Is your lawn mower not starting? Several reasons could happen but the major one can be the spark plug in the engine. So if your lawn mower is not starting, not running smoothly, or has engine problems, then here is an ultimate troubleshooting guide you must be looking for. Check out what a spark plug is, its location in various mowers, how to change them, and various other queries that you might need to solve the issue.
WHAT IS A SPARK PLUG?
A spark plug is a very important part of an engine as it is a device for firing the fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine. A spark plug as the name suggests creates a spark that ignites the fuel and air mixture inside the cylinder of an engine. High voltage electricity is supplied to the spark plug through a lead which jumps the gap at the tip at just the right moment to create a spark and ignite the fuel.
The spark plug is the component that starts the engine and keeps it running. Spark plugs are made of very durable materials and can withstand extreme heat and millions of explosions under the engine before wearing out and going bad which then have to be replaced by a new spark plug as a spark plug is a very easy to remove or replaceable part in the engine.
Where is the spark plug located on a lawn mower?
In every engine, a spark plug is located in the engine head. So to find the spark plug in the lawn mower first find the engine and then the engine head. Engine head contains block-like patterns with lines to cool it. If you find the engine head then you will see a lead attached to the head. This is where the spark plug is on a lawn mower. If you remove the lead you will find the spark plug underneath attached to the engine.
Where is the spark plug situated in the Riding Lawn Mower?
On a riding mower, the spark plug is usually placed at the front or sides of the engine head where the lines and gaps are to cool the head of the engine. You will also see a lead connecting to the engine on the head of the engine, this is where the spark plug is located in a riding lawn mower.
Where is the spark plug situated in the Toro Lawn Mower?
In Toro lawn mower the spark plug is located in the front of the mower. The spark plug is connected in front of the engine with the head which contains lines and gaps. Check for a lead in the front of the head which will be connected to the spark plug. Remove the lead to see the spark plug.
Where is the spark plug situated in the Craftsman lawn mower?
In a craftsman lawn mower the spark plug is located in front of the lawn mower but the spark plug is hidden beneath the cover fixed with screws. To find the spark plug you need to first remove the front cover by removing the screws then you will see the lead which will be attached to the spark plug.
Where is the Spark plug situated in the Husqvarna Lawn Mower?
In the Husqvarna Lawn Mower, you can locate the spark plug on the lower front of the mower cover under a metal cap. You need to remove to screw first and then you will see a electricity lead. After removing the lead you will find the spark plug fixed in the engine. You can also find it by tracing the way of spark plug wire into the Husqvarna Lawn Mower.
Where is the spark plug situated in the Honda Lawn Mower?
In the Honda Lawn Mower, the spark plug is located on the front of the lawn mower. You can locate it on the inside of the insulated rubber cap which has Honda written on it. You have to use a socket wrench if you want to remove the spark plug.
Does spark plug go bad in a lawn mower?
If the lawn mower is not starting, then one of the main reasons for this problem can be a spark plug going bad or becoming faulty. The spark plug faces a lot of heat and explosions under the engine which will make it wear out and have corrosion.
After facing this heat and pressure regularly the spark plug loses the ability to generate a full spark which makes the lawn mower either not work properly or not get started. Bad spark plugs also make the engine very inefficient by incomplete fuel combustion inside the engine.
You can also face the mower to be stopping very frequently. This can be because of a bad spark plug which is sometimes unable to create sparks and ignite the fuel in the engine causing the engine to stop.
How to check if a spark plug is good or bad?
To check whether the spark plug in your mower is good or bad is to remove the spark plug from the mower and see if it’s good or bad but before removing the spark plug from the mower there are some usual signs which will tell if the spark plug is going bad.
- The first and most usual sign is that the mower doesn’t start while having proper fuel and oil in it.
- The second sign is that the mower stops unusually in the middle.
- Vibrations and cold start is also a sign of a bad spark plug.
- The inefficiency of fuel is also a sign that the spark plug is not working properly.
Steps to check if the spark plug is gone bad?
- Locate the spark plug.
- Disconnect the lead from the spark plug. Make sure the ignition is turned off so electricity can flow in the lead.
- Clean the surrounding of the spark plugs as when you remove the spark plug, nothing goes inside the combustion chamber.
- Remove the spark plug with the help of a wrench
- Inspect the spark plug for any cracks in the porcelain and as well as any dirt between the gaps. Check the electrodes for any burning. If the tip has oily deposits, or the tip looks bad. If any one of these conditions is found in the plug then replace it with a new one.
How to clean a spark plug in a lawn mower?
