People prefer Ryobi lawnmowers to regular gas lawnmowers as they are more environmentally friendly. But sadly you will encounter incidents where your beloved Ryobi lawn mower won’t start.
It’s disappointing and lots of factors can contribute to this problem.
I experienced these issue and did a lot of research when noticed my Ryobi RY40104 won’t start. So, today, we’ll discuss the subject to avoid a predicament like this.
Why Won’t Yourryobi Lawn Mower Start?
Several users have expressed their dissatisfaction with its inability to start up. In this section, we’ve attempted to identify and highlight those possible causes of why the mower won’t start.
Let’s have a look at them to see whether your Ryobi lawnmower has any of the issues listed.
- · Spark Plug
Wear and tear on the spark plug is one of the reasons your lawnmower isn’t working. When the porcelain insulator is cracked, this generally happens.
When it’s fractured, it suggests an electrode has burned/damaged or coated with a heavier electrode. If that’s the case, use a spark plug tester to see if it needs to get changed.
- · Start Switch
Check the start switch with a multimeter to see whether it’s broken. Checking for continuity can assist you in identifying the issue.
- · Flywheel Key
If your lawnmower collides with a hard item, the flywheel key may shatter. This occurs to protect the engine in the event of an accident.
If your lawn mower’s flywheel key is broken, it’s the cause of the engine not starting. You can resolve the problem by replacing the flywheel key.
- · Ignition Coil
During operation, the ignition coil sends voltage to the spark plug. Any damage to the coil will prevent the engine from starting.
You can check the coil with a tester and replace it if necessary.
- · Recoil Spring
The rope doesn’t recoil onto the pulley to start the engine if the recoil spring is broken. You have to replace the starter system in case the spring is damaged.
- · Fuse Switch
Even when you insert the fuse switch, you may find that the lawnmower does not work. It generally indicates that the fuse switch is broken.
Use a multimeter to check for continuity in the fuse switch and replace it if necessary.
- Recoil Starter
The crankshaft is activated by the recoil mechanism that lets the engine move. So, the engine will not transfer power if you have a damaged recoil starter.
Detach the starter assembly and examine if it’s working properly to find the problem.
The tabs originating from the pulley and cam must catch the hub on the engine when you pull the starter rope, causing the engine to turn.
When you release the rope, the tab retracts and rewinds inside the pulley. As a result, if the recoil starter fails to function properly, it’s time to replace it.
- · Recoil Starter Pulley
The starter rope is pulled back by the recoil starter pulley when it’s not in use. If you have a broken recoil pulley, then the rope will not rewind and the engine won’t start.
So, you need to replace the recoil starter pulley if it’s damaged.
- · Rewind Pulley and Spring
The rewind spring can also be broken under certain situations. It recoils the starter rope after the rope gets released.
The rope cannot recoil back into the pulley if the rewind spring or the pulley is broken.
The engine will not start because of this occurrence. The rewind spring must be replaced to resolve the problem. Now, watch this video to learn what to check to start your Ryobi mower.
How To Start A Ryobi Lawnmower?
The operation of an electric lawn mower differs from that of a regular gas mower. If you’d like to learn how to operate your Ryobi Lawn Mower, follow the given steps below:
- The Battery
To begin, ensure your battery is completely charged and installed properly inside the mower. The battery must be placed correctly or the device will not work properly.
- The Fuse Key
Keep an eye out for the fuse key. The fuse key is in charge of completing the electric circuit within the motor, which then powers up the entire machine.
The key can be put into the slot on the handle or close to the battery itself. The usage of a key to start the mower is to prevent it from turning on by accident during maintenance.
Note: We’ll go over the fuse key in more detail in the next section.
- · Turn On The Switch Key
The Ryobi mower is turned on and off by an electric switch located near the handle. It’ll start if you press and hold the switch.
Ryobi Lawn Mower Fuse Key: Remove It When Not in Use
The Ryobi Lawn Mower fuse key is critical to the device’s operation. You need to insert the fuse key into the machine to get it operating.
