Lawn Mower - electric starter?

rich_ncal · Jun 18, 2005

My push lawn mower and two-wheel trimmer are hard to start. I use starter fluid to get both going. Even with the starter fluid the lady of the house cannot pull start these. She does not have the pulling power. If she could start them, then the less I have to use mow.

I am wondering if any one has seen or built an electric starter, with some type of over running clutch. I am thinking of one that is separate from the equipment that just is held in place to start the equipment. Any sources for this or parts?

Soundguy · Jun 18, 2005

2 issues. Gas engines that need ether to start are usually worn out. By this I mean low on compression.. so they don't create enough manifold vacume to suck the gas thru the carb.. the ther is already atomized and flows in fine.. makes the initial combustion.. spins the engine faster.. creates more compression and vacume and engine runs.. though a bit lower on power than it should be.

Now.. this doesn't sound like your problem. Sounds like there is plenty of compression as the lady can't pull start it.

I think you really need to replace your air filter and clean that carb.. change the spark plug.. and make it a round trip and change the oil too. Old oil is thin.. doesn't lube as well.

The new spark plug will help with more reliable ignition.. the new air filter will help with engine breathing.. engines that breath bad don't start well.

A carb that has gummed up jets and venturi doesn't suck and vaporize gas as well.. these make for hard starts.

I'd guess for less than 20$ and a couple hours work tops.. you could tune both these engines up easilly.

Small carbs are a piece of cake to rebuild.. get a few qtips and some carb spary cleaner... have fun.

Soundguy

Bird · Jun 18, 2005

You can buy lawnmowers and string trimmers on wheels with electric start, but I've never seen an "after market" conversion. Personally, I like Soundguy's response. If you take them to a dealer and let them do it, you may spend $75 to $100 on each, but like he said, if you do it yourself, it won't cost much.

rich_ncal · Jun 18, 2005

The lawn mower has been difficult to start from day one. I had a very old Sears lawn mower. It would start every time on the first pull. I bought this one from Sears a few years ago and when new it took many pulls to start. I should have kept the old Sears lawn mower.

Marine1 · Jun 18, 2005

This may sound dumb, but does your mower have a priming bulb somewhere near the Carb? My mower and trimmer have one of these rubber buttons that you push 3-5 times and then start them. If you don't prime them they will never start.

I some times forget about that bulb and after I have worn myself out and Halftime is over I remember. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

beenthere · Jun 18, 2005

I have a Deere 21" mower (14SE) with electric start. It comes with a trickle charger to charge the on-board battery. But, it is also easy to start by hand so my wife usually does that instead. Always starts on the first pull.

RoyJackson · Jun 18, 2005

Sound Guy has said it best.

Especially replace that spark plug!

Newer mowers are EPA'd...which means a dead man switch (which sometimes I like) and, in the case of my "cheapest self propelled Wally World Special" mower, makes it impossible to start following the written instructions.

If you have to prime your mower using a built in small rubber ball (like my mower requires), pump it 2 to 3 times the number called out in the manual (my manual calls out 8 times...I pump it 15 to 20 times). If your mower has been tough to start from new, lack of adequate priming might be the problem. A worn out or fouled spark plug just makes it worse.

BB_TX · Jun 20, 2005

They used to make some push mowers with a spring loaded starter where the pull starter goes. You would turn a crank to wind up the spring, then push a button to release it and it would turn over the engine several turns. Don't know if they still make those or not, or if they are available as after-market add-ons. Never owned one, but used one a time or 2.

Edit: Google is amazing. A quick search turned up <font color="blue"> this site </font> and others for add on electric starters.