Yard Man

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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 pulley that is binding will cause the lawn tractor to jerk forward. To check for a binding pulley, start by disconnecting your battery, and remember to start with the negative cable first. Now you can remove your mower deck. Remove your drive belt and check the inside condition of the pulleys.
Yes you can. Although mowing in reverse is not recommended, there may be certain situations where operators feel they need to mow in reverse.
Check the drive belt that is located just above the mower deck. Follow the belt as it wraps around the deck and to pulleys under the engine and the rear tires. Make sure the belt is secured to the pulleys, because if it is not, then the belt (and thus the mower) will not move. If the belt looks broken, replace it.
Clogged or Dirty Air Filters

It is one of the most common problems that cause lawnmowers to sputter. The mowers take the air from the surrounding through air filters and mix it with fuel inside the engine. So, if the air filter is clogged or dirty, it will affect the flow of air into the carburetor.

Mow Forward

Most importantly, walking backward could be a safety risk. If you trip and fall back for whatever reason, you may pull the mower onto yourself and get hurt. That`s why you should always mow in a forward direction unless you really need to maneuver away from something.

This issue may happen if the machine is faulty, the height between the mower deck and the blade is different, or you cut too much grass. While you may find moving in reverse easier to mow the lawn, it may cause various problems related to safety.
There are several potential causes for a riding lawn mower to not move. The most common causes are a broken drive belt, a clogged carburetor, a dead battery, a seized engine, or a faulty transmission.
If your riding lawn mower won`t move, the problem could be a broken ground drive belt. If the riding mower is slow and sluggish, the ground drive belt could be so worn that it slips. Either way, follow the steps in this repair guide and video to replace the ground drive belt on your lawn tractor.
As the fuel level drops, a vacuum begins to form in the fuel tank because air can get in to fill the space the consumed fuel occupied. After about 10 or 15 minutes, the vacuum will become strong enough that fuel will stop flowing to the carburetor and the lawnmower will die.
Possible Fixes for Backfiring:

Lower engine speed slowly. Follow small engine fuel recommendations and/or switch to brands with low or no alcohol. Adjust carburetor for optimum performance. Inquire with equipment manufacturer about increasing air volume to decrease engine temperature.

Why Is Your Lawn Mower Pull Cord Hard To Pull? Your lawn mower pull cord hard to pull is because of the way you pull the cord, the area where your mower is located when you are trying to start it, because it has a blade obstruction, or because of a starter mechanism-related issue.
In this case, the vertical component of the applied force acts in the direction of the weight of the mower. This the effective weight of the mower. Since the effective weight of the lawn mower is lesser in the first case, pulling the lawn mower is easier than pushing it.
Self-propelled mowers take the hard work out of mowing by actually pushing itself along to reduce fatigue so are perfect for larger lawns or lawns with slopes. The users simply walk behind the self driving lawn mowers to control the mower`s direction. A large range of options are available from various trusted brands.
You can push a self-propelled lawnmower, it won`t damage the transmission in any way. However, it may be difficult to do so, self propelled mowers are a little heavier than a regular push mower.
Most lawn mower blades rotate in a clockwise direction (counter-clockwise when viewed from below), and as such have the cutting edge on the right side. If you are unsure of how your mower rotates, check the position of the discharge chute; if it is on the right side angled back, the blade turns clockwise.
If the engine will idle but dies at full throttle the main jet in the carburetor may be plugged. You can repair a plugged main jet by cleaning it, replacing the jet, or replacing the carburetor. If you choose to clean or replace the main jet, you will also want to clean the rest of the carburetor.
A lawnmower engine commonly kicks back when the shear key breaks. The shear key commonly breaks because the blade has kit a solid object and come to a sudden stop. Common symptoms of broken shear key include: Engine won`t start.
The most common reason for a clicking sound on a riding mower when you turn the key is a flat battery. Other possible reasons include: Faulty Battery. Dirty / Loose Battery Connection.

Discover Relevant Questions and Answers for Your Specific Issue

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Where is the carb on a 21 inch yard machine – Mtd Yard – Man 160cc, 21" Self – Propelled Lawn Mower
ANSWER : Behind the air box/ air filter

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How to change the oil – Mtd Yard – Man 160cc, 21" Self – Propelled Lawn Mower
ANSWER : Remove spark plug wire or whole thing
theres a plug in the bottom under the deck
remove plug drain into pan

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Lawn mower stopping by itself – Mtd Yard – Man 160cc, 21" Self – Propelled Lawn Mower
ANSWER : CHECK THE FUEL FOR CONTAMINATES OR OLD GAS
EMPTY COMPLETELY OUT AND PUT IN NEW GAS!
ALSO CHANGE SPARK PLUG!
IF YOUR LOW ON OIL, IT MIGHT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF ALSO!!

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How do I take the top off of the mower to replace the pull cord? it looks like it is riveted in place. What kind of a tool do I use for that?
ANSWER : Here is my Tip on this subject that should help:www.fixya.com/support/r10031613-replace_pull_rope_lawn_push_mowerGood Luck!Jim

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Pull cord is difficult to pull after third pull becomes stuck but will turn if pull hard repeats every three to four pulls.
ANSWER : No response to clarification request.

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How do i change the drive belt, having accessing belt to remove it. directions in the manual aren’t very specific.
ANSWER : Try looking under the machine a lot of yard machines have guards underneath to access belt after removing blade. Good Luck…

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When i pull the rope it backlashes half way through the pull
ANSWER : Hi, You have most likely sheared the flywheel key which puts the timing out. Remove the flywheel and replace the key. Regards Phil.

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22″ Yard Machine Push Mower: how long should i make my pull cord when i replace…
ANSWER : Long enough that when you pull it you don’t hit feel it come to the end of the rope. Short enough that it winds all the way up. When I replace these things I use a little more than an arms length. 3 foot or so. I wind the spring till it is tight then slide a screw driver through the top to hold the wheel so I can thread the cord and knot it. Then I let it wind itself up until it stops and then add handle and pull just enough tension on it to tie the knot in the handle and make sure it pulls the handle snug to the housing.

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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.