Lawnmower repair... maybe?

**armstrt8** · 04-27-2014, 07:32 AM

Question!

I went to pick up a load of metal from an area that I cannot afford to live in =P
In the load was a "trash" lawnmower that appeared to be in near new condition. I asked about it and she said that they lost the gas cap for it last spring, and since it was old (OLD?!!?!) they just bought a new one. It has since then sat in their garage/shed, NO GAS CAP ON, and GAS IN IT, as well as some floating leaves in the gas tank part. If working this lawnmower would be twice as nice as ours....

Anyone know what I might be in for it I wanted to fix it? If I could spend under $75 to make it run it would be well, well worth it.

Its a Toro high wheel self propelled mulching mower.

**junkisus** · 04-27-2014, 07:41 AM

Throwaway world we live in, rinse the tank out real good put a new plug in and fresh gas, if it doesn't want to idle a carb kit should take care of that.

**Yunkman** · 04-27-2014, 09:01 AM

Yep, just turn it upside down and let everything drain out. You might wait overnight and refill it with gas so the carb isn't flooded from being upside down. I had a nice one given to me from an estate this week and I used engine starting fluid to get it to "pop" and it finally decided to run after a few fails. Now I'm running it with Seafoam fuel treatment to clean up the carb. Those mulching mowers .....not sure I like em....I like to see grass fly. Mine is a lime green Lawn Boy.

**Mechanic688** · 04-27-2014, 02:03 PM

Talked to a few repairmen and they talk about a lot of water in our gas nowadays. What we do is go down to the local marina and buy our mower gas there as there does not seem to be any alcohol and minimal water in it, runs better in our mowers. Take a quart clear jar and fill it 1/2 to 3/4 with gas and let it set to see how much water is in your gas, you'll be surprised.

**Immulmen** · 04-27-2014, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Talked to a few repairmen and they talk about a lot of water in our gas nowadays. What we do is go down to the local marina and buy our mower gas there as there does not seem to be any alcohol and minimal water in it, runs better in our mowers. Take a quart clear jar and fill it 1/2 to 3/4 with gas and let it set to see how much water is in your gas, you'll be surprised.

If you have E10 gas the alcohol will attract water the separate from the gas. Until the alcohol absorbs enough water you will not see any in the gas. A lot of marinas [not in Maine] have real gas with no alcohol. In Maine , unless you buy airplane or racing fuel [both illegal to use on the road] it has to be E10.