Self propelled lawn mowers are one of the most convenient types of lawn mower that you can get on the market.
Unlike traditional lawn mowers, self propelled lawn mowers have the ability to, just like their name suggests – propel themselves forward without any push required by the user.
Still, if you are the owner of a self propelled lawn mower and you have recently discovered that it is not working the way that it once was, don’t panic.
There are plenty of different ways that you can help to troubleshoot your lawn mower and remedy the issue – and this is where we come in to lend a helping hand.
Below, you will find a breakdown of the best tips and tricks to help fix some of the most common problems that owners of self propelled lawn mowers find themselves experiencing. So, just read on!
1. The Lawn Mower Is Cutting Poorly
If you are currently noticing that your self propelled lawn mower is not cutting correctly, is vibrating when in use or just that the general performance of it has dwindled – then this could mean that you have a bent or unbalanced blade.
It is very important that you are making sure to regularly check the quality of your lawn mower’s blade, as besides causing the lawn mower to be unable to cut grass in the same way it originally could, issues with the blade can also potentially cause the internal components of your mower to become damaged beyond repair.
That being said, in order to fix this yourself, we recommend that you disconnect the mower from the power source and proceed to clean the blade of any clippings, mud or other debris that could be causing it to be unbalanced.
If this does not correct the problem, you can also try removing the blade and then assessing the motor shaft area.
If you can see that the motor is damaged, we recommend that you reach out to the manufacturer for assistance, or alternatively take your lawn mower to a mechanic for further assistance.
2. The Lawn Mower Is Not Starting
The second common issue that many self propelled lawn mower owners find themselves having to deal with is the issue of their lawn mower not starting properly.
Just in the same way that a car might stop working if it has a flat battery or even a bad spark plug, the same can be said for a lawn mower.
Shut-Off Valve
If your self propelled mower has a fuel shut-off valve and you notice that it is closed, then this could be the main reason why your lawn mower is not starting properly.
That being said, if you are currently struggling with getting your lawn mower to turn on, then we recommend that you spend some time checking that all of the safety features are disengaged, as this could prevent the lawn mower from turning on and starting as it should.
Spark Plug
If this isn’t the issue, then the reason why your lawn mower might not be starting could be down to the spark plug. If you feel that this might be the issue, then we recommend that you disconnect the spark plug cable and then carefully remove the spark plug to clean it.
After inspecting, if you can see that the spark plug is corroded or damaged in some way, then you will need to purchase a new one.
Battery
Similarly, another issue that could be preventing your lawn mower from switching on correctly is the battery. If you have a self propelled lawn mower that runs off a battery, then we recommend checking whether or not your battery has drained.
If the battery is flat, then you are going to need to go ahead and charge the battery so that you will be able to begin using your self propelled lawn mower as normal once again.
However, if you are finding that your battery is not charging, then you might need to consider purchasing a new battery.
If the battery is not charging and the lawn mower is new, we recommend checking the warranty to see if you might be entitled to a free replacement.
3. The Lawn Mower Isn’t Self Propelling Anymore
Last but certainly not least, the final issue that you might be encountering as a self propelled lawn mower owner is that your lawn mower is not self propelling itself anymore.
More often than not, this issue is typically caused by an issue with the cable that is designed to control the speed of the mower.
This is one of the most common issues you might be facing, and the good news is that it is relatively easy to correct:
Transmission Cable
If the transmission has become damaged, then this will prevent the lawn mower from moving on its own. If you can see that the transmission has become damaged, you are going to need to go ahead and either repair or replace the cable.
We recommend that you take the lawn mower to a mechanic if this is the case.
Wheels
In some instances, the wheels could be preventing your lawn mower from self propelling itself. If you feel that this might be the issue, then we recommend that you carefully lubricate the wheels to help ensure that the wheels can move without restriction.
However, keep in mind that they might need to be replaced.
The Bottom Line
There we have it! We’ve made it to the end of the guide. Now that you have taken the time to read through all of the above, we hope that we have been able to show you how to fix your self propelled lawn mower.
If we haven’t touched upon the problem you are currently encountering, we recommend that you seek the help of a mechanic or reach out to the manufacturer for further assistance.
