Trimmer Gear-Head Greasing
Servicing the grease port on a string trimmer's gear head so it doesn't run dry and overheat.
Wake Up a Lawnmower That Sat All Winter — Checks First, Then the Rear-Lift Trick
Before yanking the cord in spring: free and lube the stuck brake cable, smell the oil for gas, check the blade, filter, and fuel. If it still won't fire, lift the mower's rear end straight up and jiggle it — that unsticks the carburetor float needle so fuel flows again.
mower won't start after winter, lawn mower cord hard to pull, mower turns over but won't fire, handle lever stuck on mower, no gas getting to engine
The Problem
A gas mower that sat in a shed all winter often won't start in spring — and the instinct to keep ripping the cord, or to force the stuck bail lever, is what turns a five-minute fix into a repair-shop visit. Cheap mowers aren't throwaways anymore at current prices, so it's worth the few checks that get them running.
The Technique
Work through the checks before you try to start it:
- Free the brake/kill cable — gently. After sitting in humidity, the bail cable that releases the flywheel brake and kill switch is often seized. Don't force it; you'll snap the cable or the lever tab. Drip light oil (3-in-1 works) down the cable housing and at both ends, then work the lever back and forth slowly until it moves freely.
- Check the blade and blade adapter. Tip the mower and confirm the blade is straight and still seated on the adapter correctly — the little tabs on the washer that pass through the blade should be straight and engaged.
- Check the oil — and smell it. Level first. Then the odd-sounding step: smell for gasoline. When a mower sits, the carburetor's float needle can fail to shut fuel off and gas leaks through the cylinder into the crankcase. Oil that smells like gas gets changed before you start the engine.
- Pull the air filter. These load up with debris worse than any other part; clean or replace it.
- Check the fuel. Old, sour-smelling gas that wasn't treated is reason enough to drain and refill before fighting a no-start.
If it still won't start, the usual culprit is a float needle stuck in its seat, so no fuel is reaching the cylinder:
- Lift the entire rear end of the mower straight up in the air, give it a small jiggle, and set it back down. That knocks the float off-kilter enough to unstick the needle and let fuel flow. Then start it normally.
Pro tip: A brief RPM surge right after the engine catches is normal on the first spring start — the governor sticks for a second until oil moves — and it should settle to steady revs on its own.
Safety note: Any time you tip the mower or work near the blade, the spark plug wire comes off first. And do the smell tests outdoors — you're checking for gasoline vapor, not huffing it.
What You'll Need
Light machine oil for the cable, fresh fuel, and possibly a replacement air filter. No tools beyond what removes the blower shroud if your cable needs closer access.
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