Ryobi lawnmowers have become exceedingly popular over the past number of years, thanks to their non-reliance on gas. These electrical mowers are more environmentally friendly than their conventional gas-powered counterparts.
Unfortunately, there are several issues that can arise that cause these mowers to not start. This post sheds light on the potential reasons as to why a Ryobi lawnmower won’t start. Read on!
Common Causes for Ryobi Lawnmower Not Starting
There are quite a few components that you need to inspect when your Ryobi lawnmower fails to start, including:
Spark Plug
As you use your lawnmower, the spark plug experiences a lot of wear and tear over time. This can take a toll on it and cause it to cease to function.
The most common reason for this is damage to the porcelain insulator. When this part of the spark plug cracks, it’s a tell-tale sign that the electrode has been burned or damaged.
You can use a spark plug tester to find out whether the spark plug is working as it should. If it is, you’ll see a significant spark between the terminals of the spark plug tester.
The absence of a spark is an indication that the spark plug has reached the end of its lifespan and needs replacing.
Start Switch
Another common reason for your lawnmower failing to start is issues with the start switch. You should use a multimeter to check for continuity to determine if it’s defective.
Flywheel Key
This is a small metallic component of your lawnmower that acts as the connection between the flywheel and the crankshaft.
In the case where your lawnmower takes a hit from a hard object, the flywheel key acts as a failsafe to protect the engine from being damaged. This may cause the flywheel key to break, and in turn, make the engine not start.
You should disconnect the flywheel from the engine and take a close look at the flywheel key to see if it’s damaged. If it is, you should replace it.
Ignition Coil
The ignition coil is responsible for getting the ‘juice’ to the spark plug as the engine runs. So, if there’s an issue with the coil, the engine may fail to start.
However, you should only consider the ignition coil as the reason for your troubles if you’re certain that the spark plug is functioning normally.
Once that’s confirmed, make use of an ignition coil tester to check the ignition coil. If it’s not working, you should replace it.
Recoil Starter
The recoil starter is a vital component of the recoil mechanism that activates the crankshaft and initiates the engine’s motion. If the starter is defective, the engine is unable to transfer energy.
Disassemble the starter mechanism and inspect it to see if it’s functioning as it should be. If it’s not then you must replace it, without a functioning recoil starter your lawnmower won’t work.
Recoil Spring
When you pull your lawnmower’s starter rope and let it go, the recoil spring is what makes the rope catch on to a pulley, inducing the engine to turn over.
Naturally, if the recoil spring is damaged, this process doesn’t occur, and your lawnmower won’t start.
The majority of recoil springs are replaceable, but you should note that in some cases it’s better to replace the entire recoil starter mechanism.
Recoil Starter Pulley
The job of the recoil starter pulley is to wind up the starter rope when it’s sitting idle.
If the recoil starter pulley is damaged or jammed, it’ll be unable to serve its purpose and your lawnmower won’t start.
That said, a defective recoil starter pulley must be replaced right away.
Battery and Wiring
If you own a Ryobi lawnmower of the electric variety, the reason for it failing to start may be due to other reasons. Those reasons are mainly related to the wiring and the battery.
You should check that all the wiring and connections aren’t corroded or loose, including the wires connecting to the battery and the switch.
It’s also advised that you ensure that the battery is holding a full charge. Your battery may have become defective and is no longer able to hold a charge.
You should also have the battery charger tested to make sure it’s actually transferring charge to your battery. One other thing you should look into is the type of outlet that you’re using to plug in your charger. It might be a ‘switchable’ one that’s simply been switched off.
How to Start a Ryobi Lawnmower
If you’re used to conventional gas lawnmowers, you may need assistance in starting an electric Ryobi mower. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
1. Check the Battery
The first order of business is to make sure that the battery is fully charged and correctly installed. If the battery isn’t charged or its installation is faulty, your mower won’t function as it should.
2. Fuse Key
Another key aspect to keep in mind is the fuse key, which is responsible for closing the motor’s internal circuit and powering up your mower.
The fuse key is a safety measure to ensure the machine won’t turn on in an untimely fashion during maintenance. It’s inserted into the designated slot on the handle.
3. Set the Switch Key to ‘ON’
Press and hold the electric switch present close to the handle to turn your mower on.
In Summary
Your Ryobi lawnmower may be failing to start due to one of several reasons. These reasons can be as simple as forgetting to switch on your power outlet when your machine is plugged into the charger. However, the issue can also be within the machine’s internal hardware.
If you’ve checked all of the potential issues mentioned in this post and still can’t get your mower to start, you should seek the assistance of a professional.
It’s also worth noting that you should always remove the fuse key from your mower when you’re not using it. To add, make sure that your mower is assembled correctly before inserting the fuse key. Failure to do so may result in damage to the device and possible injury.
Lastly, make sure you’re removing the fuse key the right way. When you’re done using the mower, make sure the blades have completely stopped moving before taking out the fuse key.