Help Blog

The two most common issues with a push mower's engine are that it either idles poorly or runs erratically. If the problem is severe enough, you'll need to take your mower to a professional for proper servicing, but often times you can troubleshoot your push mower engine problems in your own front yard. 

If your engine is idling poorly: 

1. Check your spark plug. The part may be fouled or faulty. If this is the case, you'll need to replace the spark plug. The fault or gap may also be too wide. If so, refer to your owner's manual and reset the gap. 

2. Check the air filter to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. 

3. Take a look at your carburetor. Refer to the engine manual for the proper adjustment. 

If your engine runs erratically: 

1. You might have a loose spark plug wire. Connect and tighten the wire. 

2. Check the fuel situation. You should clean the fuel line and make sure your tank is properly fueled with fresh gasoline. 

3. If the gas cap's vent is plugged up, clean it. 

4. You may have contaminated fuel (water or dirt/debris). If so, drain the tank and refill it with new gas. 

5. Inspect the carburetor. Refer to your engine manual for proper adjustment. 

6. You may have overfilled your engine with oil. Drain the old oil and fill it again to the proper level. 

Now that your mower blades are ready to go, it's time to start competing for your annual blue ribbon in the Neighborhood Lawn Competition. Follow our guide to learn the proper mowing heights for your lawn, and you'll be leagues above the neighbors. For the healthiest grass, you should mow every 5-7 days while alternating mowing patterns to prevent soil compaction. Feel free to let your grass grow longer in the summertime so you increase the drought resistance of your lawn.

If your grass is too short, it can actually prevent healthy growth patterns and invite weeds; if your grass is too long, you'll quickly find it home to pests. Most lawns can be classified in two categories: cool season and warm season grass. 

Warm Season Grass

This type of grass typically grows in the southern regions of the country as it can sustain itself even in the high temperature summers. This tropical grass grows most in the summer, and turns to a brown during the colder months. There are three main kinds of warm season grass: 

• Zoysia: This thick but slow growing grass should be kept at 2", or you take the risk of letting it overtake your yard. 
• St. Augustine: This grass, found mostly in coastal regions, is characterized by its wide blades. Mower after its height reaches 3". 
• Bermuda: Bermuda grass grows best in bright sunlight and when maintained at a steady 2". 

Cool Season Grass

Cool season grass can be found in the northern regions as it survives fluctuating temperatures while growing mostly during the spring and fall seasons. As with warm season grass, there are three main types of cool season grass: 

• Ryegrass: This is the homeowner's grass, known for its bright green color and fast-growing ability. Mow your ryegrass often, and don't let it exceed 2". 
• Fescue: You'll see this grass most often on sports fields. It typically has a slow growth rate, and you can let it grow up to 3" when you're expecting heavy foot traffic. 
• Kentucky Bluegrass: Since this grass recovers more easily from foot traffic than it does from high temperatures, you should keep this grass at 2.5" during the peak growing season. 

You've found your mower hidden behind all that winter time clutter, but maybe after so many cold months stored away in the garage, it's not running as well as you remember. Make sure you're providing regular maintenance so you avoid any unforeseen or early replacements and repairs, and familiarize yourself with a few easy ways to troubleshoot common issues with your MTD mower. 

1. The mower won't start.

If you can't get your mower to turn over, it may be one of these seven common issues: 

• The control handle's not engaged.
• You need to reconnect the spark plug wire.
• Replace the fuel tank with new gas.
• Clean your fuel line.
• Clean or adjust the spark plug gap. Replace if necessary.
• If your engine has flooded, don't prime the mower. Wait to restart.
• Clean your air filter of debris and dirt. Replace if necessary. 

     2.  The mower vibrates more than usual.

This typically happens due to one of three issues: 

• You need to tighten the blade and adapter, followed by balancing the blade. 
• If you notice your blade has bent, you'll need to replace it. 
• Finally, check to see if the mounting bolt on the engine is loose. Tighten it or replace the bolt if necessary. 