Dirt, oil, or carbon on the tip of the spark plug can block the current to generate a spark or gives electricity an alternative pathway, preventing the combustion to take place. The best way to remove this problem is by cleaning the spark plug.
To clean the spark plug, first, dip the tip of the spark plug in alcohol or oil remover to remove any oil residue from the tip. Scrub the tip with the help of a brush or a clean piece of cloth and then again put the tip of alcohol to remove all the small particles from the tip. This will ensure that the plug is clean. After this check the gap in the plug with the help of a spark plug gauge and adjust the gap according to the owner manual.
What to do when a spark plug goes bad?
If the spark plug in your lawn mower has gone bad and is not working properly then the best thing you can do is to replace the spark plug with a new one. To find the same spark plug see the code number on the side of the spark plug on the porcelain. If the code is not visible in the plug then see the owner manual to see what size and type of plug to use. Cleaning the old plug and reinserting it in the engine is also an option but the spark plugs are usually cheap and replacing them is the best option.
How to change a spark plug?
- Position the lawn mower – The first thing while replacing the lawn mower spark plug is to properly position the lawn mower. Lawn mowers are heavy and can cause injury if fallen while working on it. Put the mower on a flat surface and place some heavy things near the wheels to keep the mower from moving forward or backward.
- Cool it down – If you are replacing the spark plug immediately after using it then the engine can be hot. Give some time to it so that the engine cools down or it can cause burning and it can also be very difficult for you to work on.
- Locate the spark plug – Locate the spark plug in the lawn mower. The spark plug is placed in the head of the engine where you see lines and gaps on the engine. A lead would be visible going into the head which is connected to the spark plug.
- Disconnect the spark plug lead – Remove the lead from the spark plug which is also termed as ignition cable. Turn off the ignition for safety measures as this is a wire that links the spark plug to the electricity to generate a spark.
- Remove the spark plug – Use a spark plug socket or a proper size wrench to loosen up the spark plug from the engine. Make sure you are loosening it precisely and not forcing it so it doesn’t damage the thread of the engine. Turn the socket counterclockwise to loosen the spark plug. If you are facing any difficulty loosening the plug then use a lubricant and give it some time to soak and then try again.
- Inspect – After removing the spark plug check and inspect the spark plug. Check to see any crack in the porcelain part of the plug or burned electrode as well as any dirt or carbon in the tip. If any of these conditions are found in the spark plug then you need to replace it with the new one. If there is no defect in the spark plug then clean it with the use of alcohol and a brush.
Dip the tip of the spark plug into the alcohol and then remove the dirt with the help of a brush and then again dip it into the alcohol to remove any small particles.
- Adjust the gap – Before reinstalling the new or old spark plug into the lawn mower, check the gap of the spark plug. Take the help of the spark plug gap gauge to see whether it’s correct or not and adjust it according to the owner’s manual. To adjust the gap, carefully bend the tip with the help of a solid surface or open up the gap with the help of a gauge.
- Install the spark plug – put the plug into the place and check to see if it’s properly fitted and not tilted sideways. Firstly turn the spark plug clockwise with your hand first to make it fit and then take the help of the socket to tighten up the plug into place. Be careful not to over-tighten the spark plug as it can very easily break or damage the threads on the engine. After the plug is tight give it one last turn to make sure it’s tight and well fitted into the engine.
- Reconnect lead – after fitting the spark plug, reconnect the ignition lead into the plug. Make sure the lead is tightly fitted into the plug and don’t have any breaks in between. If the lead is damaged then it can lawyer the voltage of the electricity and can cause uneven sparks and inefficiency. Replace if the lead is damaged.
- Turn on the ignition to check – after reinstalling the lead, turn on the ignition and start the lawn mower. You will see the improvement in sound and also the easy start of the mower. This will ensure that the work has been done properly. congratulations!
- Dispose of damaged parts – dispose of the unnecessary parts of the spark plug in the garbage as spark plugs are safe to dispose of in the garbage bin.
Benefits of replacing a spark plug
- Increases the fuel efficiency of the engine and increase the performance
- Keeps the engine healthy by proper combustion of fuel
- Lawn mower starts easily in one go
- Removes the problem of cold start
- Less harmful emissions from the engine
How often should I change the spark plug in the lawn mower?
You should change the spark plug after 80 to 100 hours of running and mowing. You can also change the spark plug every season to have no problem in between the seasons. Check after every 80 to 10 hours of running to see if the spark plug needs to change, remove it and inspect for burning or any defect in the plug. If there is no defect or any problem then you don’t need to change the plug.
I hope, now you know where to find the spark plug on the lawn mower and how to clean and change it.