Toro Lawn Mower Won't Start - Simple, Free Fix! – Fixed mower (2023)

Toro builds great machines, I know this because I inherited an old Toro lawnmower that still runs like you wouldn't believe.

So your Toro lawn mower won't start?A dirty carburetor is the most common cause of a Toro mower not starting. Other possible reasons include:

• fuel valve off
• don't choke
• bad gasoline
• Wet/defective plug
• unplug the cable
• Blocked air filter Carburetor failure
• coil failure
• Safety lever/misfire
• Handwheel sync (cut key)
• footprint valves
• low compression

This guide will help you quickly diagnose why your Toro lawn mower won't start, restart or stall when hot. Toro uses several different engine manufacturers: Briggs & Stratton, Kawasaki, Honda and Toro engines.

This guide will not cover each of these engine types, so your engine may look different than the ones used here. Diagnosis and repair procedures will be very similar no matter what machine you have.

If you're having trouble with pull cords, I've written a comprehensive guide to fixing all of the most common issues:"Cable Troubleshooting".

Diagnosing a Toro that won't start is pretty simple; perform some basic tests to eliminate misfire, fuel and mechanical failures. The tests aren't complex, but you'll need to run them correctly to avoid wasting time or needlessly replacing parts.

This guide pretty much covers all the common causes of a Toro that won't start. However, if you need more help, see“Lawn mower does not start video.” It walks you through all the tests you'll find here in this post, and includes a step-by-step guide to a successful repair.

There could be many other reasons why your Toro mower won't turn on. In this guide, we will cover all the most common failures.

review the basics

Before we continue, let's review all the basics. Sometimes the easy answer is the solution or check the"Common causes of non-starting video".

The basics include:

• Check if there is little oil, some lawn mowers have a deactivation system. To check“How to Check Lawn Mower Oil”
• Is the gas open? To check“Where is the gas cock on my lawnmower?”
• Is the gas cold? Gas older than a month is old. To check“Video of draining the gas cylinder”
• Is the choke on and working? To check"How to Start a Lawn Mower"
• If the air filter is clean and dry, a gas soaked filter will prevent starting. To check“Lawn Mower Tuning Guide”
• Is the plug cord securely connected?
• Is the safety lever turned on and working properly? To check“Hard to turn on when hot”
  

Those are all easy things checked; Now let's dig a little deeper.

3 things your engine must have

Toro is a quality team, I have customers with 30 year old Toro lawnmowers who still provide great service, so I know they can go far. The motor of the Toro mower is simple. It needs three things to work.

Thing 1

Fresh Gas: You should have fresh, clean gas. Old or dirty gasoline is by far the number one cause of all minor engine problems. This isn't a guarantee that bad gas is your problem, but it's one of the first things to check.

Thing 2

Spark: A candle wide open and lit at the right time is as essential as good gasoline.

which 3

Compression – Piston rings, valves and head gaskets help create compression. Any problem here and the engine won't run.

Each of these three systems will have many components, any one of which could be the problem. Carrying out the following simple test will point us in the right direction.

You may find this page useful,"Small engine tools".These are the tools I use; some of them will make your life much easier.

Try the gas injection test

To quickly test if we have: (1) Fuel, (2) Spark, or (3) Compression Failure, let's bypass the fuel system and do this by pouring some fresh gasoline directly into the carburetor. This is the quickest way to diagnose which of the three systems has failed; it's an elimination round.

For this test to be successful, you will need clean, fresh gas. If you are not sure of the quality, stop now and get it new and always in a clean empty can. Fuel older than a month is probably expired.

In my shop, fueling causes the most problems: stale or dirty gas, dirty carburetors, clogged filters, and the list goes on. When it identifies which system has failed, it will direct you to the appropriate repair guide, he said confidently.

Gas injection is covered here in the“Lawn mower does not start the video.”

Eliminate– Remove the air filter cover and the air filter; some will be secured with screws or wing nuts, others will simply be removed.

(Video) TORO Lawn Mower Wont Start Easy Fix

shot– Pour some fresh fuel into the carburetor, about a cap.

You will have to tilt the mower on its side to get the gas in.

bitch– Now try to start the mower in the normal way.

See Also

Starting a lawn mower after winter (how to do it right)How to turn on the lawn mower after winter? - My heart lives hereHow do you start a lawn mower after the winter [or after sitting for years!]How to turn on the mower after winter in 6 ways

Two possible results:

(1)Mower tried to start or started - tells you there is a fuel failure, go ahead and test the choke system. (See below)

(2)The mower didn't try to start so we've probably cleared a fuel fault and the fault is probably not spark. review the“Spark test video” hereor see this post"The lawn mower does not ignite any sparks."

