How to Start a Craftsman Lawnmower 20 Things You Should Know

If you’re a garden enthusiast, buying a lawnmower to keep your grass in check is a good idea. Although many leading lawnmower manufacturers are out there, Craftsman has been there ever since no one was. Craftsman introduced the first lawnmower in 1934, and they have been a reliable choice for gardening fanatics ever since. If you haven’t used a lawnmower before, then no need to worry. This article provides you with all the information you need to know to start a Craftsman lawnmower from a beginner’s perspective.

Lawnmowers are of two main types, i.e., riding lawnmowers similar to tractors and having a seat for you to operate them. In contrast, push behind lawnmowers are the ones that require the user to carry them forward manually. This article can help you with a straightforward step-by-step approach if you’re wondering how to start your Craftsman lawnmower.

How to Start a Craftsman Lawnmower:

1. Before starting, check the oil and fuel level and the battery and spark plug, make sure they are well maintained, and replace them if they seem damaged.
2. Take your position on the seat and insert the ignition key. In case of push behind mowers, you need to start the engine by pulling the rope three times.
3. In the case of riding lawnmowers, activate the parking mode by keeping the foot brake pressed.
4. Disengage the blades by turning the lever off.
5. Set the choke lever to the highest position before starting.
6. Turn the key in the ignition switch to start the mower. Once it has started, you can bring the choke lever down.

We recommend that you should stay tuned to this article as we uncover the above information for you.

Steps to Start a Craftsman Lawnmower:

Craftsman manufactures two main types of lawnmowers for its consumers. They are the push mowers and riding mowers. To start a craftsman lawnmower is relatively easy and can be done in simple steps. Suppose you have any one of the above lawnmowers by Craftsman. In that case, you should first follow some general guidelines that are given below:

● 1. Inspect the oil:

Before starting any lawnmower, it is always good to check the engine’s oil level. The oil cap is situated at the top of the engine in black color. Unscrew the cap and check the dipstick to get an indication of the oil level and quality. If the oil color is black, then it’s not fit for use and must be replenished.

If the oil level falls below the level marking “Add” on the dipstick, you should fill the engine with the synthetic oil prescribed in its user manual. Fill the oil to the right level and tighten the cap properly. Also, clean any oil that has been spilled on the side and the body.

● 2. Change the old fuel:

If you’re starting a Craftsman lawnmower after a long time, then it is recommended that you should replace the old fuel in the tank with a fresh fuel addition. The fuel quality degrades over time, due to which it may form deposits in the fuel filter and carburetor. As a result, you might witness your engine undergoing difficulty in starting or stalling after starting. Dump the old fuel as hazardous waste material.

● 3. Clean the spark plug:

The spark plug of your machine is present at the front or side. You can remove it with the help of a wrench. After that, rub it gently with a cotton cloth without damaging the electrodes. Remove any rust or carbon deposits on the electrode that might lead to a low engine spark. This low spark can also be one of the causes of your engine problems.

● 4. Check the battery:

If the battery of your Craftsman lawnmower has been down, the engine won’t start. So, you should check the terminals of the battery with a multimeter to see if they’re supplying any voltage.

Starting Procedure of a Craftsman Riding lawnmower:

After you’re done with the above steps, we describe the Procedure to start the craftsman riding lawnmower.

● Step 1. Take your position:

Take your position by sitting on the mower’s seat such that you have access to all the levers and pedals. Insert the ignition key into the switch but don’t turn it yet.

● Step 2. Turn on the parking mode:

The parking mode has to be turned on before starting the machine. To do that, engage the foot brake at the bottom of the mower’s left-hand side and take the parking brake lever (situated under the steering) to the ‘on’ position. Then disengage the foot brake. The parking mode needs to be activated while starting, but it has to be turned off to move the mower.

● Step 3. Disengage the blades:

The blade engages level is located on the right fender. Ensure that it is in off position, meaning that the blades aren’t engaged right now to initiate the cutting.

● Step 4. Set the choke lever:

The choke lever is located on the dashboard. You should adjust its level by taking it to the highest position. Once the lawnmower has started, you can then shift it back to a point where the engine doesn’t shut down. Also, set neutral ‘N’ gear on your gearbox situated at the front.

● Step 5. Turn the key:

Turn the key in the ignition switch to the ‘Start’ position for about 10 seconds until the engine starts. Once it has started, take it back to the ‘On’ position.

