Common Reasons Why Your Honda Lawn Mower Won't Start

To begin, check the basics:

• Is the oil level low?
• Is the gas turned on and is it fresh gas?
• Is the choke on and working?
• Is the air filter clear and dry?
• Is the plug wire securely on?
• Is the bail lever on and working?

Bad Gas

This is the number one reason of why a Honda mower won't start. The gas could be clean yet it might be stale - mowers don't like stale gas. Gas will start to go off after one month and when it's around 3 months old the gas will be completely stale and will start to solidify. Having a gas stabiliser will protect and clean your fuel system.

Oil Level

If the oil level is low, some Honda mowers won't start. This isn't a flaw however, they are designed this way so the engine is protected. Each time you fill the gas tank, it's a good idea to check the oil level. Do this check on level ground and with all of the wheels set to the same height. Remember not to over fill with oil as this can cause damage to the engine.

Gas Level

Is there enough gas in the mower? Or is it a good gas in there? If it's a bad gas you can fix this by draining the tank and cleaning the carburettor.

Gas Tap On

A fuel tap cuts the fuel supply to the carburettor. It's advised to turn off the fuel when the mower isn't in use and it is easy to then forget to turn it on!

Air Filter

If the air filter is blocked, this will prevent the mower from starting. It needs to be kept clean. Check a Honda air filter every 25 hours of use and replace it every 100 hours.

Plug Wire

The plug wire can easily become loose, it happens quite often. The plug wire bangs into shrubs and hedges as it lives right at the front of the engine. The wire is black with a rubber boot on the end. Ensure the wire is making good clean contact with the plug otherwise the engine won't start.

Choke On

The choke is used to start a cold engine - it needs more fuel than a hot engine so the choke creates a richer air-fuel ratio. Lawn mowers which are more modern will have the auto choke set up so the choke won't be controlled by the lever, whereas some Hondas will have the traditional choke lever. If after 3 attempts the mower doesn't start, it's highly likely the plug is saturated in fuel - often known as 'flooded'. Remove and dry the plug or leave the mower for 30 minutes to dry out. Try again and this time without choke.

Bail Lever On

This is a safety feature. Its function is to stop the spinning blade within 3 seconds of release. It shuts the engine off and applies a flywheel brake. Only some Honda mowers do have the stop/start controlled by the bail lever, others will have the stop/start control built into the throttle lever.

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