Try the strangulation test

In this guide, we will verify that the choke systems are working correctly. As you know, the correct starting procedure for a cold engine will require adding more gasoline to enrich the air/fuel mixture, which a cold engine needs for a smooth start. Toro lawnmowers are equipped with Briggs & Stratton, Honda and Kawasaki engines. They use two different types of choke systems to get the rich cold start mixture.

If your Toro is relatively new, it will have an automatic choke, so you won't have a lever to control the choke. The choke test is covered in“Lawn mower does not start the video.”

Three types of throttling are common, manual, automatic, and bulb priming. Go ahead and identify which choke system is installed on your Toro and check that it works properly. If all goes well, remove and clean the gas cup.

To see the choke plate (if equipped), remove the air filter. When the choke on choke is activated, the choke plate must be fully closed. If not, check cable adjustment.

choke plate– The first is a choke plate type – The manual version will have a lever to control the choke. There is an automatic choke version and it won't have a choke lever, but it works the same way.

As the engine warms up, the choke plate must be opened (choke). Some auto-throttling carbs cause hot start flooding issues. Both choke plate type versions create a rich fuel condition by reducing the amount of air and increasing the amount of fuel supplied to the engine.

Manual shock activated:If you have a manual choke control, move the throttle lever to the full choke position for starting a cold engine. All current models have an automatic choke and therefore will not have a choke lever.

manual choke– Move the choke to the fast/drive position while the engine warms up a little. The choke should be off at this point. Make sure it is moving to the off position.

auto shock activated– The automatic choke system is controlled by a lever connected to a thermostat that is positioned close to the silencer or on the cylinder head. Make sure it is moving to the off position.

As the muffler heats up, the choke plate should open. Check your role. On some auto choke models, customers complain of hot start flooding issues.

The solution– Drill a hole in the choke plate. Also check the binding of the control links.

primer bulb– The second type is the primer bulb – This is very simple and easy to use. Creates a rich fuel condition by injecting additional fuel into the engine. You do this by pressing down on a rubber bulb mounted on the carburetor.

Check whether the lamp is damaged; mice like to eat them. Replacement kits are available.

If all is well, go ahead and remove and clean the gas canister.

Clean the carburetor bowl

Cleaning the carburetor and fresh fuel will solve the problem of bad gasoline or dirty carburetor. But removing the carburetor can take time and effort. So before we go that route, let's try a quick fix. Removing and cleaning the fuel canister and fuel feed screw (not all lawnmowers have the fuel feed screw) is something we can do with a minimal amount of effort and tools.

This might very well solve your problem. I've covered this below in pictures or watch the "Lawn Mower Won't Start" video for additional help. You won't need any special tools for this job, but a carb cleaner can make your life a lot easier. I use WD40 Carb Cleanser at the store. Check the "Small Engine Tools Page".

I have listed some other tools on this page, "Carburetor Cleaning Tools". It is important to clean the carburetor well. No one wants to visit the same job twice. These tools will help you do it the first time.

You can find the fuel container behind the air filter. I will show this process for the most common carburetor types. Remember, if your gasoline is more than three months old, it is expired. So cleaning the bowl will not make it work. You need to drain the tank, carburetor bowl and fill it with fresh gasoline.

Suppose this works great for you! If not, I wrote this guide. It will guide you through the entire process: "Remove and clean the carburetor". Alternatively, everything is covered in the "Lawn mower won't start" video.

If you don't like cleaning your carburetor, I understand. Why not just change it? Carburetors are not expensive or difficult to replace. I have listed the most popular carburettors on the page, where you can check the price and availability of“New Carburetors for Lawn Mowers”or check out the Amazon link below.

Amazon Lawn Mower Carburetors

bitch– When working on your mower, unplug and turn off the gas. If you don't have a fuel cock, use clamps to gently tighten the fuel line. This prevents a spill.

Briggs Gas Bowl– This is an old model Briggs and Stratton engine. The fuel container is behind the air filter.

Your carburetor may look different; other examples are shown below. Remove canister with 1/2″ socket and ratchet. Open the fuel to verify that fuel is flowing from the carburetor. If not, go to the fuel flow test.

Clean the gas container. This model has a fuel feed screw, it is a recessed screw that feeds gas to the carburetor jet. Be careful with the screw gasket. The screw must be clean, use a wire brush to clean it. Spray some carb cleaner into the jet.

