If you take your Husqvarna lawnmower out for a trim and realize that the mower doesn’t cut properly or doesn’t cut at all, then you shouldn’t panic, as this is a common problem that most users have faced. Remember that even some of the best machines can undergo performance degradation if not properly maintained.  

Husqvarna lawnmowers drive & cutting problems.

Like any other brand, Husqvarna lawnmowers may occasionally experience drive and cutting problems such as uneven cuts, excessive vibrations, flat tires, or loose steering. To troubleshoot cutting problems, always check your blade condition and the mower deck level. If the mower doesn’t move forward, check for damage to the drive belts, pulleys, loose tie rods, or missing springs. Such problems are often a result of a lack of maintenance and other rough use.

This blog will take you through all the common problems associated with Husqvarna lawnmowers, along with their troubleshooting steps that are easy to perform for any homeowner.

So, keep reading to find easy solutions for your Husqvarna Lawnmower problems.

Husqvarna Lawnmowers: Troubleshooting Cutting Problems

When a lawnmower (riding or self-propelled) isn’t maintained correctly, the blades are most likely to undergo wear and tear. This can cause problems in cutting patterns, i.e., rough or uneven patches of grass.

1) Lawnmower doesn’t cut straight?

If your lawnmower doesn’t cut straight, there could be a couple of things causing this issue. For one, the engine speed can be the issue. If the speed is too high, it can often result in cuts that are not straight.

Another reason is the tire pressure. Unequal pressure in your lawnmower’s tires can cause them to be imbalanced, resulting in uneven cuts. This could be either due to punctures in the tire or a loose inlet valve.

Faulty mower blades are also why the lawnmower does not cut straight. Either they are not sharp enough or not balanced, creating disarrayed patterns on your lawn. And finally, if the spindles bearing in your lawnmower are faulty, loose, or missing, they can also cause the lawnmower not to cut straight.

Troubleshooting Steps:

For each of the problems mentioned above, there is an easy fix! Follow these steps.

• Fix the speed: Check the engine speed recommended in your lawnmower’s manual. Try to run the mower at that speed only for straighter cuts.
• Examine the tires: Inspect the lawnmower tires. If they appear unbalanced, look for cuts or wear and tear that might cause the tire pressure to decrease. Repair or change the tires depending on the damage and make sure all the tires have equal pressure.
• Inspect the blades: Check for damages to the mower blades. Depending on the damage, you might need to service or replace them.
• Fix the spindles: Look for any loose or missing spindles and bearings. Tighten them or get new ones in case they have fallen off.

2) Lawnmower cuts uneven grass patterns?

One of the most common causes of uneven grass patterns is worn, bent, or damaged mower blades. Plus, sometimes, if the blades are perfectly fine but not correctly installed, they are prone to cutting unevenly and getting damaged.

Unequal tire pressure can also cause the lawnmower to cut unevenly. It gives the lawnmower a little (or a significant) tilt causing the blades to cut unevenly.

In addition, if your lawnmower’s mower deck is clogged with debris, is unlevelled, or has a damaged shell, that could also come in the way of straight cuts. And finally, something as trivial as the engine speed could be causing the uneven cuts. So, it’s important to conduct a thorough inspection of the machine.

Troubleshooting Steps:

The work may sound exhausting, but these troubleshooting solutions will probably be cheaper than purchasing another lawnmower. So, follow the steps to revive your lawnmower.

• Blade condition: Inspect the lawnmower blade. If it is worn and not sharp, simply sharpening it will do the trick. However, you must replace it if it is badly bent or damaged.
• Blade mounting: Check that the mower blade is installed correctly. Remove and reinstall it on the machine if it is tilted or looks loose.
• Mower deck: Check the mower deck for any collected debris over time and scrape it. If the mower deck is unlevelled, leveling it from side to side and front to back will solve the problem.
• Speed: Finally, run the lawnmower’s engine at full throttle for precise and clean cuts.

3) Lawnmower doesn’t cut at all?

If your lawnmower fails to cut the grass, it could be because the mower cannot engage the mower blades for some reason. For instance, this could be a worn-out or improperly installed drive belt. If the drive belt is not engaging with the blades, the blades will not move, and the mower won’t cut.

