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If your Husqvarna lawn mower dies when the blades are actively engaged, the first step to take is to know the reason for this problem. This will enable you to identify and know the fixes to the issue.

In this article, we will look at the main reasons why your Husqvarna lawn mower could die when the blades are engaged and possible solutions to guide you.

5 Reasons Why Your Husqvarna Lawn Mower Dies When Blades Are Engaged

Contents show

1. Restricted Carburetor

The carburetor is an important component of the engine that is responsible for mixing fuel and air in the right air-fuel ratio for the internal combustion of your engine.

The residue of old fuel left in the tank can create a restriction in the carburetor.

This old residue can block the carburetor, making it arduous for your lawn mower engine to operate efficiently. This will also have adverse effects on:

RPM
Fuel economy
Engine Startup
Exhaust emission.

Fix: For the engine to work efficiently, the carburetor requires proper maintenance. It is advisable to follow these maintenance procedures and tips to fix a restricted carburetor:

Clean the carburetor with a carburetor cleaner to prevent clogging.
While filling the tank, use fresh fuel.
Use a fuel stabilizer to maintain the fuel quality.
Replace the faulty components of the engine and carburetor with a carburetor repair kit.
If not, a new carburetor should be installed.

2. Clogged Fuel Cap

As the fuel is consumed, the fuel level in your fuel tank lowers. Fuel caps come with small vent holes which enable air in the fuel tank.

If vent holes are blocked as a result of fuel residue, dirt, or debris, the air will not be able to enter the fuel tank.

This causes a vacuum in the tank, making the engine stop. Furthermore, the blockage of the fuel cap will halt the appropriate flow of fuel from coming towards the engine.

Fix: If you notice that your fuel cap is clogged, the simple way to fix this is to replace the fuel tank cap.

3. Faulty Spark Plug

Spark plugs get degraded because of a weakened electrode or carbon build-up, which causes the engine to stop running.

A damaged insulator can also cause the electrode to burn and also causes the engine to stop.

A faulty spark plug affects:

The engine surging rate.
The fuel economy.
The engine performance.
The head start of the engine. This may make your Husqvarna Mower not start.

Fix: The first step to take is to check the spark plug for wear and damage. You can also make use of an ignition tester to check if it is damaged. To solve this problem, replace the defective spark plug with a new one.

Tips to Replace a Faulty Spark Plug

Here are some steps to fix a defective spark plug:

Look for the spark plug by unfastening other components of the mower.
Mark the location and remove the defective ignition coil of the plug.
Use compressed air to clear the debris from the spark plug channels.
Use a spark plug socket to remove the damaged, old or faulty spark plug.
Clean the spark plug threads.
Install the new spark plug after lubricating it and setting the gaps.
Inspect the mower and engine by starting it.

4. Poorly Routed Drive Belt

The belt is driven and guided by a belt tensioner and pulley installed on the engine crankshaft.

A poorly routed drive belt along with a stuck pulley won’t spin freely. This causes the engine of your mower to die when blades are engaged.

Fix: You need to re-route or replace the belt. If you want to replace it, here are some steps to fix it:

Turn the mower off and let the engine cool down.
Unbolt the drive belt by using belt repairing tools. Make sure that you follow the instructions that are given in the user manual.
Remove the old belt from the pulleys.
Ensure that the pulleys can spin freely.
Measure the length of the drive belt and use it according to the ideal size.
Check the user manual to re-install a new belt.
Tighten the belt by compressing the tensioner.
Inspect the belt tensioner by pulling the belt. This is to make sure that it doesn’t stretch more than 1 inch.
Inspect the belt tension by starting the mowing machine and making sure that the drive belt is correctly routed straight onto the pulleys.

5. Idler or Faulty Pulleys

The primary function of pulleys is to ensure that the drive belt spins smoothly and is properly routed. The spindles and drive belts drive the pulleys of your Husqvarna lawn mower.

A pulley that does not spin freely will affect and cause the engine to die when the blades get engaged. In addition, a defective pulley can damage the belt and change the working functions of the parts.

Fix: Ensure that you replace dysfunctional idlers or pulleys.

How to Replace Idler or Faulty Pulleys

Remove the drive belt from your mower engine and lift the deck lever to engage the blades.
Lift the deck lever to release the blade brakes to allow the spindles to spin freely.
Spin the idler pulleys on your deck and check for growling noise. If the pulley is noisy, it needs replacement.
After removing the deck blades, use a proper-sized wrench to unbolt the pulleys.
Remove the belt guard, cup washer, nut and pulley. Clean them well and replace them when necessary.
Start the engine to check the new components that have been reinstalled.
Check these re-installed parts by starting the engine.

Conclusion

If you notice that your Husqvarna mower dies during blade engagement, it is important to figure out what is causing it. We have shared the possible reasons and troubleshooting tips to guide you.

We hope that our recommendations along with helpful solutions will make it easy for you to fix this issue and maintain your engine properly.

If you have tried the above tips and there are still problems, you can seek the help of a professional.