Husqvarna Mower That Cranks Over but Won’t Start For These 9 Reasons

The car seems to be trying to start. You can hear the engine cranking over, but it won’t start.

When there isn’t enough oxygen, fuel, or a spark to initiate the combustion process, the Husqvarna mower will turn over but won’t start.

Incorrect choke adjustment, clogged air filter, clogged fuel filter, defective fuel pump, filthy carburetor, bad spark plug, or old gasoline could all contribute to this problem.

The Husqvarna operator’s manual contains important safety information that should never be ignored. To do so, one must wait for the engine to cool, then take out the key and disconnect the spark plug wires.

Before diagnosing, repairing, or operating, be sure you’ve read and understood all of the safety recommendations in the equipment’s operator’s manual. If you are unsure about how to proceed or if you lack the necessary expertise or experience, you should seek the assistance of a professional.

Mower by Husqvarna Spins, But Won’t Start

Choke is Stuck or Not Adjusted Properly

When activated, the choke reduces the flow of air into the engine. When the engine is cold, this is essential.

To ignite a cold engine, a rich fuel combination of more gas and less air is used. The choke lever needs to be moved to the off position once the engine has warmed up to allow it to receive more air and keep running.

The choke must be disengaged before starting a warm engine.

An incorrect placement of the choke lever will make starting your Husqvarna more difficult, if not impossible. When starting a cold engine, the choke must be closed, while starting a warm engine it must be open.

Check that the choke plate is not blocked and that the choke cable may move freely if the airflow is still problematic after adjusting the choke. If the choke plate or links are jammed, use carburetor cleaning to loosen them.

If the cable appears to be stretched or worn, a new Husqvarna choke cable should be installed.

The Air Filter Is Blocked

Your Husqvarna may turn over, but you still can’t get it started because the air filter is blocking the air intake.

The engine could be severely damaged by allowing dirt and debris to be sucked into the air intake without this filter.

It is important to often inspect the air filter. To maintain its quality, it must be washed or replaced. When the air filter is so clogged with dirt, it can restrict the normal flow of air.

Invest in a new air filter at the beginning of each mowing season and maintain it with regular cleanings. Before starting your Husqvarna, make sure the air filter is in good working order by inspecting it.

If your engine has a foam pre-cleaner, you can clean it together with your Husqvarna paper air filter by following the steps outlined below.

If you own a Husqvarna mower and are wondering what kind of filter it uses or how to maintain it, consult your owner’s manual.

Cleanse a Husqvarna Paper Air Filter

• Take off the air filter from its housing. Take care that dust doesn’t get sucked into the fan.
  
• To remove any remaining dust or debris from the air filter housing, use a clean, dry towel.
  
• If your paper air filter is dirty, you can clean it by tapping it against a hard surface.
  
• You can test the transparency of your paper filter by holding it up to a light and seeing the effect.
  
• When light is visible again, reuse the filter.
  
• If there is no light coming through, the filter is excessively dirty, or it is damaged, you should get a new one.
  
• Replacing the air filter cover requires installation. (If your lawnmower has a foam pre-filter, remove the filter cover and clean the filter according to the guidelines below.

Cleanse a Husqvarna Foam Pre-Filter

Foam pre-filters and pre-filters in general aren’t used in every engine. A primary foam filter is not to be confused with this. To increase the efficiency of a paper air filter, a foam pre-filter can be installed beforehand. You should never put oil in a pre-filter since it will ruin the paper filter.

• You should check the pre-filter. If you detect any tears or if it has gotten brittle, throw it away and get a new one.
  Remove debris and grease from the foam filter by washing it in warm water with some mild dish soap.
  Remove all traces of soap and rinse well with water.
  Spread out flat and let air dry. The drying process can be sped up by leaving the filter outside in the sun.
  After the paper primary filter and the foam pre-filter have dried, reinstall the filter cover.

Cleanse a Husqvarna Foam Primary Filter:

• Take off the air filter from its housing. Take care that dust doesn’t get sucked into the fan.
  
• To remove any remaining dust or debris from the air filter housing, use a clean, dry towel.
  
• Remove debris and grease from the foam filter by washing it in warm water with some mild dish soap.
  
• Remove all traces of soap and rinse well with water. Remove any surplus liquid by squeezing the fliter.
  
• Spread it out flat and dry it thoroughly.
  
• Fill the filter up with fresh motor oil. Squeeze to get rid of the extra oil.
  
• Replace the filter and secure it back into place.

Spark Plug Debris

The spark plugs should be inspected afterward. Utilize a 3/4-inch or 5/8-inch socket wrench to unplug the device. The type of engine you have will determine the minimum acceptable size.

Intermittent or no spark can be the result of a dirty or broken spark plug. The engine cannot be started and run without a spark.

An unhealthy spark plug will have a darkened tip, a burned electrode, or fractured porcelain. A new spark plug should be put in if any of these problems are discovered.

If a plug is otherwise functional and only slightly dirty, you can try cleaning it. To get rid of the carbon accumulation, you might use a little wire brush.

After checking the electrode gap and reinstalling the spark plug. The spark plug wire must then be attached tightly.

New spark plugs should be installed in your Husqvarna mower at the beginning of each season since they are crucial to the mower’s performance.

Outdated Energy Sources

In case you didn’t know, gas goes bad after a while. In fact, it starts to fall apart just 30 days after you buy it.

The varnish and sticky deposits left behind by old gas reduce fuel flow and shorten the lifespan of parts.

