Easiest way to check for spark and fuel on push mower

J

juntjoo

Well-Known Member
For fuel do you check in the carb throat somehow or just check the plug? And is it enough to use carb cleaner to just get it popping a few revolutions to confirm you have spark?
 
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Yes. If it runs and dies after you give it a spritz of carb cleaner you have confirmed it has spark and ignition timing and the kill wire is not grounded. If you have spark and timing, and still won’t run, most likely you have a fuel problem.
 
Oddjob said:
Yes. If it runs and dies after you give it a spritz of carb cleaner you have confirmed it has spark and ignition timing and the kill wire is not grounded. If you have spark and timing, and still won’t run, most likely you have a fuel problem.
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I figured as much, v just wanted to confirm. And fuel?
 
Fuel issues: (1) make sure there’s no water in the tank, (2) disconnect fuel line at carb and see if gas flows, if not, blockage in tank or fuel filter or collapsed fuel line, (3) dirty carburetor or if you have a Pulsajet type carb, rubber diaphragm perished and no longer pumping fuel, (4) needle valve inside carb is stuck closed so no fuel is getting into the carb bowl. In my limited experience, most likely culprit is a dirty carburetor. There are lots of videos on the web showing how to clean a carburetor if you’ve never done it.
 
Or you just get your wife to hold the plug wire at the plug with the insulator cap off the wire. But be ready to run like heck. As mean as charging up a capacitor (condenser) and tossing to a co worker.
 
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Easiest way is spray flammable juice into the carb. If the engine runs for a few seconds and dies, you have spark and a lack of fuel.
 
SeniorCitizen said:
I believe we better hope neither of those spark test methods are designated for anyone with a heart condition .
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Well they are supposed to hook me to the cables here and shock the heck out me in very near future trying to correct my Afib. Worst than getting hit by a high livestock electric fence.
 
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