you pass.
ANSWER : Is blade need sharping and are you doing this when the grass is wet ore raining

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My name is June Strandberg, and I am a florist and gardener in San Francisco. I have been working in the industry for five years, and I love helping people find the perfect floral arrangement for their special occasions. I am also skilled in troubleshooting and fixing gardening tools, so if you are ever having trouble with your tools, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.