Is my lawn mower fixable?

Question

I was mowing today and hit a the metal water pipe cover in my yard. The mower automatically stopped and smoke started coming out the side vent. I've tried to start it back up since and I can't even get the cord to budge. Is this something I can fix myself or should I call a professional?

Answer 1

Pull the sparkplug wire off, then tip it over on it's side . If the blade is bent and hitting the housing, remove it and see if it will start (after reconnecting the sparkplug wire) If it runs, replace the blade and all is fine. If the motor still will not move, it will be cheaper to but a new mower.

Answer 2

you bent the crankshaft bad. Its best just to get a new lawn mower.

Answer 3

Check the blade to make sure it will turn. If not, straighten the housing.

Answer 4

If the motor is locked up its cheaper to replace it than get it fixed.Depending on what broke/twisted (was it the crankshaft or just the flywheel shear pin) and what tools (time) you have.

Answer 5

Sounds like it's toast! Which doesn't have to be such a sad event... now, you have a great excuse to buy a new one. I saw some pretty new red ones on sale at Home Depot for under a hundred bucks.

But, just for the sake of something to do, you might want to have a closer look at what you did to your trusty ol' machine.

First... 1st.... Absolutely, the number one thing you need to do is to PULL THE SPARK PLUG WIRE OFF!!!!

Next, flip it up and see if you bent the blade into the body.

If the blade isn't jammed, and, you can't get it to spin with the cord (which means you were not lucky enough to break the shear pin off - which often happens when a mower hits an immovable object and is very fixable), you probably caused some internal engine damage which  may or may not cost some big bucks to fix.... but, .... why bother, except for the fun of something to fix. Almost everything is fixable, but, is it worth it or your time?

Happy mowing!! (and, fixing)

Answer 6

I DID THIS AS A TEENAGER AND TORE IT DOWN TO FIND THE CRANK SHAFT SNAPPED !!! AND I COULD NOT TURN IT EITHER WAY.

Answer 7

Sounds like you may have bent the crankshaft. Remove the spark plug and tip the mower on it's side. That way, you can safely turn the blade to check if it runs out straight or wobbles. If I wobbles, I would guess your motor is trashed and will have to be replaced.

If you are lucky, the shaft is not bent, but the shaft key holding the timing gear has sheared and can be replaced and your engine repaired.

Answer 8

It depends on how handy you are and what tools you have. First, I would tip the mower on it's side and VERY carefully try to turn the blade by hand. That might show you something. Then again, you might see the blade hitting the mower deck.

If it still won't turn, I'd remove the blade. Again, be very carefull that the engine doesn't try to start. It would go so fast that your hand would be gone before you saw it move.

Smoke isn't a terrible sign, but it certainly isn't good. It also depends on how much of it and what color.

P.S. the advice to pull the spark plug wire is good. That is part of what I was saying about making sure it didn't start, but I should have said to pull the spark plug wire, also.