Why Your Ferris Lawnmower Won’t Get Going and What to Do About It

Whether you went for a Ferris zero-turn or a walk-behind mower, you undoubtedly spent a lot of money. When difficulties arise and you can no longer maintain normal mower operation, it can be very frustrating.

A problem will arise at some point, mower-brand irrelevant. Allow me to aid in determining the root of the problem.

A clogged air filter, clogged fuel line, faulty fuel pump, dirty carburetor, plugged fuel filter, faulty battery, soiled spark plug, faulty ignition coil, inadequate oil level, faulty gas cap, clogged mower deck, or old gas can all cause a Ferris lawn mower to start but then die.

To learn more about what else could make the mower turn off soon after starting, keep reading. To avoid injury, turn off the engine and wait for the spark plug wire to cool before attempting any repairs.

Air Filter

Ferris Lawnmower Causes Of Starting And Stalling

The Ferris mower dies from using stale or contaminated fuel.

Having problems with the gas could be the reason your Ferris zero-turn or walk-behind lawn mower suddenly stops working. After only 30 days, gas can start to degrade and become bad. To lessen the potential side effects of gas, it’s better to drink it during this window.

Ethanol is added to gasoline these days to make the fuel greener. Ethanol is a renewable fuel derived from starchy plants like corn.

Ethanol may be better for the environment and generally safe to use in most vehicles, but it should be avoided if possible while operating a motor vehicle with a small engine. Water will condense in the fuel system if ethanol is used. Damage to the fuel system, including corrosion, component deterioration, and varnish, might result from this.

In addition to accelerating the wear and tear on engine components and causing fuel system limits, ethanol and water in old fuel can separate from the gasoline, causing the mixture to run extremely hot through the engine.

When it comes to fueling your Ferris lawn mower, keep in mind the following:

  • Be sure you use the gas you bought within 30 days.
  • For optimal performance, 87-octane unleaded fuel should be used.
  • Never run your vehicle on fuel that has more than 10% ethanol. E15, E30, and E85 gasoline contain up to 15%, 30%, and 85% ethanol, respectively, therefore it’s best to steer clear of them.
  • Keep gasoline away from anything that could catch fire.
  • Store gas in a dry, certified container.
  • Using a fuel stabilizer can extend the fuel’s shelf life and prevent it from degrading as quickly.

To fix this problem, you can use a fuel siphon pump to remove the stale gas from your Ferris mower’s tank. Use an additive like Sea Foam Motor Treatment in your gas tank.

This will dry out the fuel, clean out the fuel system, and stabilize the fuel. Pour the gas and fuel additive combination into the gas tank.

Find out why I put Sea Foam in my lawnmower and other uses for it. In order to keep your lawnmower’s fuel from deteriorating, try using Sea Foam.

When the air filter becomes clogged, it might lead to The Death of the Ferris Mower

The purpose of an air filter is to prevent debris from damaging an engine by entering the intake system. Without regular maintenance, the filter might get so clogged that not enough air can pass through it.

In extreme cases, this can cause your Ferris mower to completely shut down and stop working. Take off the air filter and check its condition. If the air filter seems like it has been through a lot and is damaged or unclean, get a new one.

Never, ever operate the mower without first installing an air filter. If you’re almost done mowing and want to get some fresh air into the engine, it can be tempting to just take the filter off. My advice is to not do that.

Changing the filter regularly is like getting insurance for your car’s motor. It aids in preventing harmful particles from entering the engine and doing irreparable harm.

If you use your filter frequently or for a business, you should replace it more often than once a year. The filter should be checked and cleaned on a regular basis throughout the season.

Follow these steps to clean the air in your home:

How to Clean the Paper Air Filter Element in a Ferris Mower

  • Take off the air filter from the filter housing.
  • Remove any remaining grime from the housing and the cover with a clean cloth. Keep the air filter clean and make sure no dust gets in there.
  • If there is a lot of dirt stuck in the filter, tapping it against a hard surface might help loosen it up for easy removal.
  • To see if the filter lets any light through, simply hold it up to the light. Air filters should be reused whenever possible. You should get a new air filter if the old one is too dirty, moist, or damaged for light to pass through it.
  • Replace the top on the filter housing after installing the air filter.

A Ferris Mower dies due to a clogged fuel filter.

Your Ferris mower has a fuel filter installed to clean the gas before it leaves the tank. It safeguards the fuel system from dirt and other debris. Clogged filters are the result of infrequent filter replacement.

If the fuel filter becomes clogged, not enough gas will make it into the fuel line. Because of this, the engine will be deprived of the fuel it need to function. The organism can progressively slow down until it eventually dies.

If you’re like the average homeowner, you should replace the gasoline filter on your Ferris mower once a year. More regular replacement is required, however, if the mower is being used often or for commercial purposes.

If you accidentally put contaminated fuel in the tank, you should flush the system and swap out the fuel filter.

If your gasoline filter becomes clogged, you can fix the problem by replacing it. There’s an arrow on the side of your gasoline filter.

This arrow has to point in the direction that gasoline is being supplied to the mower. An appropriately mounted fuel filter will face the carburetor rather than the fuel tank.

Accidental Death of a Ferris Mower Due to Clogged Fuel Lines

The fuel line can become clogged due to old fuel’s gummy residues. The lawn mower will stop working while you are mowing if you do this.

Turning off the fuel at the shutoff valve allows you to examine each segment of the fuel line individually. Another option is to crimp the fuel line with pinch-off pliers to stop the flow.

Take a small part of the fuel line that needs inspection and set it aside. Take off the end of the fuel line that’s farthest from the tank and put it in a container.

Get the gas going. Since fuel can’t flow uphill without the aid of a fuel pump, you’ll need to position the container below the tank.

