How do you know if a lawnmower is flooded?

Question

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but i dont really know anything about this.

I have been trying to start my brother's lawnmower for the last two days. I had it working for a while but at one point I couldnt restart it and i thought it was flooded. So I waited some but I still couldn't restart it. Today I tried it over and over and over using both the key start and the pull start. Sometimes it sounded like it wanted to start but it wouldnt "catch." I tried it for about half an hour but it never ever started. I tried different things with the primer and the throttle but nothing worked. It has gas (I know how to check that).

So, how do I tell if it is flooded again or whether there is some other problem??

Answer 1

save yourself alot of problem and get a spray can of starting fluid..................give the engine intake a short spurt of fluid and give her a pull............................it should start immediately.,  flooded or not,...       ok ?  and give your arm a break!!

Answer 2

if its flooded then you need to stop everything and try priming it and if that doesn't work let it sit for about a week, then try starting it.

Answer 3

Pull out the spark plug and turn it over a couple times.  Does the plug smell strong of gas?  Let it air then put it back in.  If flooding is the problem this should handle it.  After two days, though, I tend to think you have a different problem.  Bad gas?  Is the gas in it old?