Similarly, improper belt tension could also be causing the lawnmower not to cut at all.

In addition to that, a clogged mower deck can also prevent the lawnmower from cutting. If debris is lodged in the mower deck, it will fail to create airflow and suction to lift the grass blades for a clean cut. As such, you’ll notice that the lawnmower isn’t cutting at all.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Belt condition: Locate the drive belt and check whether it is loose or damaged. Tighten it or replace the belt depending on the problem.
• Belt tension: To fix the drive belt tension, locate the belt and tighten it. You can also try tightening the connection of the pulley where the belt is mounted.
• Mower deck: Constantly check the mower deck and keep it clean. Performing cleaning maintenance after every use can be helpful.

Husqvarna Riding Lawnmowers: Troubleshooting Drive Problems

Riding lawnmowers are more suited for heavy-duty applications. However, since they are more likely to be subjected to rough conditions, they can also develop issues related to the driving mechanism and steering. Here are the issues that could arise in your riding lawnmower and how you can fix them.

1. Lawnmower doesn’t move forward.

Your lawnmower is probably not moving forward because the drive release lever is in the wrong position, or perhaps the drive belt has worn out over time or come loose.

Besides that, a key in the flywheel is important to get the lawnmower to move forward. The engages the flywheel. If that is missing, your mower can get stuck in one place.

In addition, a bad tensioner pulley and low or old hydraulic oil in your mower can also be why the lawnmower is not moving forward. Hydraulic oil is important to lubricate the drive mechanism, which engages the wheels in a riding lawnmower.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Drive lever: Check the drive lever and make sure it is in the operating position.
• Broken axle key: If the axle key has fallen out or has sheared off, purchase a new one.
• Drive belt: If the drive belt is worn out or damaged, you will need to replace it. However, if it has simply come loose or fallen off, secure it tightly around the pulleys.
• Tensioner pulley: The tensioner pulley could be missing a bearing. Inspect it for loose bearings and replace them. If the pulley itself is damaged, you must also replace that.
• Hydraulic oil: Low or old hydraulic oil will not lubricate the hydraulic system properly, causing it to lose power. So, remember to change your hydraulic oil at regular intervals (after about 50 working hours).

 2. Lawnmower vibrates excessively?

One reason for excessive vibrations in your lawnmower is loose or missing engine bolts kept in place precisely to avoid vibrations. Other than that, debris lodged in the mower deck can cause vibrations and unbalanced or damaged mower blades that are not correctly installed.

In addition, if some debris has wrapped around the blade spindle, that could also be causing vibrations in your mower. Similarly, wear and tear to the spindle assembly, such as faulty or missing bearings, can also be the reason for the excessive vibrations.

Troubleshooting Steps:

The vibrations in your lawnmower can be fixed in just a few steps.

• Engine bolts: Check for any loose or missing engine mounting bolts. Replace them or tighten them.
• Mower deck: The debris lodged into your mower deck could be causing vibrations. So, don’t avoid cleaning the mower deck because you don’t see enough debris yet.
• Cutting blades: Mower blades are supposed to be balanced before and after installation; otherwise, they will result in vibrations. So, check whether the blade is installed correctly or not loose. Otherwise, remove and reinstall them.
• Spindle: Inspect the blade spindle and remove any strings or weeds wrapped around it.
• Missing Bearings: Replace a loose or missing bearing in the spindle housing. If the spindle housing is badly damaged, replacing the whole housing unit is better.

3. Lawnmower has loose steering?

The most common cause of this problem is a loose steering wheel itself. However, there are other possibilities too:

You could experience loose steering due to worn-out or dirty steering linkages. The issue can also be loose tie rods, or the wheel bearing is damaged in your mower.

In addition, the steering system could have worn or loose parts, causing the loose steering, such as worn-out washers, gear, and bushings.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Loose steering wheel: Check to see if the steering wheel is loose and tighten it.
• Steering linkage: Check the steering linkage for damages. If there is room for repairs, fix it; otherwise, replace the linkage. Also, clean the steering linkage routinely.
• Loose tie rod: Tighten the tie rods if they are loose.
• Missing assembly parts: Look for any missing or damaged parts in the steering system, such as the wheel bearings, gears, washers, etc., and replace them.

