# My lawnmower won't start. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 3, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154 "2015-05-03T14:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/61 "2015-05-12T19:03:03Z")
Not if my husband gets it started tonight by swapping out the gas. If I could forgive him I suppose I can forgive the lawnmower. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/62 "2015-05-12T20:05:48Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Not if my husband gets it started tonight by swapping out the gas. If I could forgive him I suppose I can forgive the lawnmower. Both are likely to continue giving you trouble, the mower seasonally. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/63 "2015-05-13T13:07:30Z")
Yeah, but one of them works! ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/64 "2015-05-13T13:52:15Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Not if my husband gets it started tonight by swapping out the gas. If I could forgive him I suppose I can forgive the lawnmower. Naw, fuck that piece of shit Toro Recycler. Put that thing out on the curb for some other poor dumb schmuck to find. Go get a Honda instead. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/65 "2015-05-13T13:56:44Z")
Better yet, get a Honda motorcycle and ride away on it, leaving things like lawn maintenance for the squares. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/66 "2015-05-13T14:58:15Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > If you’re either cleaning/regapping the old plug, or putting in a new one, ALSO change the air filter on the carb. Lawn mower engines are simple; if they won’t start, either they’re not getting fuel, or the spark is bad. A dirty air filter is the fastest way possible to foul a sparkplug, and new filters are very inexpensive. Yeah, I was surprised with how easy it was to clean up and get running this year. I have a 20-year old or so Craftsman, and I’ve never needed outside service to get it going. Youtube has great videos for the basic maintenance work–I assume the same would be available for a Toro (in fact, [here is one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ8k8PcLZ28)). Drain any old gas, get a new filter (I got mine at the local auto parts store), a new plug just to be sure, clean out the carb and the little jet pilot holes (mine had a partial blockage that I had to scrape out with a thin wire), spray some carb/choke cleaner, put in some new gas, check the oil level (and adjust if necessary, or do a full-on oil change) and it should (hopefully) be good to go. The thing runs like it’s brand new. Maybe 15 minutes of work, as long as you have all your supplies and tools at hand. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/67 "2015-05-13T20:40:24Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Naw, fuck that piece of shit Toro Recycler. Put that thing out on the curb for some other poor dumb schmuck to find. Go get a Honda instead. The ironic thing here is that lots of Toros come with Honda engines. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154/68 "2015-05-19T15:40:20Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > The ironic thing here is that lots of Toros come with Honda engines. Mine has a [Kohler](http://www.kohlerengines.com/home.htm) brand engine. I probably should have known better than to buy a lawnmower with an engine made by a company more famous for its [shitters](http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Toilets-Water-Saving-Toilets/category/972260/429204.htm?mboxSession=1432049984413-677587). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/719154.md?page=3)