Small engine mechanic needed

MDFF2008 · Sep 11, 2013

My push mower does not work. If you pull the cord it turns over blows out a bunch of white smoke and then dies. My grass desperately needs to be cut I was hoping to avoid having service on it until the winter was over but my parents aren't too keen to let me a lawn mower and there's no point in paying $50 to rent one so I'm looking for small engine mechanic that can fix this thing up asap

I live in Towson but I don't really have any way to transport the mower so if you could come to me all better

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byf43 · Sep 11, 2013

White smoke???

Does the engine actually start???

Things to check:

1. Oil level. Too much oil will push oil into the combustion chamber, where it'll burn. The color will be more bluish/black.
IF there's too much oil, drain/refill with proper amount.
2. Carb mixture too rich. You've flooded the engine. Make sure you keep your hands & feet away from the blade.
Unplug the sparkplug wire and remove the sparkplug.
Clean and dry the sparkplug. Keyword.... DRY! Re-install sparkplug and attach wire.
Remove the air filter and squirt a LITTLE lighter fluid into the carb inlet, or, while the sparkplug is out, squirt a little lighter fluid into the combustion chamber. Start the engine.

See if the engine starts/runs. IF the engine isn't starting, but, you've got white smoke/residue coming out of the exhaust, the engine is flooded or you have ignition problems.

MDFF2008 · Sep 11, 2013

Yeah.

I pump the bulb once, pull the cord and it turns over, blows out a huge puff of white smoke, and then sputters out. If I hit the bulb, it will rev back up then sputter out again.

I did replace the spark plug though.

Sundazes · Sep 11, 2013

WHere are you? There is a little shop on Falls road north of Padonia that is great. The shop is behind a BBQ stand.
As an example, I have an Echo gas hedge clipper. Finch wanted 350 to fix it which is the cost of a new one. totally inflated and a complete ripoff.
3 days and $38 later, it was fixed from this place. If you want, I can get the name, I have to go by there is next couple of days. They are on the way to Duffys...

frogman68 · Sep 11, 2013

Take the bowl off the carb it more than likely full of crud make sure the float goes up and down freely . Deal with this on our weed eater dang ethanol gas causes it

Gbh · Sep 11, 2013

Any chance you 2-stroke pre-mix fuel like for a chainsaw or weed whacker in it by mistake?

MDFF2008 · Sep 11, 2013

There's a slight possibility I mixed some in. I'm pretty sure I didn't though.

Please let me know about that place, I got a miniature forest growing out back.

MikeTF · Sep 11, 2013

You can buy a replacement carb on ebay for about $30 and have it installed in about 30 minutes. I did this on my old weed whacker and on a Honda Lawnmower that was given to me. Both have been running flawlessly since. Same symptoms as you described: starts runs, quits.

MDFF2008 · Sep 11, 2013

Would that explain the huge cloud of white smoke?

MikeTF · Sep 11, 2013

gprimr1 said:
Would that explain the huge cloud of white smoke?

http://pkjones.hubpages.com/hub/Why-is-my-engine-smoking

Contaminated oil or oil in carb.

Overboost44 · Sep 11, 2013

One possiblity is a replacement engine from harbor freight. I don't know if they will have what you need at a reasonable price. Just thinking aloud.

Here is another one.http://lmgtfy.com/?q=white+smoke+from+lawn+mower

Les Gawlik · Sep 11, 2013

sundazes said:
WHere are you? There is a little shop on Falls road north of Padonia that is great. The shop is behind a BBQ stand.
As an example, I have an Echo gas hedge clipper. Finch wanted 350 to fix it which is the cost of a new one. totally inflated and a complete ripoff.
3 days and $38 later, it was fixed from this place. If you want, I can get the name, I have to go by there is next couple of days. They are on the way to Duffys...

I'd be interested in the name, too.

travistheone · Sep 11, 2013

Les Gawlik said:
I'd be interested in the name, too.

its right behind jakes deli. get ya a sandwich

Docster · Sep 11, 2013

Just how small do you want this engine mechanic to be?

Smartass. Yea, I know.....

Matlack · Sep 11, 2013

Is it heavy thick white smoke?

MDFF2008 · Sep 11, 2013

Matlack said:
Is it heavy thick white smoke?

Yeah, you'll see it stay low to the ground

Half-cocked · Sep 12, 2013

I second or third the oil in the fuel theory.

I would double-check that the crankcase oil level is good, and NOT overfilled.

I'd dump out all the fuel in the tank and fill with fresh 89 octane gas.

Then, try again using engine starting fluid (if necessary) to get it cranking, and give it a minute or two to burn off any of the contaminated fuel left in the carb.

Matlack · Sep 12, 2013

Its probably gas in the oil, not the other way around. Could be something in the exhaust, gas or oil. Did you look at the oil level yet? Or checked the oil color, white/milky means water in the oil. It was more common for something to get in the oil rather than oil in the gas. Also when you take out the dip stick see if the oil is runny or water like, IE flows easily. Oil normally burns black but if there is something thinning it out then it flows past the rings and will get in the combustion chamber or the exhaust. Though if it is something in the exhaust it will normally start and run, unless the float is stuck open then the motor normally floods out. White smoke normally means something in the exhaust or combustion chamber. Oil can get in the carburetor but that typically doesnt happen on mowers. Typically the oil flows out the exhaust but it also depends on which valve is open.

Did you put gas in the tank today? Check and make sure the gas tank still has gas in it. If not then either the float developed a hole or their is something keeping the needle stuck open, IE a heavy float from a hole or dirt or something.

Two simple checks here. Check the oil level & check to make sure there is still gas in the tank after you have filled it up. It wont take long to empty the tank. Also look around the top of the mower deck and look if you have a puddle of oil or where the mower was sitting.

Cyclone · Sep 12, 2013

Too much oil...

tsmith1499 · Sep 12, 2013

And be VERY careful with the starting fluid. It is known to put holes in pistons if used excessively. Don't try and run the engine by continuing to spray it in the carb. Also sounds like it might be a fuel delivery issue if when you pump the primer bulb it continues to run. Sounds like it might be loosing suction.

Small engine mechanic needed

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