my sears gas pushmower (Model #917-387221) is about 5 years old and each year I've taken it to their service center for starting problems. Before I give them some more money...here's the problem. I have added fresh fuel, checked the plug for corrosion --it gets fuel 'cause it is damp. I removed the plug, attached it to the lead wire again and positioned it so I could watch for spark. There was no spark at the plug gap. Any suggestions?

-- Mel Waters (waters.melvin@mcleodusa.net), April 28, 2003

Answers

Mel! The most probably cause is rust on the magnets of the flywheel. The electronic ignition used now-a-days are not as forgiving as the old breakerpoint systems. Try shining up the magnets on the flywheel and see if you get a spark. If not--you're probably gonna have to take it to a repairman. I doubt if Id' take it back to Sears tho. Just too expensive!! oldhoot. Matt. 24:44

-- old hoot (oldhoot@shawneelink.net), April 28, 2003.

Id agree with Hoot,,, sounds like the magnets. Find a small engine repairman, even a backyard one, they may even have another mower, used but working well in case your IS shot.

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 30, 2003.

Mine does the "I don't wanna stay running" thing. Prime and start.....prime and start....prime and start.....finally it will stay running. I have a choke problem, but it's the landlords mower so I'm not gonna drop money into any repairs. When the grass is a foot tall, maybe he'll fix it.

-- Pat in Wis. (drums@yahooka.com), May 04, 2003.

My heartfelt thanks to the several suggestions.  The one I attempted tonight--and it worked--was to give the air cleaner a "snort" of starting fluid-which I remember from the early days of aerosol cans.  The engine started at first pull--and with some diligent pumping of the "prime" button it did a fine job this evening.   Many thanks for the prompt response--and for saving hair pulling for the little I have left.   I am a photographer by trade--and am just getting into digital-- please stand by for futher handholding.  Semper Fi

-- Mel Waters (waters.melvin@mcleodusa.net), May 06, 2003.

try adding some gas with a 1:10 ratio of high octane fuel and some vegtable oil..trust me it works greeeaatt on mine

-- nick mclean (nickchap@hotmail.com), August 18, 2003.

hey dumbass! I just threw it off my 6th storey building and it started up fine!

-- mr holland (mr_hollands_opus@music.com), August 18, 2003.

I have a Honda Harmony 215, it worked well for a couple of years now, today, I just add new gas and engine oil, it worked for 10 minutes, suddenly I saw smoke came out from the front part, I was panic, immediately stopped, now what should I do ? Please advise. Thanks.

-- Margaret Chen (jiajia8866@aol.com), August 14, 2004.