Have just got in from a few hours in the garden and mowing lawns.

Whenever I finish a lawn, to stop the lawnmower I turn off the fuel line, and let it run down. In this way there is no petrol left lying around in the mower. When I do this the motor seems to race for the last few seconds as t is starved of fuel.

So the question is, is this the best way to stop a lawnmower, or should I just use the stop position on the accelerator?

sibeen said:

Have just got in from a few hours in the garden and mowing lawns.

Whenever I finish a lawn, to stop the lawnmower I turn off the fuel line, and let it run down. In this way there is no petrol left lying around in the mower. When I do this the motor seems to race for the last few seconds as t is starved of fuel.

So the question is, is this the best way to stop a lawnmower, or should I just use the stop position on the accelerator?

I’ve been doing that all my life too.

I just turn the little thingy to the stop spot. But I do mow to empty at times, and yes, you can tell it is almost there because it runs fast and slow and then dies.

What you are doing sounds fine.

Use the stop position to stop the lawnmower when you remove the catcher, or get a cold drink etc.

it wont hurt it. i belive the racing bit is it just running lean. no fuel in the carby is good as if it is left for a while the fuel doesn’t dry up and you get gunk which can block things.

Just recently the mower mechanic suggested turning off the fuel line after turning off the mower. I’ve been using Briggs and Stratton and Honda motors on mowers for 30 years and not killed one because I haven’t turned off the fuel line. I’ve never done it that way.

Although we do turn off the fuel line on the chipper. It does sit for much longer periods between uses though.

I just turn the key off on the ride-on, and move the stop & go lever to stop on the push-along. I used to have a push-along that also required you to turn the petrol off after stopping it, but this one has no such switch.

or get a cold drink etc.

non-alcoholic of course. and always were sturdy boots and hearing protection.

>and always were sturdy boots and hearing protection.

Beleive it or not I always wear steel capped boots and ear muffs :)

i had a push mower that required you to actually stop walking for it to “turn off”.

I turn mine off by moving the lever to the stop position. Then I turn the fuel tap to off before parking it in the shed. Still starts first or second pull the next time – for a mower that’s getting on 10 years old.

The odd occasion where I’ve forgotten to turn the fuel tap to off has made it harder to start the next time. Not sure why.

Boris said:

i had a push mower that required you to actually stop walking for it to “turn off”.

:))

party_pants said:

I turn mine off by moving the lever to the stop position. Then I turn the fuel tap to off before parking it in the shed. Still starts first or second pull the next time – for a mower that’s getting on 10 years old.

The odd occasion where I’ve forgotten to turn the fuel tap to off has made it harder to start the next time. Not sure why.

.

Because it has slowly flooded.

I have never used a lawn mower.

you should refer to the manual as to the best way of shutting down a lawn mower

the over revving shouldn’t be a problem because its only for a short time

i’m assuming 2 stroke

wookiemeister said:

you should refer to the manual as to the best way of shutting down a lawn mower

Quite right, but as I bought this lawnmower in about 1994, O may have inadvertently misplaced the manual.

sibeen said:

wookiemeister said:

you should refer to the manual as to the best way of shutting down a lawn mower

Quite right, but as I bought this lawnmower in about 1994, O may have inadvertently misplaced the manual.

see if you can find it online – theres a good chance you’ll find something, especially forums about lawnmowers

I might even get the mower out soon and add to the urban symphony.

sibeen said:

wookiemeister said:

you should refer to the manual as to the best way of shutting down a lawn mower

Quite right, but as I bought this lawnmower in about 1994, O may have inadvertently misplaced the manual.

Manuals are available online. There is nothing in this Victa manual about starting and stopping the machine.
http://images.smh.com.au/2012/03/25/3162200/article-ayik-420×0.jpg

i’m charging mine up again

i grew tired of going down the petrol station and wearing ear plugs, the cordless mower is much quieter

morrie said:

sibeen said:

wookiemeister said:

you should refer to the manual as to the best way of shutting down a lawn mower

Quite right, but as I bought this lawnmower in about 1994, O may have inadvertently misplaced the manual.