 4. Lawnmower has a flat tire?

Sharp objects on the field may cause damage to the lawnmower’s tires. Plus, frequent or excessive use of the lawnmower is likely to cause tire wear and tear. Such factors can result in the tire losing air and, therefore, pressure.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Check tire pressure: Use a pressure gauge to inspect the pressure in your lawnmower’s tires.
• Check for damage: If some tires have lower pressure, check for puncture sites or leaks.
• Fix the puncture: Remove the damaged wheel and repair the areas causing air to leak out. In case the puncture is large, replace the tire.
• Pump the air: Find an air compressor, connect it to the tire through the valve, and pump air into the tire. Make sure you check the manual for the recommended amount of pressure.

 5. Lawnmower is leaking oil?

Oil leakages in lawnmowers typically occur either from the oil reservoir or the crankcase. This can be for a few reasons, such as faulty seals as a result of wear and tear, an over-filled reservoir, or if your lawnmower is being tipped to one side with the carburetor facing down.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Check the oil level: Ensure the oil reservoir is only filled to the recommended level (75%) and not excessively when refilling the lawnmower.
• Drain the oil: Inspect the area of oil leakage and drain all the oil from the lawnmower. Use the drain plug or tilt the lawnmower for drainage.
• Repair: Fix the damaged parts, such as missing bolts or damaged gaskets and refill them with oil.
• Avoid the carburetor facing upward: Make sure you do not tilt your mower with the carburetor facing down for any reason. If it is necessary, drain the oil first.

Husqvarna Self-Propelled Lawnmowers: Troubleshooting Drive Problems

Self-propelled lawnmowers are also subject to similar drive problems, such as the lawnmower won’t move forward or an issue with the throttle. So, here are ways you can troubleshoot these problems on your own.

 1. Lawnmower doesn’t go forward.

Transmission in a self-propelled lawnmower comprises a V-belt that drives a pulley known as a drive pulley. The drive pulley is coupled with a gearbox, which drives the axle to rotate the lawnmower’s wheels (whether forward or rear). A control cable applies the necessary tension to the drive pulley so that it engages the axle.

A faulty control cable can prevent your lawnmower from moving forward since it engages the wheels. Similarly, a damaged V-belt or drive teeth can also be why your self-propelled lawnmower isn’t going forward. In addition, a faulty drive pulley is another factor causing this issue.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Control cable: Check the control cable for twists and kinks. Try lubricating first to solve the problem. However, if it doesn’t work, replace it.
• V-belt: The V-belt connects the crankshaft with the drive pulley and further engages the wheels. For a damaged V-belt, the solution is replacing it.
• Wheel assembly: The drive teeth of the transmission engage the wheel assembly. If the drive teeth of the gears that engage the wheel assembly have been chipped off, you probably need to get the wheel assembly replaced by contacting the manufacturer.
• Damaged pulley: Replacing a damaged or faulty drive pulley with a new one can help the mower go forward.

2. Lawnmower throttle not working?

Your lawnmower’s throttle cable is not working because either the throttle cable is broken or there is something wrong with the throttle lever. So, here’s what you can do to fix both of these issues.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Inspect the cable: First, check if the throttle cable is broken. In this case, the only solution is to replace it. If the throttle cable is stuck, lubricate it with a WD-40. Spray it and try to move it. If this seems to work, repeat the process a couple of times until the cable starts moving properly. Otherwise, replace the cable.
• Check the throttle lever: If there is damage to the throttle lever or it is broken, you need to replace it.
• Carburetor: If the cable and lever are fine, you should check the carburetor for fuel deposits. A clogged carburetor can affect the engine’s RPMs; thus, the throttle cable might become ineffective. Hence, clean the carburetor with WD-40 and remove all gummy deposits.

Drive & Cutting Troubleshooting table

1. Lawnmower Cutting Problems

2. Lawnmower Drive Problems

Riding Lawnmowers

Self-Propelled Lawnmowers