There might come a time when your lawnmower or other power equipment does not work properly. Your equipment might sputter or it might not even start up leaving you high and dry as you get set to mow your lawn. This is not a pleasant situation to be in since you take a lot of pride in your property but the good news is that the fix might be easier (and cheaper) than you think. The issue might be with your spark plug and you might be back at your lawn sooner than you think. But what does your spark plug actually do?
How Do Spark Plugs Work?
The spark plug on your equipment connects to the ignition coil and generates a high voltage spark with the fuel to create combustion within the engine. This combustion is essential to starting your engine and if this spark does not happen your engine will not be starting.
Before ignition in your engine the fuel moves through the lines to the fuel injectors while the air intake sucks oxygen into the engine. The fuel and the air is mixed into a combustible state and then injected into the cylinder where the spark ignites the mixture. This process happens thousands of times per minute in your engine.
What Happens With A Worn Spark Plug?
The electrodes that are on a spark plug must be clean and sharp if it is going to create the spark that is needed. If these are worn or are dirty more effort will be required to produce a spark needed to start the engine. For most, that means pulling the cord more or with more force.
The more you need to pull the cord the more fuel is moved is injected into the cylinder. This can lead to too much fuel being used, create deposits on the cylinder head and a diluting of the oil. While your mower probably will start eventually this can also be the first sign that something is wrong.
How Can I Tell If A Spark Plug Is Worn?
To tell if a spark plug is worn disconnect the lead (that’s the cap over it) and remove the plug from the socket. Visually check the plug for debris, damage or burned electrodes and if any are found replace the plug. You will need a socket wrench to do this but that is all of the equipment you will need. Don’t forget to be gentle with the plug when reinstalling it as well as the body is made of porcelain.
Also don’t forget to set the gap on the plug correctly. The tool to do that can be purchased at any auto parts store or equipment service like Bill’s Outdoor Power Equipment, so pick one up when you buy your new spark plug if you don’t have one. Don’t forget to get a small engine plug, the plugs that work with your car will not work with your lawn mower. How can you find the gap? Check your owner’s manual but in general it is .03 mm.
How Often Should I Replace A Spark Plug?
Check your owner’s manual for how often spark plugs need to be replaced but generally it should be done once a year. This can be done at any time but it works well to do it when you put the mower away for the winter or get it out of storage in the spring. You might be able to get away with not replacing the spark plug but at some point it will catch up with you and knowing how to do this can keep you on the job with much less frustration.
Or if your mower’s engine does not turn over it may be time to replace the spark plug. The issue itself may not be with the spark plug but it is one of the easiest and cheapest things to do so why not start with that? If that does not work it will save Bill’s Outdoor Power Equipment some time when you bring it in for service at least and if it does, you’re back to work with fewer worries.
Your spark plug needs to be in good working order for your mower to work at all. It is one of the easiest and cheapest components to replace and it is something that every lawn mower owner should know how to do. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself though bring your equipment in to Bill’s Outdoor Power Equipment on Delta Road in Red Lion and we can do it for you.