I'm sounding very incompetent today - but how on earth do I start a lawnmower?

So far, I have checked that there is petrol in it, which there is though perhaps not much.
I have pushed the speed lever all the way down, and pulled the throttle sharply at the same time. Not the slightest whimper of a lawn-mower starting-up noise can be heard.

It hasn't been used since last autumn, if that makes any difference?

What am I doing wrong? Please help me before Mr Hatster returns home from the pub!

I laughed so much I just had to post... sorry...

Have you pulled the piece of string/wire that jump starts it?

Have you pressed/pulled the clutch down?

Have you pressed/pulled the engine stop handle thingy?

oh well - at least I made you laugh FTB!

Have tried all of those in exhaustive combinations, but nowt works. I can write software with no problems, but twiddly levers, buttons and strings on any kind of gadget has always defeated me!

These things are very fiddly. On top of that, it is possible that something got clogged up over the autumn. Tell Mr Hatster the engine is clogged and needs cleaning and re-ouling up beforeyou can use it.

Ary.

You've probably got a wet/rusty sparkplug. take it out, rub with fine sandpaper and dip in petrol, then either let it dry or burn the petrol off.
Also check the HT lead make sure the copper cap is clean.

you need to open the choke and slightly open the throttle, then when it fires, close the choke and open the throttle and rev it.

Check you have enought oil too.

Mowers can be a *%&£!?@ after the winter. Firstly have you turned the petrol on and is it flowing through to the carburettor? there may be a priming pin for the carburettor on or under it. This is aspring loaded pin or button. if so press a few times until small amount of petrol overflows.
Has it got a choke for cold starting? If so set it.
Open throttle to full and keep pulling the wire unitl it fires. If not take it in for a service.

Hope that works; good luck

Thank you very much everyone! I will print this off and present it to Mr Hatster with the offending lawnmower. (p.s. he is still at the pub...)

Carburettor float is "gummed up" after leaving petrol in the float chamber over the Winter and not firing up the mower to circulate the petrol through the system,OR check for spark at spark plug by removing and observing the plug-end for sparking when pulling the rope start DON'T hold the plug but lay it on the metal part of the mower. No spark means your distributer contact points require cleaning.
Mel.

Sounds like a nice new sit down lawn mower is required!

quote:

Originally posted by MELBOY:
Carburettor float is "gummed up" after leaving petrol in the float chamber over the Winter and not firing up the mower to circulate the petrol through the system,

That is probably right.
I had the same problem with a generator, the main jet gets clogged, as the residue of petrol goes like jelly.
Now when I finish using it, I turn the fuel off and let it run out.
Trouble is, not all mowers have a fuel cut off valve.