Turn off the fuel supply and reconnect the fuel line if you reach the point where you can see fuel entering the container at a steady rate. Keep inspecting the gasoline line in smaller increments.

If you can’t locate the issue in the fuel lines, continue looking for the cause of the problem elsewhere in the fuel system, such as a restriction or a failed component.

If fuel isn’t flowing smoothly from the tank into the fuel line, the problem could be with the filter or the fuel line itself.

Once you’ve located the clog in the fuel line and shut off the flow of fuel to the mower, you can take the clogged part of line off.

If the line is clogged, you can try spraying carburetor cleaner into it. The next step is to blow compressed air through the line to dismantle it. Repeat as necessary. Getting a new gasoline line installed is the next best option if you can’t get the old one unclogged.

Dead Ferris Mower Due to Faulty Fuel Pump

Over time, a gasoline pump may stop working. Your fuel pump might deteriorate and fail if you let old gas remain in it. You won’t be able to get your Ferris going again after the fuel pump stops delivering enough gas to the carburetor.

Examine the fuel pump for any signs of leakage. In the event that you do not locate a leak, you must do a few tests to guarantee that your gasoline pump is working correctly. Ensure the fuel pump is receiving fuel before proceeding.

Assuming you’ve already confirmed that power is being supplied to the fuel pump, you should double-check that fuel is actually being dispensed. Disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor and set it aside. Turn on your lawnmower and keep an eye on the gasoline hose to see if the flow is steady or pulsing.

If the fuel flow from your Ferris mower is intermittent or otherwise inconsistent, you will need to replace the pump.

A Ferris Mower’s Carburetor Crashes Due to Dirt

The carburetor of your Ferris mower is used to control the ratio of fuel to air in the engine. Your lawnmower may start but quickly shut down if the carburetor is malfunctioning.

Running old fuel that has been sitting in the carburetor causes sticky and hard deposits to build, making the carburetor unclean. Carburetor parts may become stuck or clogged as a result, rendering the device ineffective.

The solution is to first make sure fuel is reaching the carburetor before tearing it apart. As soon as you’ve established that, you can take off your air filter and spray some carburetor cleaner into the intake. It’s time to fire up the Ferris mower.

If you light it up with carburetor cleaning and it dies immediately after, you may need to take it apart, clean it, and try again. To clean your carburetor, just stick to the procedures above.

A Ferris mower will die if its cooling fins get plugged or broken.

Once the engine heats up, your lawn mower may start but then shut off. When operating, a Ferris mower’s compact engine benefits from air cooling.

Any accumulation of material around the engine can prevent adequate cooling because the engine needs air to easily circulate around the engine.

Verify the cooling fins in your engine. Those fins are there to circulate air around your engine’s block and cylinder head, where heat can build up. If your cooling fins are blocked by debris, less air will be able to reach your engine.

Take care when working near a hot engine. The engine needs to cool down before you attempt to clean it. Clear out the cooling fins of any obstructions.

Fix any damaged fins. Remove any obstructions from the engine and its cover. If you have a heat shield, check to see that it is mounted properly.

A Ferris Mower Crashes Due to Low Engine Oil.

There should be a certain amount of engine oil in the mower’s crankcase for optimal engine performance. Most people are aware of the dangers of running low on engine oil, but they may not realize that excess oil in the crankcase can cause issues, too.

The Ferris Mower’s Engine Has Too Much Oil

The mower’s oil level should be checked next. The crankcase pressure in your Ferris lawn mower will increase if you use too much engine oil. Mower breakdown from overheating is a distinct possibility.

Take some oil out of the engine through the oil filter or drain plug. Oil can also be sucked via the engine oil fill area with a turkey baster or oil evacuator.

You can also drain some oil from the oil filter or the engine’s oil drain plug. Use the dipstick to inspect the oil level in the engine. Keep adding or draining oil until the full line appears on the dipstick.

A Ferris mower with inadequate engine oil.

It’s possible that your engine has developed an oil leak or that it’s using or burning oil. Without adequate oil, the internal engine elements will begin to grind against one another, generating excessive heat.

Your car’s engine could overheat from this. It can get so hot that the internal components of your engine begin to melt.

The bad news is that serious harm has probably already been done if your engine has shut down due to a shortage of engine oil.

It is recommended that you send your mower to a skilled small engine repair who can disassemble the engine and run diagnostic tests to see how much damage has occurred.

How Come The Battery In Ferris Lawn Mower Won’t Charge?

After you charge your battery, the mower may still stop working if it isn’t being charged. Make sure the engine speed is high on your Ferris mower first. Mow only when necessary; avoid extended periods of inactivity. The engine has to be running in order to charge the battery.

Next, make sure the battery and wires are both in good shape and firmly fastened. It’s possible that there’s an issue with the charging system if everything else seems fine except that you have to keep charging the battery.

This article explains different methods for diagnosing battery and charging system problems. After running these tests, if you still suspect a faulty battery, it’s time to get a new one.

If you discover that your vehicle’s charging system is malfunctioning, you should have a professional mechanic inspect it and fix it.

To someone unfamiliar with the charging system, it may seem like a good idea to just throw parts at the problem in the hopes that one of them will solve the problem. The cost of electrical components can add up quickly, and it is likely that they cannot be returned for a refund because they are used.

Is Your Ferris Lawnmower Still Giving You Trouble?

It doesn’t matter what kind of mower you have, you’ll have to deal with issues eventually.

To help you out the next time your Ferris lawn mower won’t start, keeps dying, makes a lousy cut, or overheats, I’ve collected a list of frequent issues and solutions.

You should bookmark this page and return to it whenever you need assistance locating or servicing your mower. Find out how to fix your Ferris zero-turn mower by reading Common Ferris Zero Turn Mower Problems and Solutions.