Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up
and down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does
the same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol,
new cap with hole made bigger and so on.


Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet

"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up and
down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does the
same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.

Sounds like you need a new mower man!
I agree if it splutters a lot before dying that it is probably fuel related
but not necessarily starvation, but need to know a little more.

What make is the engine?
What is the fuel tank like? Is it rusty metal or a plastic one?
Does it have a pipe between the tank and carburettor or is the tank mounted
directly on top of the carburettor?
What about the cold starting provision, does it have a separately controlled
choke, choke combined with the throttle or no choke control at all?

Or does it die suddenly? if so it could be the electrical cut off at fault.

Mike

In article , MuddyMike
writes
Sounds like you need a new mower man!
I agree if it splutters a lot before dying that it is probably fuel related
but not necessarily starvation, but need to know a little more.

What make is the engine?
What is the fuel tank like? Is it rusty metal or a plastic one?
Does it have a pipe between the tank and carburettor or is the tank mounted
directly on top of the carburettor?
What about the cold starting provision, does it have a separately controlled
choke, choke combined with the throttle or no choke control at all?

Or does it die suddenly? if so it could be the electrical cut off at fault.


It's Hayter Harrier 48 about 10 years old but no idea of make of
engine Mike!
Tank is a metal one
er, think tank is mounted on top of carburettor
It has one control, all the way forward for choke starts then lever back
for speed of engine.

It doesn't die suddenly it sort of splutters to halt

Nearest one on web is
http://www.hayter.co.uk/products/hom...er/harrier-48-
autodrive-VS/
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk

"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
In article , MuddyMike
writes
Sounds like you need a new mower man!
I agree if it splutters a lot before dying that it is probably fuel
related
but not necessarily starvation, but need to know a little more.

What make is the engine?
What is the fuel tank like? Is it rusty metal or a plastic one?
Does it have a pipe between the tank and carburettor or is the tank
mounted
directly on top of the carburettor?
What about the cold starting provision, does it have a separately
controlled
choke, choke combined with the throttle or no choke control at all?

Or does it die suddenly? if so it could be the electrical cut off at
fault.


It's Hayter Harrier 48 about 10 years old but no idea of make of engine
Mike!
Tank is a metal one
er, think tank is mounted on top of carburettor
It has one control, all the way forward for choke starts then lever back
for speed of engine.

It doesn't die suddenly it sort of splutters to halt

Ok, so almost certainly fuel problems but still not sure whether its
starvation or over fuelling.

You could try restarting immediately after it dies then remove the spark
plug . If its wet then it's certainly over fuelling which can be caused by
the choke staying on, or the air filter being blocked.

Air filter is easy, clean it out. Or test the machine by running it without
the filter element in place. Only try this in damp conditions when there is
little dust flying around.

Choke a little more difficult. Some have a choke that is applied manually by
pushing the throttle lever fully forward, others have one that is spring
loaded and comes off automatically when the engine reaches full speed.

When you check the air filter look down into the carburettor. Do you see a
plastic butterfly flap with a hole that the screw holding the filter on
passes through? If so does this plastic butterfly spring back to fully
closed when you move it with your finger? This is the choke device and it
works by blocking the airflow when starting so as to make the engine suck in
more fuel. Once running the suction of the engine holds it out of the way.
Check it moves easily and fully opens, it should spring back to fully closed
when you let go. If not its sticking and needs freeing up.

If its a manual choke activated by full throttle opening, it may be that the
cable is badly adjusted and activating the choke too soon/releasing it too
late. Try running the machine at half throttle if it keeps going then your
cable needs adjusting so that the choke is closed at full running speed.

If the plug is dry then it is likely to be fuel starvation. This could be
caused by blockage in the float valve, possibly by rust particles from
inside the tank. Or failure of the diaphragm inside the carburettor.

This is now somewhat more technical as it requires a stripdown of the
carburettor to check for dirt in the float valve and replacement of the
diaphragm. Which brings me back to my first observation, get a new mower man
if you are not confident of delving in there yourself..

I have a Hayter 56, the slightly bigger brother to yours and in the18 years
I have owned it, other than new blades, it has needed two replacement
diaphragms and one replacement drive belt. they are good machines but do
need basic servicing.

Mike

In article , MuddyMike
writes

lots of really useful information and ..................

I have a Hayter 56, the slightly bigger brother to yours and in the18 years
I have owned it, other than new blades, it has needed two replacement
diaphragms and one replacement drive belt. they are good machines but do
need basic servicing.

