iFixit - Answers With Device "Lawn Mower"

Lawn Mower: Why does my engine die when the blade is engaged?

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 15:56:14 -0700

I have an older Murray riding lawn mower. Whenever I engage the mower, the engine dies. Otherwise, it runs great.

⟐ Answered September 06, 2025 at 15:56 MST

Lawn Mower: How to put belt back on a john deere sabre riding mower

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 10:56:24 -0700

How do I route the belt through the pulleys of my john deere sabre riding mower?

⟐ Answer deleted April 19, 2019 at 10:56 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: White smoke and spitting oil?

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:30:23 -0700

I shouldn't be allowed to operate power tools anymore, but whatever... I was mowing my yard when I hit a piece of hidden wood. A piece of wood jammed against the side of the lawnmower and the blade, which required me to flip it on its side and dislodge the chunk of wood. After I removed the wood, I put the mower back into its right position and took a break (It's hot out..). After my 45-minute break, I went to start it to finish cutting and it was belching out white smoke, and leaking and spitting oil out of the muffler. My father and I took a look at it finding nothing, but I took off the air filter cover and there was also an oily residue in there, more than normal. What could be wrong with it?

P.S: Comment if you want pictures.

⟐ Commented July 07, 2025 at 9:30 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Engine starts, won't go forward or reverse.

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 05:09:21 -0700

I have a Toro Wheel Horse riding mower - engine starts, mower deck will engage, but it will not go forward or reverse. It will roll, however. What is the fix? Thanks.

⟐ Commented June 14, 2023 at 5:09 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Why does it stop running after 15-20 seconds

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 11:17:46 -0700

Replaced a worn fuel line. Ran great for about 20 minutes, then stopped. Will re-start but only run for 15-20 seconds. I replaced spark plug and air filter as well, but same problem. Engine keeps stopping after 15-20 seconds.

⟐ Commented June 17, 2023 at 11:17 MST

Lawn Mower: gas pedal does not work

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:35:17 -0700

troy bilt riding mower gas pedal goes all the way down but lawn mower will not move

⟐ Answered June 25, 2025 at 21:35 MST

Lawn Mower: How to put belt back on L-120 John Deere lawn mower

Fri, 24 May 2019 10:38:50 -0700

I need a diagram for replacing belt that came off a L-120 John Deere lawn mower belt. 48 in. cut

⟐ Commented May 24, 2019 at 10:38 MST

Troy-bilt lawn mower: Mower will not engage - wheels do not move forward

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:49:25 -0700

My self propelled mover is a Toy Built 22", 5.50 horsepower, Briggs and Stratton 550 Series, 158 cc, Model Number

12A-264U011, number directly the model number is 303526.

I changed the height of cut today, started the mower, engaged the self propelled arm and processed to cut grass. The mower moved forward and cut about5 feet, then all of a sudden just stopped moving forward. I released the arm and engaged again, the mower moved forward under power, then stopped again.

Can you tell me what to look for? I did note that the line that is attached to the forward motion arm is a bit loose, that is, it has some slack in it.

This has been a great mower. I had it exactly one year and 3 months. I purchased this mower after my husband passed and needed something I could handle at the old age of 70.

Awaiting your response.

⟐ Commented August 15, 2025 at 13:49 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: smoke and oil coming from Toro variable speed propelled mower exhaust

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:52:53 -0700

I bought a new (customer returned) mower from a salvage dealer. It has never cut grass as below the deck is pristine. I added oil and gas and it started on the second pull. It pours smoke from the exhaust as well as spits oil (maybe oil vapor) that gets the deck and wheel oily. I saw one expert said oil in the cyllinder can cause this. Even with a new mower?

One other said to let it run for 15 min to burn it off, safe?

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks Tim G

⟐ Edited December 17, 2013 at 12:52 MST

Lawn Mower: engine stops after about fifteen minutes

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 19:40:47 -0700

I have a small John Deere riding mower. It runs great for about fifteen minutes and stops. after about half hour it will start up and run for a little while. It will run on starting fluid, so it has to be a fuel problem. Can you help me?

