There are three common problems we encounter when taking our power equipment out of storage and begin use for another season. Battery failure, mice nests, and Carburetor Fuel Flow Problems!
Is your lawn mower not starting, runs poorly or only runs for a few seconds then shuts down?
Gas is only good 30-45 days, after that, it starts to turn into varnish inside your carburetor and brittle your fuel lines because of the ethanol they now put into gas. Varnish clogs up your carburetor and causes poor performance. I’ve seen varnish do amazing things like completely skin over large throughways inside the carb and completely stop the flow of fuel. In New England we have Summer gas and Winter gas blends that make stabilizing the gas for storage even more challenging. When ethanol burns, water is formed and then pushed out the exhaust. These engines were not designed to burn gas with ethanol.
When gas is left in our power equipment, carburetors will need to be cleaned and rebuilt with some parts replaced. Aftermarket carburetors are now $18-30 and readily available. The question to ask yourself is, why not replace the carburetor? Not all snowblowers and mowers come with Briggs & Stratton engines anymore. A lot of the engines being sourced for our power equipment are being built elsewhere. HUAYI carburetors made in China will need to replaced. New aftermarket carburetors are usually priced $18-30 and available on Amazon, shipped two days or less. We will spec the right replacement carburetor for your machine and send you a link via Text to purchase.
4-stroke small engines require good clean oil to run correctly, when was the last time you changed your oil in your lawn mower, lawn tractor or walk behind? I recommend that you change your oil, plugs and fuel filter yearly to keep your equipment running strong.
BEFORE YOU CALL FOR SERVICE… Try these frequently asked questions to make sure you need service:
1.) Q: Are you using fresh gas? Gas is only good for 30-45 days, if you put gas older than that in the machine before you tried to start it, then it will run poorly or not at all.
SOLUTION: Drain the old gas out and put fresh gas in, and retry. If you are not comfortable doing this, then please call me for service.
2.) Q: Have you checked to make sure your gas shutoff is turned to the open position? Some machines do not have a gas shutoff, it is usually located beneath the gas tank in clear view for ease of use.
SOLUTION: Turn the shutoff to the open position, prime the machine and retry starting, give it a few pulls or engage the electric start several times before you call for service.
If you are unsure or have questions… …I can provide knowledgeable, experienced answers using Voice Support and Startegies voice support is always FREE! Call me!
