Have I killed my petrol mower?

[glosterwomble]

I just got my petrol mower back from being repaired, cut the grass at the allotment, then I turned it over to clean it and my partner suddenly said there's loads of oil and petrol flooding out!

I turned it back over and mopped up the spill, tried to start mower and it won't start! I took the sponge (air filter?) out and it ws soaked in oil, so I squeezed out that and put it back, it still won't start so I figured I'll leave it and try later. Can't believe I was SO stupid, I'm just so used to an elecrtic mower at home.

Have I killed it? Thanks in advance for any help!

[glosterwomble]

[twinkletoes]

Hi glosterwomble.  How's the mower today?   I wonder if you just flooded the spark plug.  Can you take it out and dry it, put it back and try the starter again?  Suppose you've already done that though.  Otherwise, I'm no use with mechanics.   ::)
twinkletoes

[glosterwomble]

Thanks Twinkletoes, I left it until this afternoon to try again, took spark plug out and cleaned etc. and it worked!!  ;D There was quite a lot of smoke but it still worked, now when I run it it runs without smoke for about 5 mins then it gets a lot of smoke coming out but I guess it's just the excess oil burning off! (can you tell I'm not mechanically minded!!   ::) )

[glosterwomble]

Thanks Tom, I now know not do it again!!!

[bionear2]

All too easy to forget: I had a 2 stroke mantis on loan, and then bought my own 4 stroke.
Forgetting the oil in the sump of the new one, I left it tipped up, and got what you did - oil all over the place, air filter full, and a right game to get it going again
Having been around engines all my life, I felt a right idiot!

[glosterwomble]

All too easy to forget: I had a 2 stroke mantis on loan, and then bought my own 4 stroke.
Forgetting the oil in the sump of the new one, I left it tipped up, and got what you did - oil all over the place, air filter full, and a right game to get it going again
Having been around engines all my life, I felt a right idiot!

I felt such an idiot once I'd done it! Thought I was going to have a big bill but thankfully it seems ok! I need to keep reminding myself that it's NOT an electric mower!!!  ;D

[twinkletoes]

Glad you have done any terminal damage.  It's ok - you won't forget again! ;D ;D
twinkletoes

[greyhound]

Anyone got any tips on cleaning underneath?  Mine gets pretty clogged up, and without tipping it up it's really hard to get at.

[Eristic]

They can only be tipped up with the spark plug pointing upwards. What happens is the oil works its way up past the piston and out through the valves into the exhaust or carburettor. Carburettor can get totally blocked requiring a service to clean out.

I have found the best way to clean under the mower is to rest it on the handles sticking out the back of the van propped up with a piece of timber cut to length. That way it is not too difficult to scrape clean.

Old mowers had the spark plug at one side so it was a simple matter of tipping the mower on one side for cleaning but all modern machines seem to have the plug at the front making life difficult.

[greyhound]

Thanks, I think I can improvise a similar kind of arrangement.  Mind you, it is high time someone else took on their share of lawn duties - not holding my breath though!  ::)