I am not good on the computer.. I had another problem with my mower.. You answered the first one about the clutch.. I tried to write to you and thank you, But I guess I didn't do it right. I did solve the running problem.. It was a dirty strainer... Thanks for your interest.... Bobby

⟐ Commented November 24, 2017 at 19:40 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Cable to blade engagement is loose or broken

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 12:45:44 -0700

The cable to engage the blade is loose and can be pulled by hand inside housing

⟐ Answered March 31, 2016 at 12:45 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: White smoke out of muffler once warmed up

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 08:24:30 -0700

My Honda engine on a Toro motor suddenly started billowing white oily smelling smoke out of the muffler. I shut it down, and let it sit for a while. it starts on the first pull, runs fine for about 20 minutes and then starts billowing out white smoke again.

Head Gasket?

⟐ Commented August 14, 2023 at 8:24 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: How do I replace pull starter cord

Fri, 26 Jan 2018 08:52:43 -0700

The cord that you pull to start the mower is broke need to know how to put new one on

⟐ Answer accepted January 26, 2018 at 8:52 MST

Lawn Mower: Can I replace an engine starter cord?

Thu, 27 Oct 2016 19:13:04 -0700

The starter cord on my lawn mower broke. Is there a way to fix the cord myself, or do I have to get a new lawn mower, or find someone to repair it?

⟐ Commented October 27, 2016 at 19:13 MST

Lawn Mower: My self propelled law mower just stopped moving.

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:36:40 -0700

My mower was moving and the front wheels stopped moving, could see the wheels moving but would not engage outer wheels.

⟐ Answered June 28, 2010 at 16:36 MST

Lawn Mower: How to adjust the clutch?

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 08:56:48 -0700

I have a 1988 38" MTD riding mower.

The clutch engages very high, almost at full pedal release.

How do I adjust this? It has a new drive belt, which is the proper fully jacketed one.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Tom

⟐ Commented June 22, 2022 at 8:56 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Time cutter 4200 blades will not stay engaged

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 20:40:50 -0700

My time cutter zero turn will run fine. However, the blades will not stay engaged. I will be mowing and the blades will just shut off. I push the switch button down and pull it back up and they engage again. The engine does not stall or react.

I am assuming the switch is bad, but before I start chucking money, I figured I’d ask.

Some days are worse than others. Some days, I can mow for hours without any issues. Today, I could mow for about 5 minutes at a time.

⟐ Commented July 05, 2021 at 20:40 MST

Lawn Mower: Honda Harmony 215 Lawn Mower Service Manual?

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 07:06:03 -0700

Hi, I have the lawn mower referenced in the title. Maybe someone on here has or knows where to find the service manual for it. It is a self-propelled, 21", mulching mower. It has trouble with high grass, by high I mean about 7" tall. The deck is set at the 2nd highest setting it can be set to. It cuts the grass fine for about 4' then won't cut it at all. If you disengage the blades, then re-engage them it is good for another 4'. The blades are sharp, installed correctly. There is no center nut/bolt holding the blades, on this model. There are 2 bolts holding the blades to what in appearance is more than likely a centrifugal clutch assembly. Any useful help on this would be greatly appreciated and rewarded by ifixit points. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

⟐ Commented August 30, 2016 at 7:06 MST

Lawn Mower: Loss of power when blades engage

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 19:29:44 -0700

I have an old Craftsman Zero Turn lawn mower. It was running good until it was parked on an incline. Now its blowing out white smoke and when the blade is engaged it runs maybe 1 mile an hour. We have changed the spark plugs, cleaned the carburetor, changed the oil and fuel filter. It will run fast and then bog down slow, then pick up some power and then bog down again slow. It will eventually die out and have to be restarted. It runs with speed until the blades are engaged.

⟐ Answer accepted October 30, 2013 at 19:29 MST

Toro Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: Howto install Blade engage cable on Toro TimeMaster 30in Mower

Sat, 15 Aug 2015 10:17:11 -0700

How to install Blade engage cable on a 30in Toro TimeMaster mower