Starting Procedure of a Craftsman Push Lawnmower:

Starting a Craftsman push behind lawnmower is comparatively simple and can be accomplished by following the steps below. However, suppose you’re starting it after a long time. In that case, we always recommend that you should perform the pre-starting operations such as fuel, oil, plug, battery check, as explained before.

● Step 1. Check the spark plug wire:

Tug the spark plug wire gently to see if it’s loose or not. If it’s loose, pull it back up.

● Step 2. Adjust the lever to choke position:

The throttle lever of your machine is in the stop position. For starting the engine, the lever needs to be moved to the ‘choke’ position.

● Step 3. Pull the rope:

Prime the engine of your lawnmower by pulling the rope at least three times. If you have performed the pre-starting maintenance steps correctly, then your engine starts without any issues. If it doesn’t start after the third pull, you should troubleshoot the problem’s causes.

● Step 4. Move the throttle lever to run position:

When the engine has started with the throttle lever to choke position, it runs rough. To fix this, move the throttle lever back into the ‘run’ position. As a result, the engine now runs smoothly.

Related Questions:

1. What makes a lawnmower not starting?

The following can be the probable causes of a lawnmower not starting:

• Insufficient fuel: The most basic troubleshooting step is to check your fuel tank and fill it if it’s empty. If the fuel tank is full, then you should proceed to the next step.
• Damaged spark plug: The spark plug electrodes might have worn out or had carbon deposits formed on them. This defect can diminish the spark quality leading to the absence of combustion in the engine.
• Dirty air filter: The air filter of your device is situated just outside and is highly likely to assimilate dust and foreign particles from the outside. Due to this, the carburetor might not draw an ample amount of air for air-fuel mixing.
• Clogged carburetor: Carburetor jets get restricted due to the fuel deposits over time. Due to this, the air-fuel mixture isn’t supplied correctly, resulting in the absence of combustion.
• Clogged fuel Filter: The fuel filter might also be clogged with debris and deposits. This clogging can also be one of the causes.

2. Where is the carburetor on a Craftsman lawnmower?

A carburetor is the engine component that is located at the side of the engine block internally. So, it’s not visible from the outside. To see the carburetor, you should remove the air filter and its base and detach it entirely by opening its screws and releasing the breather tube. Now, your carburetor would be visible to you from the outside.

3. How do you clean a carburetor on a lawnmower without replacing or replacing it?

A carburetor can be cleaned without detaching it entirely from the main assembly. You should follow the following steps to do that:

• Detach the air filter housing: Completely detach the air filter housing containing the base, cover, and the air filter itself from the main mower body.
• Detach the fuel lines: Gently detach the fuel lines that connect with the carburetor. Place a safe fuel container before so that all the drained fuel can be stored.
• Remove the bowl nut: Remove the bowl of the carburetor by unscrewing its nut. The nut itself is a jet that can be clogged.
• Spray the carburetor cleaner: Spray a carburetor cleaner inside the carburetor so that any clogging can be dislodged. Also, clean the bowl nut with a metal wire.
• Reassembly: After you’re done with the cleaning, you should assemble all the parts back onto the lawnmower.

4. Why is my carburetor not getting any gas?

There can be several reasons due to which a carburetor may not be receiving any gas. It would help if you troubleshot them one by one.

• Check the filters: Inspect the fuel filter for blockages or restrictions that might be the reason your engine isn’t receiving any fuel.
• Check the fuel lines: The fuel lines that lead to your carburetor must be checked thoroughly for kinks and twists.
• Inspect the carburetor: Inspect your carburetor to see whether the needle valve isn’t stuck or the float isn’t preventing the fuel from being drawn into the carburetor.

Access the fuel pump: If your machine uses an electrical fuel pump, carefully check the fuse marked for the pump in the fuse box. In the mechanical pump case, you should inspect it by connecting its intake to an external fuel source such as a gas can. If it’s pumping the fuel from the external source, then it means that the fault lies somewhere near your device’s fuel tank. So it needs to be checked.

Final Remarks:

Remember, just like your vehicles, lawnmowers, too, are machines that need servicing and proper maintenance from time to time. Hence, you should always do a quick check on things such as fuel and oil whenever you’re starting a device after a long time. It is probably due to the deposits formed in the carburetor jets due to poor fuel quality if it isn’t starting.

In that case, a servicing of the carburetor might charge you some extra bucks, so it’s better off that you take the preventative measures beforehand. If it is not feasible to keep changing the fuel time and again, it’ll be good to purchase a fuel stabilizer. It typically maintains your fuel quality for about a year or so.