Husqvarna Lawn Mower Starts Then Dies
If your Husqvarna lawn mower starts and dies, it might be due to a clogged fuel filter, bad gasoline, faulty spark plug, clogged cooling fins or a clogged mower deck.
Read this article until the end to learn about the troubleshooting tips to help you diagnose and fix the problem.
Husqvarna Lawn Mower Starts Then Dies: Reasons and Possible Solutions
Before I go into details, let’s look at some common reasons why your Husqvarna lawn mower starts and dies and their possible solutions
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Reasons |
Possible Solutions |
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1. No gas in the fuel tank |
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2. Old, Wrong or Bad Gas in the Mower |
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3. Clogged Air Filter |
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4. Clogged Fuel Filter |
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5. Clogged fuel lines |
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6. Defective Fuel Pump |
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7. Dirty Carburetor |
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8. Defective Gas Cap |
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9. Dirty or Fouled Spark Plug |
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10. Dull Blades and Clogged Cutting Deck |
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11. Too Little or Too Much Oil in the Husqvarna Lawn Mower |
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12. Damaged Cooling Fins or Clogged Cooling System |
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13. Faulty Ignition Coil |
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14. Bad Wiring |
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Tools You Need for this Job
While troubleshooting, you might need to have the following tools:
- Ohm meter
- Carburetor cleaner
- Container
Husqvarna Lawn Mower Starts Then Dies: Possible Reasons, Diagnosis and Fixes
1. No Gas in the Fuel Tank
Your Husqvarna mower may die if there is inadequate gas in your tank. Empty fuel tanks can stop operations and yield par performance.
It is always important to always check your fuel level before you operate your lawn mower.
Diagnosis
- Ensure that you check the fuel level of your lawn mower. If empty, it indicates that you need to fill it with a fresh one.
Fix
- Fill the fuel tank with fresh gas.
2. Old, Wrong or Bad Gas in the Mower
This is one of the reasons why your Husqvarna mowing machine may start and die. Ensure that you use the right gas to prevent this.
The mower engine needs unleaded gas with an octane rating of 87 or greater. This gas may not be of quality if it lasts more than thirty days in your gas tank.
The reason for this is that ethanol solution and moisture can become separated from the gasoline, causing damage to the mower engine.
Diagnosis
- Check the mower’s fuel tank for old or bad gas. If it is more than thirty days, it means that the gas is bad.
Fix
- Drain your gas tank and fill it with fresh gas. Ensure that the gasoline is treated with Sea Foam motor treatment.
- You can also start the mowing machine and allow it to operate for a few minutes to ensure proper passage of the gas to the fuel system.
- If the problem persists, contact a small engine mechanic or a local Husqvarna dealer to inspect the engine for damage.
3. Clogged Air filter
The function of the air filter is to prevent grass and dirt from gaining access to the mower engine. If it becomes dirty, it may cause your mowing machine to start and then die.
Diagnosis
- Check the air filter for dirt or debris on it. If it is extremely dirty, it requires replacement.
Fix
- Clean or replace the air filter
How to Replace Air Filter on a Husqvarna Riding Lawn Mower
Here are some tips on how to replace an air filter on your Husqvarna lawn mower:
- The first thing to do is to open the hood.
- Remove the screws of the air filter cover.
- Remove the cover and detach the dirty air filter
- Install the pre-filter mesh side up
- Install the actual air filter and ensure that it is fitted nicely into the hood.
- Reinstall the air filter cover and tighten the screws of the air filter cover.
4. Clogged Fuel Filter
The function of the fuel filter is to strain the gas before it reaches the carburetor. It is built to prevent debris and dirt from passing through your engine and other fuel components.
If it is dirty, it will restrict the amount of fuel that can go through it. This can cause your mower to stall.
Diagnosis
- Take off your fuel filter with your pliers. If fuel isn’t flowing out properly from the filter, it means that it is clogged.
Fix
- Replace the fuel filter with a new one.
5. Clogged Fuel Lines
Dirt and gummy buildup from an old gas can make your fuel lines get clogged, causing your Husqvarna mower to start and then die. This will affect the functionality and operation of your Husqvarna lawn mower.
Diagnosis
- Use a fuel shut-off valve to start and stop fuel flow to inspect blockages in your fuel lines. If they are dry or cracked, it indicates that they need to be replaced.
Fix
- If you want to clear the fuel line, take off your fuel line and add carb cleaner to the line so that it can loosen blockages. To remove these clogs, blow compressed air through the line.
- If you can’t remove the clogs, it means that you need to install a new one.
6. Defective Fuel Pump
If your fuel pump is faulty, it can cause your Husqvarna lawn mower to start and die. Over time, the gas can cause the pump or its seams to fail. Ensure that you inspect for damages and leaks on your fuel pump.
