[mongo_jones]

so, the lawnmower won't start. there's gas in the tank, oil is in to the required mark. it worked fine till the end of the fall. my hopeful read is that i need to change the gasoline, which has been sitting in there since november (no stabilizer added). does this seem likely? change the oil too (same vintage)? if so, where/how do i dispose of the old gas? can i just add it to the car tank or is it likely to cause problems there too?

[hollywood]

You really think it's the gas? Maybe it's the spark plug. As you might surmise, in the old days folks just poured such fluids in a corner of the yard. Isn't there some kind of throwaway receptacle you can get at Pep Boys or something?

[mongo_jones]

all the sites seem to say that gas and oil should be drained at the end of the season. i did not do either.

[hollywood]

all the sites seem to say that gas and oil should be drained at the end of the season. i did not do either.

I'm sure that's true and you should floss once or twice a day and call your mom all the time. Maybe you flooded the engine? You can wait a while, and try again. I always found that it just takes a strong jerk on the cord. Are you up to it?

[mongo_jones]

is someone other than hollywood reading this thread?

[hollywood]

is someone other than hollywood reading this thread?

everyone else is out mowing their lawns before the heat of the day arrives.

[GG Mora]

My first line of attack would be to clean the gap on the spark plug. Take an emery board and give a few swipes on the surfaces of the electrode. This is usually the spring fix for the mower, weed-wacker, rototiller, etc.

[Lex]

I always found that it just takes a strong jerk on the cord.

I think he's got the strong jerk part covered.

[hollywood]

My first line of attack would be to clean the gap on the spark plug. Take an emery board and give a few swipes on the surfaces of the electrode. This is usually the spring fix for the mower, weed-wacker, rototiller, etc.

Thanks for the validation, GG.

[flyfish]

Re getting rid of old gas, some gas stations do this. There should be info on where this can be done on the recycling section of your city's website.

[g.johnson]

Save it to start the barbecue.

[Stone]

You can also try carburetor cleaner or actually removing and cleaning the carb.

For the old gas, I'd suggest scalding a 1/2 gal or so on the stove with a vanilla bean while whisking 4 egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar. Remove the bean and

[SLBunge]

Change the gasoline and change the oil. Check the spark plug.

Your city will have a waste oil collection facility but they probably don't take gasoline because it is too volatile. I'm thinking that the small amount of gasoline that you get out of the mower added to your car's fuel tank shouldn't be a big deal.

Is this a new mower?

[ghostrider]

I always found that it just takes a strong jerk on the cord.

I think he's got the strong jerk part covered.

He says what we're all thinking!

I got a reel mower to avoid such issues as gasoline disposal & storage. Of course it helps to have a tiny Jersey yard. I know it's different out there in Whopping Sky Country.

[GordonCooks]

Change the plug, it's most likely the culprit. I've never had a gas related issue as modern gas contains a considerable amount of detergent and stabilizers so going through the winter is not really an issue. Change the plug, top off the gas, and run the motor for 10-15 mins. I do recommend changing the oil though. Modern lawn mowers use aluminum engine cases without steel sleeves to save weight/cost. Most made in China and worth about 3-4 seasons - change the oil at least once a season.