Craftsman lawn mower Troubleshooting. Craftsman manufactures many types of lawn mowers for everything from gas-driven models that run on electricity and gasoline to push path reel mowers that operate just using your own pushing power.
A majority of homeowners and landscape professionals use gasoline-operated lawnmowers, although a majority of problems with Craftsman Lawn Mowers are still associated with either the push or pull-type steering mechanisms.
Craftsman lawn mower Troubleshooting
Fortunately, the majority of problems can be easily fixed if you know what to look for and have access to the right parts. Find out the most common problems for your model of Craftsman gasoline-powered Lawn Mower, how to spot them quickly, and troubleshoot them yourself before turning to a professional for help.
Having problems starting a Craftsman lawnmower
In general, spark plugs are fairly durable, but they need to be replaced every 20,000 miles under normal operating conditions. Spark plugs last longer when you change the oil on time and don’t let the car start running hot.
If a spark plug is cracked or porcelain is broken away from an electrode, replace it immediately with a new one. To test for spark plug issues in case there’s something wrong with it, use a spark tester.
You should see a strong surge of blue electricity between the terminals when the engine is cranking over if everything is OK otherwise, the reason could be either that there’s something wrong with the wires leading to the spark plug or that there is simply no spark in your spark plug because it needs replacement.
Some carburetor problems aren’t easy to fix so you could definitely need professional help when diagnosing them; however, replacing just some parts should do the trick if you know what part(s) need changing.
Craftsman lawn mower runs poorly
The lawn mower’s fuel filter has become clogged. It is most commonly caused by the removal of leftover and evaporated fuel from old lawnmowers.
The creation of this thicker, stickier substance can clog the old fuel filters throughout your lawnmowers, thus resulting in them struggling to run.
To avoid this problem, it’s important to ensure that you maintain your machines through regular cleaning and ultimately regular replacement to keep them running smoothly for as long as possible.
Craftsman lawn mower battery keeps running out
One or more cells in the battery may be dead. Try charging the battery with a battery charger. If the battery still won’t hold a charge, this indicates that you need to replace it.
The alternator on your lawnmower provides voltage to the motor while it’s running and also recharges the battery.
To determine if there’s something wrong with your alternator go ahead now and take your multimeter and test for voltage on its wires according to the wiring diagram.
Craftsman lawn mower blades will not engage
The PTO clutch is used to change the method of power needed to propel a rotating object. A lawnmower may use a PTO clutch when it’s connected to the engine and driven by an open belt, but if the clutch begins to wear down, the object will not be able to turn.
The solenoid allows you to engage and disengage applications by opening or closing lines of electrons through your system.
If there’s a problem with either one of these components, you’ll need both replaced if they’re responsible for turning your equipment on/off.
Craftsman lawn mower leaks gas
If your lawnmower is leaking gas, the carburetor bowl gasket might be dried out or missing. If the leak is coming from the bottom of the carburetor, try replacing the carburetor bowl gasket.
If fuel is leaking from the bottom of the carburetor, it’s possible your carburetor gasket may be dried out or missing.
The craftsman lawn mower is smoking
If your lawnmower seems like it’s not running properly, take a look at the top of the engine(you may have to flip it over). There should be little metal tubes coming out of it called “plugs.”
If you see smoke coming out of one or more, this indicates there is an issue with the fuel mix.
To test for a bad spark plug, try out another one until you find one that doesn’t give off any black smoke (if all are black-smoking, then you might want to get new plugs altogether.)
Similarly, if the air filter looks dirty or clogged and isn’t letting fresh air in where it should be getting plenty of fresh air but still won’t startup.
When using a garden hose to add cool water make sure you keep that drip going on a handheld nozzle without spraying all over.
Craftsman lawn mower does not self-propel
The drive pulley connects to the crankshaft of the engine. If this is worn or broken, the transmission won’t be able to engage with the wheel assembly properly.
Inspect the drive pulley for damage and make sure that it’s not defective, replaced if necessary. The wheel assembly has a set of gears that engage with the drive gear of the transmission. If they’re worn out then they need to be replaced.
Lawnmower starts, then stalls
The carburetor might be clogged. A clogged carburetor is commonly caused by leaving fuel in the lawnmower for a long period of time. Over time, some of the ingredients in the fuel may evaporate, leaving behind a thicker, stickier substance.
This sticky fuel can clog up the carburetor and cause the engine to stall. If the carburetor is clogged, try cleaning it with a mixture of Carb Cleaner and rubbing alcohol.
Always refer to your Owner’s Manual for all safety precautions when handling chemicals like this. If cleaning does not work then rebuild or replace the entire carburetor as recommended by your local lawn mower repair locator.
Craftsman lawn mower Troubleshooting
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