My lawnmower was left in the rain. Now it won't start. Can anyone help?

Question

My lawnmower was left in the rain. Now it won't start. Can anyone help?

Answer 1

How long in the rain? If it was short term the potential for damage is much less. Take the spark plug out and connect the spark plug wire to the spark plug and lay the plug against any part of the engine to get a electrical ground. There should be no spilled gas around on the engine to do this.Pull the cord and look for a spark on the electrode on the spark plug. If no spark then you have more intense drying of whats called the magneto. If you have a spark the things to look at are gas related. Pull the cord 10 times to clear and dry the cylinder and replace the plug. Take air filter off.Take a tiny thimbleful of fresh gas and literally dump the gas into the intake hole under the air filter. Set thimble way away from you and have no gas on your hands or clothes. Pull cord. If engine starts and dies try procedure several times and it may clear clog or moisture in gas by the literal suction from a running engine. Of course if engine continues to run you are now mowing. Next take the bottom of the carberator off where there is a little bowl held on by a single bolt in the middle. Sometimes it will filter or settle out the water there and prevent enough gas from flowing to start the engine.  If engine continues to run and die your problems are now dumping old gas and trying again with the process or eventually taking apart the carberator and blowing out all the little drilled passages. The main point here is that when you parked it it was ok and all an engine needs is spark and fuel to run so try to not disassemble too much at the beginning but gradually eliminate spark or fuel as you go. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Remove the spark plug and dry it. Might do the trick.

Answer 3

Rain will not effect the spark plug..You need to pull the air filter off and clean it..pull the carburetor off and clean it with a carb cleaner..and drain the gas tank..this will fix it right up