Manuals are available online. There is nothing in this Victa manual about starting and stopping the machine.
http://images.smh.com.au/2012/03/25/3162200/article-ayik-420×0.jpg

Damn.
http://www.ivanawells.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Victa_Owners_Manual_website.pdf

morrie said:

sibeen said:

wookiemeister said:

you should refer to the manual as to the best way of shutting down a lawn mower

Quite right, but as I bought this lawnmower in about 1994, O may have inadvertently misplaced the manual.

Manuals are available online. There is nothing in this Victa manual about starting and stopping the machine.
http://images.smh.com.au/2012/03/25/3162200/article-ayik-420×0.jpg

then try the forums

my guesses?

it won’t matter if you switch fuel off and let it run or simply turn the thing off using the throttle

Fuel System
Fuel can become stale when stored over 30 days. Stale fuel causes acid and gum
deposits to form in the fuel system or on essential carburetor parts. To keep fuel fresh,
use Briggs & Stratton Advanced Formula Fuel Treatment & Stabilizer, available
wherever Briggs & Stratton genuine service parts are sold.
For engines equipped with a FRESH START® fuel cap, use Briggs & Stratton FRESH
START® available in a drip concentrate cartridge.
There is no need to drain gasoline from the engine if a fuel stabilizer is added according
to instructions. Run the engine for 2 minutes to circulate the stabilizer throughout the fuel
system before storage.
If gasoline in the engine has not been treated with a fuel stabilizer, it must be drained into
an approved container. Run the engine until it stops from lack of fuel. The use of a fuel
stabilizer in the storage container is recommended to maintain freshness.

victa.

never used fuel stabiliser myself

Run over a cat. That’ll stop it.

me neither but they say it is ok to turn the fuel off to stop the mower. and that was the main point.

i remember being on a building site as a teenager

a big diesel generator had been locked up – running and now they needed to switch the thing off so not to annoy the neighbours

i found them after they ahd been running around trying to access the off button

i just grabbed a cloth squashed it up and pushed it onto the exhaust

motor stops

Anyway – time put on the steel-caps, sunscreen, hat, Australian Standard tinted safety glasses and the ear muffs and mow the damn lawn.

I don’t think I’ll need the hi-vis shirt.

wookiemeister said:

i remember being on a building site as a teenager

a big diesel generator had been locked up – running and now they needed to switch the thing off so not to annoy the neighbours

i found them after they ahd been running around trying to access the off button

i just grabbed a cloth squashed it up and pushed it onto the exhaust

motor stops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrAeUf7v49g

party_pants said:

I don’t think I’ll need the hi-vis shirt.

You will if you’re working within a road or road-related area.

‘Road’ and ‘Road-related Area’ may be found in the Dictionary (Appendix),

;-)

My lawnmower is battery powered – rechargable. You simply let go of the handle and it stops.

fsm said:

My lawnmower is battery powered – rechargable. You simply let go of the handle and it stops.

.

How well does it work?

We had this question on the original forum.
DV said you could buy Winns “Stop Ya Fucker” from Super Cheap Auto.

Michael V said:

fsm said:

My lawnmower is battery powered – rechargable. You simply let go of the handle and it stops.

.

How well does it work?

It’s not too bad. It bogs down a bit if the grass is too long or wet, but if you mow regularly and keep the blade sharp then it’s not a problem. It has two lead-acid batteries (24volt) and recharges overnight. I can mow both the front and back yards on a single charge and it’s a pretty large block. It’s quiet and doesn’t vibrate your arms off like a petrol mower. It leaves the yard smelling nice and fresh too, without any petrol fumes.

Thanks fsm.

:)

Peak Warming Man said:

We had this question on the original forum.
DV said you could buy Winns “Stop Ya Fucker” from Super Cheap Auto.

i’ve purchased some “stop ya mother f*cking f*cker i’m going to put a cap in your arse” from repco in the past – highly overrated