17 Reasons a Husqvarna Lawn Mower Won’t Start: Solved!

It’s that time of the week when you need to mow your lawn, but this time your mower won’t start. I don’t know about you, but I have a pretty busy schedule and have very few opportunities to get my lawn care done.

When my lawn mower stops working, I get very frustrated but take time to find my problem because I can’t afford to be without it.

A Husqvarna lawn mower won’t start because the engine isn’t getting the air, fuel, or spark required. This is due to a plugged air filter, dirty carburetor, bad safety switch, faulty gas cap, plugged fuel filter, clogged fuel line, bad starter solenoid, or bad fuel pump.

There are many items on a Husqvarna Mower that can fail and cause your mower not to start. I will share a list of all of the items you should check if you are experiencing a starting issue.

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Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual prior to diagnosing, repairing, or operating.Consult a professional if you don’t have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely.

17 Reasons Why Your Husqvarna Mower Won’t Start 

Husqvarna Gas Tank is Empty

The most obvious answer to your Husqvarna not starting is the lack of fuel. Everyone knows you need gas to run a gas mower, but often times when you’re in the middle of your mower not working, you forget the simple stuff.

FIX: Add fresh fuel to your gas tank.

Using the Wrong Type of Gas or Old Gas in a Husqvarna Mower

Type of Husqvarna Gas

A Husqvarna lawn mower uses unleaded gasoline. The gasoline must have an octane rating of 87 or higher and an ethanol content of 10% or less. Do not use gas with a higher ethanol content as ethanol can cause significant damage to a Husqvarna engine.

The less ethanol your fuel has, the better. Read my article on the type of gas Husqvarna mowers use for more details on choosing the right gas.

Use Fresh Gasoline in a Husqvarna Mower

Old gasoline running through your fuel system can cause your Husqvarna to have many problems including not starting. Gas only has a shelf life of 30 days before it begins to break down and separate.

Ethanol attracts moisture and as it begins to separate, the ethanol and water mixture sinks to the bottom of your tank. This mixture can cause harm to your engine.

In addition to the harm, ethanol can do to your engine, as moisture evaporates, a gummy substance is formed that can clog your fuel system components.

FIX: Drain and flush the fuel tank. Add fresh fuel with a fuel additive to clean your fuel system like Sea Foam.

Husqvarna Gas Cap Won’t Vent

The fuel cap has a vent to allow air to pass through the cap. When this vent is plugged, the fuel tank forms a vacuum that doesn’t allow fuel to flow out of the tank.

Therefore, your Husqvarna mower is starved of fuel so it will no longer start.

To determine if the gas cap vent is plugged, remove the cap and start your mower. If your mower starts and runs, place the gas cap back on the fuel tank. Allow the mower to run a little longer to see if it shuts off. If it does, the cap could be your problem.

FIX: Try to clean the cap and open the vent. A thin piece of wire may work to unclog the vent. If you are unable to get the fuel cap to vent, you must replace the gas cap.

Bad Spark Plug or Loose Connection on Husqvarna Mower 

A spark plug that has carbon buildup or oil on the spark plug can fail causing your engine to misfire.  A plug that isn’t properly gapped and has a loose connection can cause starting problems in your Husqvarna.

FIX: Remove your spark plug and inspect it for signs of carbon buildup or cracked porcelain insulator. Replace with a new spark plug(s). Make sure they are correctly gapped.

Air Filter Plugged in a Husqvarna Lawn Mower

Your Husqvarna mower requires air in order to start and run. When air isn’t allowed to pass through the filter because the filter is dirty and plugged, your mower may not start. If it does start, it may run rough and cause the engine to overheat.

You should periodically check your air filter and keep it clean. This simple procedure can save you from an expensive repair bill.

FIX: Inspect the filter to see if it needs to be replaced or if you can clean and reuse it. Remove the paper air filter from the air filter housing being careful not to knock any dirt into the air intake. Use a clean dry cloth to wipe out any dirt remaining in the housing.

Knock the filter against a hard surface to remove any loose dirt. Next, you are going to hold the filter up to a light to see if you can see light through the paper. If you find any blockages where light doesn’t shine through the filter, you must replace the filter.

Some mowers will use foam filters. You can find information and cleaning procedures for foam filters and pre-filters here.  

Husqvarna Fuel Pump is Bad

A fuel pump is used to pump gas to the carburetor. When the pump is no longer able to hold pressure it must be replaced. Sometimes you can visibly recognize damage. The housing may have a small crack or fuel may be leaking from the seams when a pump is bad.

Other times you will have to test fuel flow to determine if the fault of your Husqvarna starting problem is the due to a bad fuel pump.

FIX: You will need to verify you are getting fuel flow to the fuel pump. Once you confirm you are getting fuel to the pump, you will proceed with testing the pump to make sure a steady or pulsating flow of gas is being pumped out of your fuel pump.

Use the fuel shut-off valve or fuel clamps to start and stop the flow to test fuel flow. Note: some mowers do not have a fuel-off valve.