     3.  The engine is running inconsistently. 

Consider these six possible solutions: 

• The spark plug should be connected and properly tightened. 
• Make sure the fuel line is clean and the tank is filled with new gas. 
• Inspect and clean the gas cap vent. 
• If you find that your fuel system has been compromised by dirt or water, drain the tank and refill it with fresh fluid. 
• Refer to your model's engine manual if you need to adjust the carburetor. 
• If you've overfilled the engine with oil, drain it and refill to the proper level. 

Many of your outdoor power equipment tools are powered by a reliable Kohler engine. On the occasion you find your Kohler engine performing less than optimally, use our troubleshooting guide to diagnose the issue at home. If you need to lookup a replacement part or schedule service for your Kohler engine, contact one of our trained specialists. 

If your engine won't start at all, it may be that you have: 

• no fuel or improper fuel
• a contaminated fuel line (with dust or dirt)
• incorrect oil level
• overloaded engine
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

If your engine has difficulty starting, it might be: 

• improper fuel 
• a contaminated fuel line (dust or dirt)
• incorrect oil level
• overloaded engine 
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

If the engine stops suddenly, it may be: 

• no fuel in the tank
• a contaminated fuel line (dust or dirt) 
• dirty debris screen
• incorrect oil level 
• overloaded engine 
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

If the engine seems to lack power: 

• improper fuel is in the tank 
• a contaminated fuel line 
• a dirty debris screen
• incorrect oil level 
• overloaded engine
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

If the engine is operating erratically: 

• improper fuel is in the tank 
• a contaminated fuel line (dust or dirt)
• dirty debris screen 
• overloaded engine
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

Do you hear the engine knocking or pinging? 

• improper fuel 
• dirty debris screen
• overloaded engine
• faulty spark plug 

If the engine is misfiring or skipping: 

• improper fuel is in the tank
• a contaminated fuel line (dirt or dust) 
• dirty debris screen
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

If the engine backfires: 

• improper fuel 
• a contaminated fuel line (dirt or dust) 
• overloaded engine
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

If you find the engine overheating: 

• improper fuel is in the tank
• a contaminated fuel line (dust or dirt) 
• dirty debris screen
• incorrect oil level 
• overloaded engine 
• dirty air cleaner 

Does your engine seem to have a high fuel consumption? 

• overloaded engine
• dirty air cleaner
• faulty spark plug 

When you're ready to begin planting flowers, vegetables, and more, a Cub Cadet tiller can help you cultivate and prepare the ideal soil for maximum garden growth. Regular maintenance is important for the upkeep of your tiller, so follow this simple garden tiller maintenance guide.

When you're performing maintenance on your Cub Cadet tiller, remember that safety is always first. Make sure to disconnect the spark plug wire, and to use proper protective gear if necessary. If you need your outdoor power equipment professionally serviced, contact our sister company, P&P Small Engines, for an appointment! 

Before Every Use

1. Check the level of your motor oil
2. Clean the engine 

After a 2-Hour Break In

1. Check your drive belt for appropriate tension
2. Check nuts and bolts for tightness
3. Change motor oil
4. Check the transmission gear oil

Every 5 Hours

1. Check the level of your motor oil

Every 10 Hours

1. Check your drive belt for appropriate tension
2. Check nuts and bolts for tightness
3. Change the motor oil
4. Lubricate the filter

Every 30 Hours

1. Check the transmission gear oil
2. Inspect tines for wear
3. Check the air pressure of your tires

For the following, refer to your service manual: 

1. Clean engine
2. Service air filter
3. Service spark plug

Even with normal or light use, the wheels on your Cub Cadet lawn mower can become worn out and sometimes damaged. A less-than-ideal wheel will reduce your mower's traction and possibly the mower's alignment. Instructions for replacing your wheels may differ slightly depending on your model, so be sure to check your operator's manual for detailed instructions. For a general overview of how to replace a wheel on your Cub Cadet lawn mower, follow the easy instructions below. 

