
6
Trouble
Shooting
For repairs beyond
the minor adjustments
listed here, contact
an authorized service
dealer.
Problem | 
  | Cause | 
  | Remedy | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
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  | 
Engine fails to start | 1.  | Blade control disengaged.  | 1.  | Engage blade control.  | 
  | 2.  | Spark plug wire disconnected.  | 2.  | Connect wire to spark plug.  | 
  | 3.  | Fuel tank empty or stale fuel.  | 3.  | Fill tank with clean, fresh gasoline.  | 
  | 4.  | Engine not choked.  | 4.  | Choke engine as instructed in the  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | “Operating Your Lawn Mower” section.  | 
  | 5.  | Faulty spark plug.  | 5.  | Clean, adjust gap, or replace.  | 
  | 6.  | Blocked fuel line.  | 6.  | Clean fuel line.  | 
  | 7.  | Engine flooded.  | 7.  | Wait a few minutes to restart, but do  | 
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  | not prime.  | 
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Engine runs erratic | 1.  | Spark plug wire loose.  | 1.  | Connect and tighten spark plug wire.  | 
  | 2.  | Blocked fuel line or stale fuel.  | 2.  | Clean fuel line; fill tank with clean,  | 
  | 
  | 
  | 
  | fresh gasoline.  | 
  | 3.  | Vent in gas cap plugged.  | 3.  | Clear vent.  | 
  | 4.  | Water or dirt in fuel system.  | 4.  | Drain fuel tank. Refill with fresh fuel.  | 
  | 5.  | Dirty air cleaner.  | 5.  | Refer to engine manual.  | 
  | 6.  | Carburetor out of adjustment.  | 6.  | Refer to engine manual.  | 
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Engine overheats | 1.  | Engine oil level low.  | 1.  | Fill crankcase with proper oil.  | 
  | 2.  | Air flow restricted.  | 2.  | Remove blower housing and clean.  | 
  | 3.  | Carburetor not adjusted properly.  | 3.  | Refer to engine manual.  | 
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Occasional skips | 1.  | Spark plug gap too close.  | 1.  | Adjust gap   | 
(hesitates) at high speed  | 2.  | Carburetor idle mixture adjustment  | 2.  | Refer to engine manual.  | 
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  | improperly set.  | 
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Idles poorly | 1.  | Spark plug fouled, faulty or gap too wide.  | 1.  | Reset gap   | 
  | 
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  | spark plug.  | 
  | 2.  | Carburetor improperly adjusted.  | 2.  | Refer to engine manual.  | 
  | 3.  | Dirty air cleaner.  | 3.  | Refer to engine manual.  | 
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Excessive Vibration | 1.  | Cutting blade loose or unbalanced.  | 1.  | Tighten blade and adapter. Balance  | 
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  | blade.  | 
  | 2.  | Bent cutting blade.  | 2.  | See an authorized service dealer.  | 
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Mower will not mulch grass  | 1.  | Wet grass.  | 1.  | Do not mow when grass is wet; wait  | 
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  | until later to cut.  | 
  | 2.  | Excessively high grass.  | 2.  | Mow once at a high cutting height,  | 
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  | then mow again at desired height or  | 
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  | make a narrower cutting path.  | 
  | 3.  | Dull blade.  | 3.  | Sharpen or replace blade.  | 
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Uneven cut | 1.  | Wheels not positioned correctly.  | 1.  | Place all four wheels in same  | 
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  | height position.  | 
  | 2.  | Dull blade.  | 2.  | Sharpen or replace blade.  | 
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12