The grass need cutting and the weekend’s plans include working outdoors. You grab starting handle on the Husqvarna mower, but nothing happens except that it coughs. It is frustratingly.
But there’s no reason to worry; the problem isn’t usualy catastrophic. With some time and a little effort in driveway, chances are good that you’ll get back up and running (and all without taking it to a shop). A small tool kit might come in handy.
Generally speaking, an engine not running is an air/fuel/spark issue. An engine is just machine that need the right combination to work. Remove any of the elements and cycle fails.
Rather than assume your engine is shot, go through the usual suspects first. This will save you time and money and put you back in the mowing seat soonerer.
Common Reasons Husqvarna Lawn Mower Won’t Start
Troubleshooting a Mower That Only Coughs
Before you start tinkering with anything else, check out the fuel system.
Checking for Stale Fuel and Phase Separation
Ethanol-blended gas isn’t great for extended storage. During the spring and summer months, when moisture levels is high in air, that gas will absorbs some of that moisture. That results in phase separation, where the ethanol move to bottom of tank and raw gasoline remains on top.
Leftover fuel gums up carburetor jet. Unless you’ve added a stabilizer to your fuel, chances are the fuel is now stale if lawn mower hasn’t been used in a couple of week or longer. Often simply draining the old gas and refilling with new work wonders and gets engine going again.
Inspecting the Air Filter for Clogs
Then you check the air filter. The engine will not breathe if the filter are clogged; it will suffocate. Husqvarna designs its efficient mowers to have clean airpath into engine.
A soaked filter of either oil or just plain dirty (black with soil) indicates engine can’t get its breath. Tap out some loose crud, sure. But if it’s sopping wet, it must go.
And this is a low-dollar component that make a big difference in starting reliability.
Examining the Spark Plug for Fouling
The next thing are to check your spark plug. It’s what causes the fuel-air mix to ignite.
Plugs wear out over time and gets coated in carbon deposits, called fouling. The electrode spacing widen, preventing a good spark. Out comes the plug.
Is it all black? Is it greasy? Then it’s gone, replaced or cleaned.
Has the electrode worn away? Time to purchase another plug. If there is no strong spark, the engine will not start; if the engine does not start, you cannot ignore it.
Testing the Kill Switch and Safety Interlocks
Lastly, you look at the kill switch and other safety interlocks. On the Husqvarna mowers, you must sit in the seat and disengage the cutting blade to activate the kill switch. Only then will the engine attempt to turn over.
It can be either a frayed wire stoppage or a sticky button that prevents start signal from getting through. That’s why it’s difficult to diagnose as an electrical problem different than something more mechanical. Is there a click when you listen for it?
Sometimes it’s the safety circuit being broken; in that case, resetting the blade lever or inspecting the connection often cure the problem. There’s no magic to repairing a mower, just a matter of method. Start with fuel, then air, then spark, and finally the electrical signals.
It’s called eliminating causes. And when engine goes silent, it doesn’t have to signal the end of your weekend. Silence can turn right back into the sound of a working machine based off a systematic check.
You should of checked the spark plug first if you wanted to be fast.