Diagnosis
- Ensure that you test the fuel pump by checking its operation. If you notice that there are leaks or damages around the fuel pump, it indicates that the mower’s fuel pump is faulty.
- To check the fuel pump, you will need to use a fuel shut-off valve to confirm if there is starting and stopping of fuel flow.
- If your mower does not have a fuel shut-off valve, you can make use of a clamp to pinch the fuel line to halt the flow of fuel.
Fix
- Replace the defective fuel pump with a new one.
7. Dirty Carburetor
If your carburetor is dirty, it can prevent the proper regulation of the gas and air mixture for your mower engine.
Furthermore, the needle, float and other parts may get gummed up and cause your mower not to operate properly. This can cause your mower to start and then die.
Diagnosis
- Check the carburetor for dirt, dust and fuel deposits. If these fuel deposits, dust and dirt are gummed up inside the carburetor, it indicates that you need to clean or change it.
Fix
- Clean or replace the carburetor if it is in a bad condition. If you know that you cannot handle the task yourself, it is advisable to take the carburetor to an expert to fix it for you.
8. Defective Gas Cap
A faulty gas cap is also one of the problems that may cause your lawn mower to start and die.
The gas cap comes with a vent. If this vent becomes clogged, there can be a restriction on the amount of gas that is meant to flow through your gas tank.
Diagnosis
- Take off the gas cap and start the mower so that it can run. If you notice clogs on the gas cap, it indicates that it is faulty.
Fix
- Clean your gas cap or replace it if it is in a bad condition.
9. Dirty or Fouled Spark Plug
A fouled or dirty spark plug can cause your spark plug to fire intermittently and this can cause it to start and die. It can also cause the mower not to run if it is defective or not rightly gapped.
Diagnosis
- Inspect your spark plug for dirt. If you observe that the spark plug is damaged, has a burnt electrode or its tip is very dark, it means that the spark plug is defective.
Fix
- Clean the spark plug’s tip if it is dirty. You can also replace it if it is bad. Ensure that the spark plug is properly gapped in accordance with the engine manufacturer’s recommendations.
10. Dull Blades and Clogged Cutting Deck
A cutting deck that is filled with debris and grass can cause your engine to work harder because it needs to rotate the blades through the buildup underneath the mower deck.
Furthermore, using dull blades to also mow may eventually make your mowing machine shut down.
Diagnosis
- Check your cutting deck for any signs of damage and grass buildup. In addition, if you notice that the blades are dull, you need to sharpen them.
Fix
- Scrape your deck and remove the grass and debris
- Sharpen the mower blades. Ensure that you operate your mower at full throttle while mowing the grass.
11. Too Little Oil or Too Much Oil in Your Husqvarna Lawn Mower
This is also one of the reasons why your mowing machine might start and then die.
High engine oil levels can cause the engine of your mower to smoke and die. Low engine oil levels can also cause engine overheating which will result in the mower stalling.
Diagnosis
- Check your engine to know if the oil levels are correct. If not, you need to fill the oil to the right oil levels.
Fix
- Fill the oil to the correct oil levels according to Husqvarna’s recommendations. If you still have problems with your engine, you should contact a professional to help you to fix it.
12. Damaged Cooling Fins or Clogged Cooling System
If your cooling fins get damaged or it is filled with grass, they will not circulate the engine block to keep it cool, causing the mower to die in the middle of your mowing operation.
Diagnosis
- Remove the engine cover and check for dirt in the cooling system. You can also inspect the cooling fins for damages. If damaged, it means that it requires replacement.
Fix
- Clean the cooling fins or replace them if they are damaged.
13. Faulty Ignition Coil
If the winding of your ignition coil separates and gets short out when the mowing machine is hot, the spark plug will not be able to get the required voltage to create a spark. This will cause your lawn mower to die after starting.
Diagnosis
- Use an ohm meter to identify a faulty ignition coil by checking for a break in continuity.
Fix
- Replace the faulty ignition coil with a new one.
14. Bad Wiring
Bad wiring is also one of the reasons why your Husqvarna mower can stop when you are still carrying out your mowing operations. This can affect the performance of your Husqvarna mower.
Diagnosis
- Check your Husqvarna mower for defective wiring. If you notice signs of stoppage while mowing, it may indicate that the wiring is bad.
Fix
- It is advisable to contact an authorized Husqvarna dealer to help you fix the issue.
Conclusion
Some possible reasons why your Husqvarna mower starts and dies include a bad spark plug, bad/old gas, dirty spark plug, dirty carburetor, and clogged cooling fins.
Follow our troubleshooting guide to help you get your Husqvarna mower working efficiently again. If the problem persists, it is advisable to seek a technician’s help.