[newguy101]

I bought a year old Lawn Boy push mower (Model # 10730) at the end of last summer. The seller said he had used it only 4 times, and it definitely looked like it had barely been used.

I used it once at the end of last season, and had no issues with it. I used ethanol free fuel (Tru Fuel 4-cycle) since it was the end of the season, and then I let it run out of fuel.

I tried to start it up for the first mow of this year this afternoon. I had no luck just pulling on the cord (this model does not have a primer bulb), so I took off the air filter and sprayed some ether into the carburetor and then pulled the starter cord. This caused the engine to rev for maybe 2 seconds, and then die.

I tried this again and got the same result. Then I did this again and continued spraying short bursts of ether into the carburetor. Doing this, I could get it to keep running, but as soon as I stopped spraying, the motor died.

I would have assumed the issue was bad fuel, but I ran the motor completely dry last season, and the last tank of fuel was the no ethanol stuff.

I'm not very good with engines. Any idea what could be the issue? I'm pretty bummed that my new (to me) mower is already giving me trouble!

Thanks for any and all advice,
Andrew

 

[Windows on Wash]

Float needle is stuck.

 

[Old Thomas]

Tap on the carburetor with a hammer and try again.

 

[lenaitch]

WoW is probably correct, but does it have a fuel shut-off you forgot to open?

 

[joecaption]

Lawn Boy has not been made for many, many years.
I'd just try ordering a new carb. on EBAY and give it a try.
That would get old real quick for me having to use mixed gas in a mower.
I got tired of dealing with used poop long ago and trying to save a buck.
My new Toro is guranteed to start and does every time with no more then two pulls.

 

[newguy101]

Tap on the carburetor with a hammer and try again.

I just tried this, and unfortunately still can't get it to start. If it is the float needle, do I have to take apart the carb to get to it?

 

[newguy101]

Lawn Boy has not been made for many, many years.
I'd just try ordering a new carb. on EBAY and give it a try.
That would get old real quick for me having to use mixed gas in a mower.
I got tired of dealing with used poop long ago and trying to save a buck.
My new Toro is guranteed to start and does every time with no more then two pulls.

I am confused by this post. The lawnmower is only a year old. Here is the exact mower for sale at Home Depot:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lawn-Bo...Push-Mower-with-Kohler-Engine-17730/204635383

What do you mean by "having to use mixed gas in a mower"? I am not using mixed gas.

Either I am very confused, or you are confused. It's probably me, but I'd like to get it cleared up.

 

[newguy101]

WoW is probably correct, but does it have a fuel shut-off you forgot to open?

I just checked the manual to make sure - doesn't look like there is any sort of fuel shutoff. Here is the manual:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/901192/Lawn-Boy-10730.html?page=2#manual

 

[joecaption]

Taping on it would have been never suggested by 99% of the people that work on small engines for a living.
Yes you would have to take the whole thing apart to clean it but even then most DIY's do not have the proper tools to do it.
Far easier to just to replace it.
Just to really clean it right the whole thing needs to come off anyway, as old as that is the gaskets will also need to be replaced.
A whole new carb, with new gaskets, air filter, spark plug, fuel lines on EBAY may cost about $20.00.
Just my personal opinion I would not waste even the $20.00 on a Yard Boy mower.

 

[newguy101]

Taping on it would have been never suggested by 99% of the people that work on small engines for a living.
Yes you would have to take the whole thing apart to clean it but even then most DIY's do not have the proper tools to do it.
Far easier to just to replace it.
Just to really clean it right the whole thing needs to come off anyway, as old as that is the gaskets will also need to be replaced.
A whole new carb, with new gaskets, air filter, spark plug, fuel lines on EBAY may cost about $20.00.
Just my personal opinion I would not waste even the $20.00 on a Yard Boy mower.

I am confused. Why do you think it is old?

 

[lenaitch]

Taping on it would have been never suggested by 99% of the people that work on small engines for a living.
Yes you would have to take the whole thing apart to clean it but even then most DIY's do not have the proper tools to do it.
Far easier to just to replace it.
Just to really clean it right the whole thing needs to come off anyway, as old as that is the gaskets will also need to be replaced.
A whole new carb, with new gaskets, air filter, spark plug, fuel lines on EBAY may cost about $20.00.
Just my personal opinion I would not waste even the $20.00 on a Yard Boy mower.

I dunno - the one I have built in 1980 or 81 still runs fine. Maybe newer ones are different.

 

[ZTMAN]

I am confused by this post. The lawnmower is only a year old. Here is the exact mower for sale at Home Depot:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lawn-Bo...Push-Mower-with-Kohler-Engine-17730/204635383

What do you mean by "having to use mixed gas in a mower"? I am not using mixed gas.

Either I am very confused, or you are confused. It's probably me, but I'd like to get it cleared up.

Description in your HD link says:

3-year tru-start commitment starts on 1 or 2 pulls or Lawn-Boy will fix it for free, ask your retailer for details
2-year no worry warranty starting, power, parts it's all covered under Lawn-Boy 2-year complete coverage warranty, ask your retailer for details

Might want to take it to a lawn boy authorized repair shop if it is that new

 

[SeniorSitizen]

This pic ( copied from the link of the OP ) kinda tells the story why he doesn't need to mix oil and gas. This is hilarious and may make repair shop personal all over the world have a good chuckle.

 

[Clutchcargo]

Before you do anything with the carburetor, pull/replace the plug. I've got a lawnboy that I bot in 2006 and unless it needs a new plug, always starts on the first pull

 

[SeniorSitizen]

Before you do anything with the carburetor, pull/replace the plug. I've got a lawnboy that I bot in 2006 and unless it needs a new plug, always starts on the first pull

I'll agree with 2 cycle but 2 cycle only.

 

[newguy101]

So I ended up taking the carb apart today. There was some "jelly" in the bowl. Other than the jelly, everything looked really clean. I cleaned out the bowl, and now it runs great.

My theory now is that the guy must have let gas sit in it for a yr before I bought it. The weird thing is that when I bought it from him, I was able to mow successfully with it once before last season ended. And I made sure to mow with ethanol free gas (I first emptied the tank of the gas that was in it).

Anyways, all is well that ends well. Thanks for the input.