If you want to keep your Husqvarna mower operating smoothly, you need to be sure you’re using the correct gas. Don’t fill up with fuel that has a lot of ethanol in it.

Fuel with an octane rating of 87 or above and no more than 10% ethanol should be used. Four-cycle Husqvarna mowers run on gasoline.

Your Husqvarna may have a 2-cycle engine that runs on a combination of gas and oil if it is an older model of push mower. Learn more about whether gas is best for your Husqvarna mower’s 2-cycle or 4-cycle engine.

If the gas in your Husqvarna has gone bad, you may get rid of it by draining the tank with a fuel siphon pump.

In order to clean the gasoline system and eliminate moisture, fill the tank with new fuel and add a fuel stabilizer, such as Sea Foam. The advantages of Sea Foam are discussed in greater detail here.

If the mower starts, let it run for a while so the gas and fuel additive can circulate through the engine.

If you’re still having difficulties starting it, keep reading to learn about additional potential fuel-related causes.

Fuel Filter Clogged

Your Husqvarna mower has a gasoline filter fitted inline between the fuel lines. To prevent debris from clogging the fuel system and damaging the engine, the filter is used to clean fuel before it is delivered to the engine.

If the filter isn’t changed frequently enough, it can become clogged. This will prevent fuel from flowing freely through the filter, which could prevent the mower from starting after turning over.

FIX: Get a new Husqvarna fuel filter to swap out the old one.

Fuel Line Blockage

The fuel line from the tank must be traced to the carburetor next. If the lawnmower’s engine turns over but doesn’t start, check for fuel flow restrictions.

Check for a gasoline limitation in the fuel line if you don’t discover any kinks. First, you’ll need to use fuel pinch-off pliers or the fuel shut-off valve to stop the fuel from flowing.

After turning on the gasoline supply, remove the end of the line farthest from the tank and place it in a container to ensure adequate flow through the rest of the line.

If gas isn’t flowing through a mower’s fuel line, the problem can be fixed by disconnecting the line from the machine.

Clean the line by spraying carburetor cleaner. The goal is to break apart the obstruction using this method. The next step is to use compressed air to blow the obstruction out of the line.

Carburetor cleaning and compressed air should be used repeatedly until the obstruction is gone.

After unclogging the gasoline line, put it back in place. If you can’t get rid of the obstruction or the gasoline line is old and cracked, you should get a new one.

Faulty Gasoline Pump

If the carburetor on your Husqvarna mower is mounted higher than the gasoline tank, you’ll need to utilize the pump to get gas to it. To get fuel to the carburetor at the top of the slope, the pump must struggle against the force of gravity.

A vacuum fuel pump is standard on most mowers. This fuel pump design draws on the crankcase’s vacuum to feed the engine’s carburetor.

The gasoline pump must be replaced if it develops cracks or stops functioning properly. In the absence of obvious damage, such as cracks or gasoline leakage, the fuel pump can be tested.

Make sure fuel is entering the pump’s inlet port before you try it out. (If you aren’t, make sure there is no obstruction in the gasoline line or fuel filter)

After checking that fuel is reaching the pump, take the fuel line off the carburetor and set it aside. Verify the proper operation of the fuel pump by turning on the fuel supply and starting the mower.

A constant or pulsing fuel flow should be emerging from the fuel line. If you don’t, the gasoline pump will eventually die.

Check the pressure using a gauge if your Husqvarna has an electronic fuel injection pump. For information on the ideal fuel pressure for your Husqvarna, please consult the owner’s manual.

Unclean Carburetor

The carburetor’s job is to blend fuel and air for the engine’s combustion process. Your Husqvarna will not turn over if the carburetor is broken because it is not getting enough gas to burn.

When a carburetor stops working, old gas is usually at blame. Varnish left behind by old gas can clog the fuel jet and cause internal parts to stick.

If you notice that your carburetor is malfunctioning, you can try cleaning it, replacing the broken pieces, or getting a new one.

Do this before you start dismantling your Husqvarna’s carburetor:

• Make sure the carburetor is getting sufficient fuel.
• Take out the air purifier.
• Apply carburetor cleaner to the mower’s air filter and turn it on. The carburetor is likely unclean if the engine starts, uses the carburetor cleaner, then runs poorly or shuts off after the cleaner is gone. Disassemble the carburetor and clean it or get a new one, but don’t use starter fluid. Carburetor maintenance is covered in further depth here.

Blockage in Fuel Vent

The fuel tank needs to vent such that the pressure inside the tank is the same as the outside pressure. The gas cap of a Husqvarna lawnmower serves as the vent.

If the cap’s vent becomes blocked, no air can escape the gasoline tank, creating a vacuum.

The absence of air prevents fuel from reaching the carburetor. Due to a lack of petrol, the lawn mower will turn over but will not start.

Loosen the gas cap and try to start the mower to see if that solves the problem. The gas cap could be the problem if it fires up.

Let the mower run as you tighten the cap to be sure that’s the issue. In the event that it sputters, shuts down, and refuses to restart unless the cap is loosened.

A faulty or blocked gas cap can be easily remedied by installing a new one.

Is Your Husqvarna Lawnmower Still Giving You Trouble?

If you’re still having issues with your mower, I recommend reading my guide on the most frequent issues faced by Husqvarna owners. I made a list of issues and their solutions, such as starting, smoking, cutting, vibrating, and passing away.

Contact your local Husqvarna dealer or lawn mower repair shop for assistance if you are unsure of how to troubleshoot and fix your Husqvarna lawn mower.

To avoid harm or extra damage to the mower, you should only conduct repairs that are within your mechanical capabilities.