Sputtering push mower? 10 pts to best answer!?
I have a push gas mower. I let someone else use it and now I try to crank it. It starts up and hits full speed, but then sputters for a second or two and drops down half speed, then speeds back up. When it sputters smoke shoots out of the side.
I'm thinking it has bad gasoline in it, or the wrong type of engine oil.
Anybody know what's wrong with it?
I Don't Think You Got Anything Major Wrong With Your Unit - Just An Error When Loading Or Unloading / Cleaning Under The Deck Of The Unit.
White Smoke = Oil - Turned Unit On It's Side - The Unit Was Turned Carburetor Side Down.
Ok, Lets Fix It. Remove The Spark Plug, Covered In Oil? - Wipe Off With Towel - Cloth Or Paper Towel Ok. Place Plug Wire On Ground - Next Pull The Starter Cord A Few Times And Let The Oil In The Cylinder Blow Itself Out Onto A Towel - Wipe Up Oil.
Check Oil Level - Should Not Be Higher Than The Cross Lines On The Dip Stick. If Higher You Must Drain The Extra Oil Out - Drain Plug In The Bottom Of The Engine - Drain It All - Replace Plug "Tighten But Not So Tight That You Break The Engine" - Refill With A Good SAE 30 - Check At An Auto Parts For Help If Needed. Add 18 To 20 Oz. Is Normal At First - Let Oil Drain Down The Fill/Dipstick Tube Check Level - Add Only 1 Or 2 Oz. At A Time Until The Unit Is Filled To About 1/2 To 3/4 Way On The Dip Stick "Cross Marks"...
Reinstall Spark Plug.
Remover Air Filter - If Paper, It Is Most Likely Oiled Down - Must Be Replaced
If A Green Foam Filter Get A Towel And Place The Filter Into The Towel And Soak Up The Extra Oil From The Filter Material.
Reinstall The Air Filter.
Start Unit Let Run +/- 2 Minutes Smoke Should Clear Up.
If You Ever Need To Turn A Unit On It's Side - Remove The Spark Plug Wire From The Spark Plug - Always Turn The Unit Carburetor Side Up...
The Reason Your Engine And Carburetor Oiled Down - Is The Motor Oil Came Thru The Crankcase Vent System Into The Carburetor Then Into The Cylinder.
Hope This Helps
Bob
