Lawn mower

Petrol mower will not start

Fuel, air, spark — check them in that order and most mowers come back to life.

1. 1

   Make it safe

   Pull the spark plug lead off before going anywhere near the blade, and work outdoors.

2. 2

   Replace old fuel

   Drain fuel that has sat for months and refill with fresh. Stale petrol is the single most common cause.

3. 3

   Check the air filter

   Take the filter out. If it is grey and clogged, clean or replace it.

4. 4

   Check the spark plug

   Remove the plug. A black, oily or wet tip means it needs cleaning or replacing.

5. 5

   Prime and pull

   Refit everything, press the primer bulb the number of times in the manual, and start it on a hard flat surface.

6. 6

   Clear the deck

   Tip it with the fuel cap side up and scrape out packed grass so the engine is not fighting the blade.

FIX vetted guide