However, you must first assemble the entire machine. Failure to do so may result in the machine being damaged. Meanwhile, you could also sustain an injury.
During the following certain circumstances, you must always remove the fuse key:
- When the fuse is not in use, it should be removed and stored dry. It eliminates the possibility of the machine starting on its own. However, before removing the fuse key, wait for the blades to come to a complete stop.
- When cleaning the lawnmower, you must also remove the fuse key. It makes sure there are no water splashes in it. If water gets into touch with the fuse key, it might cause harm.
Ryobi Lawnmower Self-propelled Not Working: How to Fix It?
There are a plethora of factors why your Ryobi self-propelled lawnmower isn’t working. Let’s have a look at them:
- · V-Belt
The V-belt is in charge of turning the drive pulleys for the lawnmower wheels to turn. Its wear and tear prevents the wheels from turning, which can be remedied by replacing them.
- · Drive Pulley
The engine crankshaft is hooked to the driving pulley. The transmission will not permit the wheel assembly to interact if it is damaged.
If the driving pulley is damaged, it should be replaced.
- · Wheel Assembly
The engagement of the transmission driving gear is the responsibility of the wheel assembly. If the gears inside the wheel assembly are worn out, they won’t be able to engage.
Observe the transmission during operation to see if it is operational.
If the pulley spins but the lawnmower wheel does not, it means that the transmission is likely to be faulty. The device will keep functioning once the broken gears are replaced.
- · Transmission
The drive belt, which is coupled to the engine crankshaft, drives the transmission. The engine provides current to the drive belt, which allows the transmitter to spin the lawnmower wheels.
Turning on the mower is a simple way to check for flaws. If the transmission pulley spins but not the mower wheels, it means that the transmission is malfunctioning.
The transmission, however, is beyond repair. As a result, if any anomalies are found, you must replace them.
- · Traction Control Cable
The traction control cable could be worn out or misplaced in certain conditions. Check for the control cable to see if it’s working properly.
To reduce the friction, pour a small amount of oil into the end of the cable if it isn’t moving freely. If the cable is still even functional, you need to replace it.
Bottom Line
There are some lawnmower brands to avoid but Ryobi is not one of them. The Ryobi lawnmower stands out for its ability to work on a variety of grass lengths and surfaces, as well as its capacity to recharge and reduce noise pollution.
But like any brand, it may stop working or starting completely!
Of course, the Ryobi lawn mower won’t start for a myriad of reasons as you have seen already. New technologies, we believe, are not without flaws.
But, owing to customer feedback, these flaws are gradually being rectified.
Moreover, we must consider the device’s positive aspects. And if you understand the issues on your own and know how to correct them, you won’t have to wait for the mechanic to do it for you!
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How do you locate the spark plug and transmission on a Ryobi 40v mower?
I have the 2021 Ryobi 40v (6 amp) 20″ electric mower and, after storing it away (properly) for the winter, had hoped to start ‘er up and clean up the fresh spring grass today but she wouldn’t start. I tried everything. Everything. Turns out this model has TWO, count ’em two (2), battery slots: one for the power, one for a spare. I had the battery in the spare compartment which has no power connection. Finally, switched it to the front slot and she works great. Boy, do I feel stupid.
My mower starts no problem. When i attempt to cut the lawn it shuts off. Do you know what could be wrong?
I’ve never had a problem with starting my Ryobi battery operated lawn mower; however, today it began acting funky. It would start and run for 30 or so seconds and shut down. I began to go over the things that need to be done to start it and even give it a little shake. Then it starts again, and again shuts off within a few seconds.
I had, at first, thought that the battery needed charging, but when I plug in the charging devise, it immediately flashes green and stays like that even after a couple of hours or more.
So, I’m at a loss. I’ve got my 82nd birthday coming up on July 22nd and there will be a lot of guests and long-bladed grass.