Plugged Fuel Filter in Husqvarna Mower

Check your Husqvarna’s fuel filter. The fuel filter is designed to strain your fuel before it enters your carburetor.

FIX: A cracked fuel filter or plugged fuel filter that doesn’t allow gas to pass through the filter will need to be replaced.

Husqvarna Has a Blockage in the Fuel Line  

Deposits from old fuel and dirt can become lodged in your mower’s fuel line. Without a source of gas, because it is being blocked, your Husqvarna is no longer able to start. 

FIX: Remove the fuel line, spray carb cleaner into the tube and use compressed air to blow air through the tube until the line is free of debris and gummy residue. If you are unable to clear the clog you will need to replace the fuel line.

Clogged & Dirty Carburetor on Your Husqvarna 

Your carburetor can become dirty from running old fuel through your lawn mower. Gas can leave deposits in your Husqvarna’s carburetor that can build up so your carburetor is no longer able to function as it is designed to.

A carburetor’s main job is to regulate the amount of fuel mixed with air to form a combustion in your engine’s cylinder.

FIX: If you are a little mechanical you should be able to handle cleaning your carburetor. Clean the carburetor by taking it apart and using carb cleaner to clean the carburetor including the float bowl and needle.

You can find steps for cleaning your carburetor here. If your carburetor is too dirty to clean adequately, you should replace it.

Bad Battery, Loose Cables or Corroded Terminals on Your Husqvarna Mower

Your Husqvarna will not start with a bad battery, loose cables, or corroded terminals. Confirm your battery terminals are not corroded and are attached securely to the battery.

FIX: Clean corroded terminals in a baking soda solution containing 2 cups of water and 3 rounded tablespoons of baking soda. Use a wire brush to scrub the terminals clean.

Test your battery with a multimeter. You need a reading of about 12.7 volts. Place on a charger to charge your battery if your reading is less than this.

Read more about the steps and items needed to charge your battery here. If your battery does not hold a charge, you will need to replace it with a new battery. 

Bad Husqvarna Safety Switch  

Your Husqvarna lawn mower may use several safety switches designed to keep the operator safe. The manufacturer installs safety switches to prevent the mower deck to run without the operator present.

It also has a safety switch involved to not start when your parking break isn’t engaged. If these safety switches fail, your mower may not start.

FIX: Test the switch using a multimeter or you can temporarily bypass the safety switch to identify a bad switch. Do not operate a mower without the safety switch. 

Never run a mower when a safety switch is bypassed. You never know when you will encounter a situation where the safety switch can save you from serious injury.

Bad Husqvarna Ignition Switch  

You insert the key into your ignition switch and turn it only to find your Husqvarna doesn’t start or even turn over. The ignition switch could be the problem.

FIX: You can use a multimeter to test the ignition switch. Replace the switch if bad.

Bad Starter Solenoid on Your Husqvarna Mower

A Husqvarna mower solenoid is an electromagnetic switch that is like an on-off switch that actuates the starter motor to turn over the engine. A click or hum when turning your ignition key is an indication to check your solenoid.

Another indication your Husqvarna mower solenoid may be bad is when a wire attached to your solenoid gets hot and begins to smoke or melt.

FIX: Test your Husqvarna mower solenoid by following the steps here. Replace your solenoid if it is found to be bad.

Bad Recoil on a Husqvarna Push Mower 

Some Husqvarna push mowers use a recoil to start. A recoil can fail due to a bad pulley, a loose or missing spring, or broken clips preventing you from being able to start your mower with the pull of the string.

FIX: You can attempt to replace the spring and restring the recoil. If it does not work because other components in your recoil are damaged such as the clips or the pulley, you are better off just replacing the recoil assembly.

Bad Husqvarna Ignition Coil  

The ignition coil provides voltage to the spark plug so it can fire and start the engine. The engine will not start if the spark plug isn’t able to fire.   

FIX: After you verified your spark plug is in good condition, check the continuity of your ignition coil using a multimeter. Replace the ignition coil if you find a break in the continuity.  

Faulty Charging System on Your Husqvarna Mower

While the charging system isn’t the main reason your Husqvarna mower won’t start, it can contribute to a weak battery that prevents the mower from starting.

When the charging system fails to charge the battery, the battery may not be able to start the mower the next time you go to use it.

A bad stator or alternator can be the problem. I show steps on how to test your charging system here using an ohm meter.  

FIX: When you find your Husqvarna starting problem is due to the charging system, take your lawn mower to your local Husqvarna dealer for further troubleshooting and repair.

If you don’t have experience with charging systems, you will most likely just throw different parts at your mower hoping to fix it.

The cost of all of these parts can get pretty expensive if you don’t guess right the first time. Most lawn mower centers do not allow you to return electrical parts so you will be stuck with the part whether it is the problem or not.

Incorrect Husqvarna Operating Procedure  

Husqvarna implements safety precautions with their lawn mowers that require certain steps to be followed when starting and operating the lawn mower.

FIX: Refer to your Husqvarna operating manual to ensure you are operating your lawn mower correctly, so you don’t set off the safety features that shut off your lawn mower.