1. Be smart about your maintenance. First, make sure your engine has cooled down and disconnect the spark plug ignition wire. Make sure your height adjuster is at the highest level. 
2. Now it's time to remove the wheel. Use a socket wrench and unbolt the wheel. Remove it from the lawn mower. 
3. Next, lubricate the new wheel's bushings with a dry lubricant, like graphite. 
4. Now you can replace with the new wheel. Tighten the wheel nut and adjust its height to match the other three. 
5. You're almost finished! Reconnect the spark plug ignition wire. When you run your mower for the first time after wheel replacement, be extra aware for any strange vibrations or wobbling. If you experience this, the lawn mower wheel assembly may not have been properly replaced. 

This week we're talking about how to best maintain your garden tiller from Troy Bilt. You want to be sure your rototiller continues to work hard season after season. Follow this basic breakdown of maintenance tasks to ensure the highest operation and longevity for your Troy Bilt garden tiller. 

Before Each Use

1. Check the motor oil level
2. Clean the engine 

After a 2 Hour Break In

1. Check the tension on your drive belt
2. Check nuts and bolts for tightness
3. Change the motor oil
4. Check the transission gear oil

Every 5 Hours of Use

1. Check the level on your motor oil

Every 10 Hours of Use

1. Check the tension on your drive belt
2. Check nuts and bolts for tightness
3. Change the motor oil
4. Lubricate the tiller

Every 30 Hours of Use

1. Check the transmission gear oil
2. Check tines for wear
3. Check air pressure for the tires

*For frequency, refer to your engine manual

1. Clean your engine
2. Service the air filter
3. Service the spark plugs

Your Kohler engine keeps your outdoor equipment running, but how does your engine keep itself running? Your Kohler engine works based on the basic gasoline engine theory, called "internal combustion." This process can be broken down into 4 parts: 

1. Intake Stroke
2. Compression Stroke
3. Power Stroke
4. Exhaust Stroke

Intake Stroke

While the exhaust valve is closed, the intake valve opens. The piston creates a vacuum by moving down the cylinder. The vacuum causes tiny amounts of air and fuel to be drawn into the combustion chamber. 

Compression Stroke

When the piston reaches the bottom of the stroke, the engine's intake valve will close. The piston will then move back up the cylinder in order to compress the air and fuel into a highly volatile mixture. 

Power Stroke

The ignition system must fire the spark plug before the piston reaches the top of the stroke. The compressed mixture burns and releases rapidly-expanding gases that force the piston downwards. 

Exhaust Stroke

The exhaust valve will open at the end of the power stroke. The piston moves up to push the spent exhaust gases out of the cylinder. 

If you're more of a visual learner, watch this Full Cycle video from Kohler engines. 

Make sure to come back in two weeks for our next installment of how your Kohler engine runs. 

Do you hear those robins? Spring is just around the corner, which means it's time to think about what you want your garden to look like this year. Troy-Bilt's rugged line of garden tillers helps make sure your garden is in tip-top shape, and making sure your garden tiller is operated correctly helps extend the life of your outdoor equipment. 

1. When busting sod or tilling soil, avoid digging too deeply. Utilize your shallow depth regulator settings. For the first passes through your garden area, you only need to go an inch or two. For every additional pass, adjust the regulator for an additional inch or two more. 
2. To make tilling easier, water your garden a few days before tilling. This step also allows the newly worked soil to set before making a final, deep tilling pass. 
3. Never operate your tiller without good light or visibility. Don't put feet or hands near the rotating parts, and always be sure of your footing while keeping a firm hold on the handles. 
4. Avoid pushing down on the handlebars when trying to dig deeper. 
5. When tilling hard ground, use caution. Tines may catch which will propel the tiller forward. If this happens, let go of the handlebars and don't restrain the machine. 
6. When operating on or crossing over gravel surfaces, use extreme caution. 
7. When operating in reverse or pulling the tiller towards you, be sure to look down and behind you. 
8. If you strike a foreign object, stop the engine. Disconnect the spark plug ignition wire and ground it against the engine. Inspect the machine and repair any damages before restarting and operating. 
9. Only use attachments and accessories approved by the manufacturer, Troy-Bilt.