Electric Start Is Broken in a Lawn Mower

Problems

• If your electric start mechanism isn't working, there are three potential problem areas you should investigate. The first is when nothing at all happens when you turn the switch. The second is if the starter motor runs but does not engage the engine. The final scenario occurs when the starter motor engages but cannot turn the lawn mower engine over. By analyzing exactly what happens when you turn the switch, you can quickly isolate the possible problem.

Battery

• Sometimes absolutely nothing happens when you turn the electric start, which usually means there is trouble somewhere in the electrical system ranging from a dead battery to broken or burned out connections or components. Testing the circuits and battery lets you know where the system has failed. A considerable amount of electricity is required to power the solenoid and starter motor. During the summer season especially, your mower battery might need frequent charging to stay full.

Dirt and Corrosion

• Dirt or corrosion can prevent a proper connection from occurring in your electric starter, resulting in a starter motor that engages but a mower engine that doesn't. The fact that the starter motor turns over is a good sign your battery is strong. At this point, a simple dissembling of the electric start unit and a thorough cleaning of everything might be enough to get it working again. If you're not sure you have the mechanical skills to accomplish this, your local small engine repair specialist will probably be glad to help out.

Considerations

• Major noises from the electric starter are not a good sign, especially if it doesn't work the next time you try to fire it up. There's a good chance something serious has gone wrong and you needn't invest the time or effort to repair it. Electric starter units are not expensive or difficult to install. Often repairing an old switch costs more than buying a whole new one. In that case, switch it out and get on with the business of making your yard look awesome. If you're unsure of the extent of the damage, have your small engine specialist take a look at it.