How To Clean And Start A Lawn Edger 4 Cycle Small Engine After 2 Years Of Not Being Used

How to Beginning a Small Engine

Updated: Feb. 03, 2022

Give your starter-cord arm a balance while you run these bones diagnostic tests

small engine start up tips Family Handyman

When a pocket-sized engine won't get-go, the usual suspects are bad gasoline, a corroded or plugged carburetor, or a bad ignition whorl.

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Introduction

You can fix any of these problems yourself easily, cheaply and quickly. You'll not only salvage lots of money only also skip the hassle of hauling your lawn mower, snow blower, pressure washer or whatsoever to a service center and home again.

Typical professional person repairs beginning at about $100. Just if you lot practice the work yourself and gild the replacement parts online, you can usually save enough to justify replacing parts even if you're not certain they're bad. (Psep.biz is one source of discount small-engine parts.) Nosotros'll cover a few basic tests, explain how to order parts and show you lot how to supplant a carburetor, an ignition scroll and a recoil starter. You lot tin can replace any defective parts in just a few hours with bones mitt tools.

Bank check the basics first

Photo 1: Requite it a blast of fuel

Remove the air filter and shoot a i-2nd outburst of an aerosol petroleum-based lubricant (not starting fluid, silicone or Teflon spray) directly into the carburetor throat. Try starting. If the engine starts and and so dies, that confirms you've got a fuel problem.

Engine issues may have their root in something very simple. If your machine has a shutoff valve, check that outset to make sure it's in the On position. Next, make sure the engine has fresh gas. If the gas is more than thirty days old, supercede it with fresh, stabilized gas. Adjacent, check the air filter to make sure it's not clogged.

If the tank has fresh gas and you've primed the carburetor and set the choke but information technology still won't start, it's time to remove the spark plug. If the spark plug is wet with gas, information technology proves the engine is getting fuel. Dry off the plug with compressed air and examine it for signs of carbon buildup or oil deposits. Check the gap to make certain information technology's within specs.

If y'all have any doubts virtually the plug's condition, supersede it—they're cheap. If the plug is dry, it'southward a sign of a fuel problem and most probable a messed-up carburetor. Shoot a substitute fuel (WD-xl or PB Blaster Lawn Mower Tune-Up) into the carburetor throat and then endeavour starting the engine (Photo 1). If it won't commencement or fire with spray fuel, yous probably accept an ignition system problem, most likely a bad ignition coil. However, if it starts and dies, that proves the ignition is working and the trouble is fuel starvation.

Cheque the fuel filter first by disconnecting the fuel line from the filter to the carb. Gas should run out. If information technology doesn't, replace the filter. If gas flows freely through the filter, so the trouble is inside the carburetor.

Testing an ignition curl is a bit trickier. To do it correct, you need a small-engine spark tester. Belongings the spark plug kick shut to the engine to check for spark isn't a reliable test because a bad coil can produce a spark in open air but fail when the cylinder is under compression. If you ain several modest engines, it may pay to purchase a tester To learn how to use it, read How to Test an Ignition Coil. Nevertheless, since the tester costs nigh as much equally a new coil, replacing the coil without testing may be the way to go.

Find the right parts

Photo 2: Shoot the model and serial numbers

Shoot a digital photo of the engine model and serial numbers and engagement of manufacture, likewise equally any other engine data on the label. Y'all'll demand that info to lodge parts.

Lawn and garden tool manufacturers often utilise several different engine brands for a certain model, so you can't buy parts based on the model number of the mower or snow blower. Instead, you demand the engine model and series number and the date of manufacture to find the parts. This Toro backyard mower, for example, was built with a Tecumseh engine, while a different Toro mower may be built with a Briggs & Stratton engine. We establish the Tecumseh engine data on a label (Photograph ii). But other brands may stamp the numbers into the engine block, valve embrace or engine shield.

Once you have the engine information, locate a parts list and exploded diagram past entering the brand and model number into a search engine. Find the engine manufacturer's part number and enter that into a search engine to detect the everyman price or nearest seller.

Carb rebuild vs. new carb

Photograph three: Replace the carb

Tighten a C-clamp on the gas line or turn the shutoff valve to Off. Then remove the fuel line and two carburetor hold-downward bolts. Rotate the carburetor to disconnect the throttle linkage. Contrary the procedure to install the new carburetor.

These days we don't recommend rebuilding a carburetor. Commencement, a brand new carburetor from a disbelieve online seller usually costs less than a rebuild kit and a saucepan of carburetor soaking solution. Plus, rebuilding a carburetor is fourth dimension consuming and doesn't always work, particularly if the internal parts are corroded.

Once you accept the new carburetor in hand, remove the one-time one and swap in the new unit (Photo three). After you reinstall the fuel line and prime the engine, it should start right up.

Supplant an ignition roll

Photo iv: Remove the old coil

Remove the 2 whorl retaining screws. The instant they're loose, the coil will snap against the magnet on the peak of the crankshaft. Grab the coil and yank it off the magnet.

Photograph 5: Install the new coil

Set the new coil in place and snug the retaining screws, but don't tighten them all the style. Align the crankshaft magnet to the center of the roll. Set the air gap using a business organization card as a gauge. Move the coil in and out until you feel a slight elevate on the carte du jour. Then tighten the ringlet screws. Check the gap again. If information technology's correct, reinstall the engine shield and cover.

If y'all've adamant that you take a weak spark or no spark, get ahead and purchase and install a new scroll. Outset past removing the plastic engine embrace and setting it aside. Then lift off the gas tank and remove any engine shields to access the ignition gyre. Remove the erstwhile coil (Photo four). Then install the new roll and fix the air gap (Photo 5).

Replace a recoil starter

Photo half dozen: Replace the recoil starter assembly

Remove the engine cover retaining screws and lift the encompass off the engine. Next, remove the recoil assembly hex-head screws. Then lift off the old unit and drop in the new one. Reverse the procedure to reinstall.

If the starter rope is broken, you tin can buy a recoil rebuild kit for nigh $fifteen. The kit contains a new rope, dogs and dog springs. Setting the proper spring tension can be catchy, and if you become it incorrect, y'all'll suspension the spring and have to supercede the entire unit. Frankly, we recommend skipping the rebuild and only replacing the entire recoil associates (Photo 6). It'due south much faster, and the consummate assembly includes a new housing and spring (set to the proper tension).

Required Tools for this Project

Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—y'all'll salvage time and frustration.

You'll also need a blower attachment for the compressor (or canned air) and a paper clip.

Required Materials for this Projection

Avert last-infinitesimal shopping trips by having all your materials set up alee of fourth dimension. Here'southward a list.

Originally Published: November 27, 2018

Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/two-cycle-small-engine-start-up-tips/

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