# My lawnmower won't start **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752 "2016-05-03T02:49:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/41 "2016-05-04T01:07:53Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Screwdrivers aren’t hollow. They are full of orange juice and vodka. AKA Gas to get you started and ready to mow the lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/42 "2016-05-04T01:21:12Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Screwdrivers aren’t hollow. They are full of orange juice and vodka. I’ve heard that ethyl alcohol is bad for lawnmowers. Apparently the jury is still out on orange juice. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/43 "2016-05-04T01:23:09Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Screwdrivers aren’t hollow. They are full of orange juice and vodka. Have you seen the graph of efficiency of engine repair vs alcohol consumed? It goes up very quickly, but sadly, after half a dozen, becomes alarmingly flat. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/44 "2016-05-04T01:33:27Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Mind if I toss in my lawnmower question? > > Mine requires maybe 5-7 pulls, then starts like a champ. I push and hold the priming bulb 3x like the instructions say, and then pull 3-5x. Once in a great while, it will start on the 3d or 5th pull, but I don’t expect it to. Then I push the primer another 2-3x, and pull a couple more times, and around pull 7 it starts like a champ. Once in a great while I’ll need to push the primer another couple of times. > > I don’t just lay on the primer right off the bat for fear of flooding. Plug and filter are clean. Once it starts, it will restart instantly on the first pull as I move from front to back, etc. > > Any thoughts? It doesn’t have a throttle? It sounds like you are trying to start it with the throttle it the running position. Pull the throttle, and it should start right up, then let it run for a minute or so, and slowly let the throttle in. If it really doesn’t have a throttle, cover the air intake with something when you start it, so it’s getting a richer fuel mixture. Just put a piece of cardboard over it, or put a piece of duct tape over half of it. Once you start it, pull half the tape off. Let it run a minute, then pull all the tape off. It must have a throttle, though. Maybe the cable is loose, and it isn’t working. I had an old truck with a manual throttle (aka, “choke cable”). It was missing when I bought it (for $200). When I wanted to start it, I had to remove the air filter, and cover the carburetor with my hand while someone else started it. I put an aftermarket cable in, and it was fine. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/45 "2016-05-04T15:54:43Z")
Most push mowers sold these days don’t have an adjustable throttle. Just a primer bulb and that engine brake bar. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/46 "2016-05-04T16:08:50Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Most push mowers sold these days don’t have an adjustable throttle. Just a primer bulb and that engine brake bar. Mine doesn’t even have a primer bulb, which is OK with me because all that they seem to do is crack. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/47 "2016-05-04T17:08:54Z")
With enough screwdrivers, fixing the fuel lines with a chainsaw does make sense. Excuse me while I swing away with my sledge hammer on the carb bowl … I’m going to unstick that float in a BIG way … ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/48 "2016-05-08T23:28:25Z")
:rollseyes: My carburetor showed up on Friday but I’ve been out of town and didn’t get back to this project until today. I went to the garage and the mower started right up. I don’t remember if I tried to start it after replacing the plug (since it looked new) or not. I don’t normally like to anthropomorphize but I really think the thing hates me. :rollseyes: If anyone needs a carb for a B&S 725 model engine, just let me know. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752/49 "2016-05-09T02:52:00Z")
Christine. You watch your ass. No way am I taking that carb for my dead lawnmower. You are on your own. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lawnmower-wont-start/753752.md?page=2)