17.5 hp 42 in. Deck Lawn Tractor – CA Model

Experienced gardeners share their insights in answering this question :
Most likely a bad safety switch under the seat. Please vote yes if helpful.

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 :

A Dirty Carburetor Can Cause a Lawnmower To Start Then Die

By far, the most common issue that causes a stalled motor is a dirty carburetor. The carburetor on your engine is the thing that draws in air and mixes it with the fuel. Contrary to what the movies might make you think, gasoline itself is not very flammable.

This is most likely a safety switch issue. Usually the seat safety switch will cause this problem. The mower dies because it thinks nobody is sitting in the seat, and shuts off for safety reasons.
A full gas tank and oil reservoir are the essential first steps when checking why the lawn mower won`t stay running, but the problem could also be a dirty filter, clogged carburetor, improper fuel mixture, or a dirty spark plug.
If your lawn mower starts, runs briefly, then dies these are the four most common reasons that`s happening: Dirty carburetor / clogged carburetor bowl. Old gasoline that has gone bad. Dirty or defective spark plugs.
Your lawn mower runs for 30 minutes then dies if you are having issues such as a bad spark plug, air problems, a malfunctioning carburetor, or a faulty gas cap. You may even encounter the issue that your lawn mower runs for 5 minutes then dies.
Why Does Your Lawn Mower Only Run With Choke On? Your lawn mower only runs with choke on because of a problem with the engine fuel-air mixture system, which can be caused by the carburetor, bad fuel, or air leaks. The choke compels more fuel in the combustion chamber to help the engine to turn over when cold.
If your lawnmower will start and run with the choke on but dies when the choke is turned off, it may have a problem with the carburetor. The carburetor brings air and fuel together and mixes them in the perfect ratio for combustion before they enter the engine.
A dirty air filter inhibits the flow of air into the carburetor. Clean or replace the air filter to stop the mower from sputtering to a halt. Too much air can also cause problems for the engine. A bad cap on the gas tank is the first place to look.
Use Carburetor Cleaner

Fortunately, you can generally do this without even taking the carburetor out of the engine. Start by purchasing some commercial lawnmower carburetor cleanerOpens a new window, which comes in a simple spray can and will make it easy to clean the inside and outside of the carb.

Other things that could cause this issue are bad fuel, weak/colapsed/kinked fuel line, faulty spark plug, faulty ignition/coil, oil over full, clogged air filter, plugged/dirty carburetor, worn engine parts internal rings/valves/etc.
Possible cause 1: In some models, when you tip the mower, fuel can leak into the carbon in the cap, which restricts the venting of the fuel system. This can cause the engine not to start, or only run for a few minutes, then quit. POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Leave the cap to dry out or replace it with a new lawn mower cap.

Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I have had a poulan pro 550 series push mower for almost 1 year at the end of the season last year the mower would start briefly and then stop. i have cleaned out the air filter and that did not help.the mower started, i made one revolution around the yard 3/4th of the way the mower quit. I then primed the mower it started then quit and now it will not start at all. Does anyone have any suggestions of what to do. Thanks
ANSWER : There is a little spring that works the carburetor arm. If that popped off then the mower will not run.

Lawn mower will start and run for 5 seconds and shut down
ANSWER : Will it stay running with your choke on? if so then clean your carb. if not then look for a blockage from tank to carb. ie fuel shut off, deteriorated fuel line. plugged filter etc

I have trouble starting a toro walk behind mower
ANSWER : All, I thought my carb was shot, so I replaced it. Still, start but no run (and had to use starting fluid). THEN!!! I noticed the spring to the “rev limiter” (just below and towards rear of carb) was not “tight”. The stupid bracket that holds the end of that spring had been bent down ~1/16″ and that caused all this heartache. CHECK YOUR REV LIMITER!!!

Wont start no ignition put new plug in and fuel filter
ANSWER : Flush gas tank, fill with fresh gas and Stabil. Replace air filter. Remove bowl from carb clean bowl and holes in bowl screw.

<!– from fixya rte –>Rj19lm plug gap for a 195cc 4cyl lawnboy – Lawn-Boy lawnboy" Mower Blade 21"
ANSWER : As a starting point in my shop i always use 0.30 in. For all my mowers

Lawn mower cranck but wont start…
ANSWER : Since you already checked for spark and air I would drain all the fuel out of it and check that fuel for water. Over time some lawn mowers end up with contaminated fuel. You can see the water sitting on the bottom of the fuel if you let it stand for a bit in a small plastic bowl.

Be sure to empty and dry out you fuel can as well. Especially if the mower stopped running right after a refuel. Which is a good sign your gas can is contaminated too.

Why wont my mower start and gas comes out of muffler
ANSWER : Carb is flooding out ether bad plug or your carberator needs rebuilt

Brand new electric power Weed Eater lawn Mower, started up like a champ, started vibrating and was loud, shut it down, now it won’t start. Checked the extension the outlet all seems fine. Didn’t even use it yet. Why will it not start?
ANSWER : Battery no good from factory bad battery connection maybe put together on a Monday or maybe battery internal charger no good