(Video) Toro Lawn Mower Won't Start Diagnosis and Repair Quick Fix

Check the big o-ring, it's usually on the carburetor, and if it is, that's fine, leave it there. However, if you got away with the bowl, apply a small amount of oil to help it settle on the side of the carburetor.

When replacing, do not over-tighten the reservoir as this will cause the feed screw gasket or large O-ring to deform and leak.

If after cleaning the bowl, the cutters still malfunction, check“Dismantle and clean carburetor”

Briggs plastic gas bowl– This plastic carburettor is the latest generation from Briggs & Stratton.
I use straps to gently tighten the fuel line to prevent fuel spillage.

The container drain plug is at the bottom of the fuel container. Remove it, some may be tricky as free space is insufficient. If you have difficulty accessing the drain plug (black hex head), go ahead and remove the two canister retaining screws.

Use a flathead screwdriver to pry the container.

Now remove the fuel jets. Use a fine wire to clean them. Be careful with compressed air as the little brass jets will fly off and be lost forever. With the sump removed, remove the fuel line clamps and check the carburetor fuel flow, if not, proceed to the fuel flow test.

Rebuild in reverse order after cleaning.

If cleaning is unsuccessful, order a new jet pack. Few different types, so have the engine number handy.

Honda gas cup– This type of bowl is fitted to Toro and Honda engines. Honda installed a drain bolt that allows you to drain the fuel from the bowl. Cool! This is great if the canister contains some bad gas.

However, if the container contains a little bit of sand, it will not completely empty. Therefore, it is better to remove the container and clean it thoroughly. Turn on fuel and check carburetor fuel flow, otherwise continue with fuel flow test.

If the cutters still malfunction after cleaning the bin, check“Dismantle and clean carburetor”or have a look at“Carburetor cleaning video”here.

If none of this helped, go to“Lawn mower does not start the video”page and start from the beginning, the solution is there.

Tune your bull

To get the most out of your Toro, maintenance should be done at least once a season, preferably in the spring. Tuning kit includes: oil; plug; air filter; fuel filter (if fitted); new blade (optional). Making an adjustment is simple. This guide will have your mower up and running in less than an hour:"How to Adjust Your Lawn Mower".

You will need your engine model code. It is stamped on the mower body or motor. Briggs and Stratton stamp their codes on the metal valve cover at the front of the engine. Kohler has a decal and Honda has a decal on the engine.

Once you find these numbers, it's easy to buy the tuning kit online. Suppose you can't find the code, no problem. Remove the air filter and compare it to a tune-up kit found online, most lawn mower engines are very common so you shouldn't have any trouble getting a compatible tune-up kit.

No“Lawn mower setup video”.Tune in once per season at the start of the season. If your mower is new, change the oil after the first 5 hours of use.

the gasoline problem

Most manufacturers accept e10. This one has a 10% ethanol blend. E15, on the other hand, is not right. Ethanol is a fuel alcohol made from sugar, corn and other plant materials. The alcohol is then mixed with gas to produce ethanol.

What the manufacturers say

Some manufacturers claim that the alcohol content of ethanol will damage the carburetor's plastic and rubber components. E15 and e85 burn more than regular gas. Your mower is not designed to operate in these temperatures. The use of these types of fuel will damage the engine and void the manufacturer's warranty.

what does the bull say

Toro recommends using 87 octane ethanol-free gasoline. The maximum recommended blend of ethanol is E10, and methanol is prohibited. They also advise using a fuel stabilizer.

A stabilizer will keep gasoline cool for up to 2 years. You can mix it with gasoline and use it all the time, but I only use it at the end of the season and when I winterize all my gas powered equipment, including 2 strokes. Just a few drops in the gas tank.

I use a product called Sta-bil gas, 1oz treats up to 2.5 gallons, prevents lumps and cleans the fuel system. The use of a gas stabilizer is covered under gas.stabilizer video here, and you will find a link to thestabilizer that I use here.

The ethanol problem

Absorbs moisture from the environment. If fuel is left in the mower during the winter, moisture will build up in the carburetor. Water often corrodes and leaves a varnish-like deposit that blocks the doors. This is what causes poor performance or no startup.

glued– It's a carb killer. Using a gas stabilizer will avoid many problems.

Related questions

How to Start a Toro Lawn Mower?All of today's new Toro mowers feature an automatic choke, which means all you have to do is pull and hold the handlebar lever and pull the cord. That is all.

Does the mower not turn on after tilting it?Remove the air filter and try to start the mower. If the air filter is wet with fuel, replace it. A mower should always be tilted with the carburetor up; this prevents fuel and oil from spilling into the air filter.