lawnmower troubles

 Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up
and down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does
the same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol,
new cap with hole made bigger and so on.


Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet

 

Sounds like you need a new mower man!
I agree if it splutters a lot before dying that it is probably fuel related
but not necessarily starvation, but need to know a little more.

What make is the engine?
What is the fuel tank like? Is it rusty metal or a plastic one?
Does it have a pipe between the tank and carburettor or is the tank mounted
directly on top of the carburettor?
What about the cold starting provision, does it have a separately controlled
choke, choke combined with the throttle or no choke control at all?

Or does it die suddenly? if so it could be the electrical cut off at fault.

Mike

 
It's  Hayter Harrier 48 about 10 years old  but no idea of make of
engine Mike!
Tank is a metal one
er, think tank is mounted on top of carburettor
It has one control, all the way forward for choke starts then lever back
for speed of engine.

It doesn't die suddenly it sort of splutters to halt

Nearest one on web is
http://www.hayter.co.uk/products/homeowner/mowers/rear-roller/harrier-48-
autodrive-VS/
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

 

Ok, so almost certainly fuel problems but still not sure whether its
starvation or over fuelling.

You could try restarting immediately after it dies then remove the spark
plug . If its wet then it's certainly over fuelling which can be caused by
the choke staying on, or the air filter being blocked.

Air filter is easy, clean it out. Or test the machine by running it without
the filter element in place. Only try this in damp conditions when there is
little dust flying around.

Choke a little more difficult. Some have a choke that is applied manually by
pushing the throttle lever fully forward, others have one that is spring
loaded and comes off automatically when the engine reaches full speed.

When you check the air filter look down into the carburettor. Do you see a
plastic butterfly flap with a hole that the screw holding the filter on
passes through? If so does this plastic butterfly spring back to fully
closed when you move it with your finger? This is the choke device and it
works by blocking the airflow when starting so as to make the engine suck in
more fuel. Once running the suction of the engine holds it out of the way.
Check it moves easily and fully opens, it should spring back to fully closed
when you let go. If not its sticking and needs freeing up.

If its a manual choke activated by full throttle opening, it may be that the
cable is badly adjusted and activating the choke too soon/releasing it too
late. Try running the machine at half throttle if it keeps going then your
cable needs adjusting so that the choke is closed at full running speed.

If the plug is dry then it is likely to be fuel starvation. This could be
caused by blockage in the float valve, possibly by rust particles from
inside the tank. Or failure of the diaphragm inside the carburettor.

This is now somewhat more technical as it requires a stripdown of the
carburettor to check for dirt in the float valve and replacement of the
diaphragm. Which brings me back to my first observation, get a new mower man
if you are not confident of delving in there yourself..

I have a Hayter 56, the slightly bigger brother to yours and in the18 years
I have owned it, other than new blades, it has needed two replacement
diaphragms and one replacement drive belt. they are good machines but do
need basic servicing.

Mike

 
lots of really useful information and ..................


Well I have had the machine serviced at two very good mower companies
before now but they took so long that i take it to a general mower man
nearby instead .

Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and book it in to Bryants or Browns
then ...

Need to print your instructions out in large letters and try and follow
them if I can! Thanks Mike much appreciated