Mike


Well I have had the machine serviced at two very good mower companies
before now but they took so long that i take it to a general mower man
nearby instead .

Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and book it in to Bryants or Browns
then ...

Need to print your instructions out in large letters and try and follow
them if I can! Thanks Mike much appreciated

On Sep 30, 9:46*pm, Janet Tweedy wrote:
In article , MuddyMike
writes

lots of really useful information and ..................

I have a Hayter 56, the slightly bigger brother to yours and in the18 years
I have owned it, other than new blades, it has needed two replacement
diaphragms and one replacement drive belt. they are good machines but do
need basic servicing.

Mike

Well I have had the machine serviced at two very good mower companies
before now but they took so long that i take it to a general mower man
nearby instead .

Guess I'll have to bite the bullet and book it in to Bryants or Browns
then ...

Need to print your instructions out in large letters and try and follow
them if I can! Thanks Mike much appreciated

You might find it a whole lot easier, and far less costly to remove
the spark plug when the mower stops, and see whether its sparking
properly or not, as I suggested in an earlier post. Posters on here
seem blissfully unaware of the fact an engine needs 3 things before it
will run: 1) Air 2) Fuel 3) Spark.................you seem to have had
someone investigate the first 2 things at some length, so taking a
good look at the third possibility might be worth a try before
squandering so much money, it would have been cheaper to have bought a
new mower.

In message , Janet Tweedy
writes
Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up
and down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does
the same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol,
new cap with hole made bigger and so on.


Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet


Has he cleaned the air filter?
Check state of spark plug when it stops.
It may be getting too little or too much petrol.

--
hugh

In article , hugh
] writes
Has he cleaned the air filter?

Yes put new one in


Check state of spark plug when it stops.
It may be getting too little or too much petrol.


Will do. Does sometimes stink of petrol when try and restart it after it
stops.

"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
In article , hugh ]
writes
Has he cleaned the air filter?

Yes put new one in


Check state of spark plug when it stops.
It may be getting too little or too much petrol.


Will do. Does sometimes stink of petrol when try and restart it after it
stops.

Janet, you had a lot of information, probably information overload, all from
mostly well intentioned poster - bar one Bart!.

The symptom you've just mentioned may well lead an engineer to quickly
discover the solution to your problem. I'm not going to suggest a reason or
cure as you have had enough already and more would only serve to confuse.

Good luck and I think you'll be up and running again soon.

Bill

In article , Bill Grey
writes
Janet, you had a lot of information, probably information overload, all from
mostly well intentioned poster - bar one Bart!.

The symptom you've just mentioned may well lead an engineer to quickly
discover the solution to your problem. I'm not going to suggest a reason or
cure as you have had enough already and more would only serve to confuse.

Good luck and I think you'll be up and running again soon.

Bill


Yes printed out all help and advice and took it back to lawnmower man,
since then got mower back and though it sounds a bit rough it s actually
doing the lawn!!
Managed to cut lawn with thanks to everyone who helped

Janet
--
Janet Tweedy

On Sep 29, 11:51*am, Janet Tweedy wrote:
Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up
and down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does
the same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol,
new cap with hole made bigger and so on.

Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet

Hayters aren't bad mowers so it looks as if a new mower man is needed
as Mike as already suggested.

Rod

"Janet Tweedy" wrote

Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year when
for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up and down
lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does the
same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him, but
it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol, new
cap with hole made bigger and so on.


Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet, is the choke stuck on or partly on? Does it need adjusting so the
cable is slack when in/off?
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up and
down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does the
same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol, new
cap with hole made bigger and so on.


Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet

Don't know the engine..............could be a sticking float??
Pete C

In message , Pete C
writes

"Janet Tweedy" wrote in message
...
Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up and
down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does the
same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol, new
cap with hole made bigger and so on.


Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet

Don't know the engine..............could be a sticking float??
Pete C


Or punctured float.
--
hugh

On Sep 29, 11:51*am, Janet Tweedy wrote:
Not sure if anyone has any suggestions to solve current plight with
lawnmower but I'd be glad of any ideas.

Have a nice Hayter 48 with rear roller etc., Trouble started last year
when for no reason the mower kept stopping after I'd done two lines up
and down lawn, about 100 foot each.
Took it to mower man, he diagnosed fuel blockage perhaps or new cap for
petrol. Got both just in case, came home and it went about a month then
spluttered to a halt after two stripes once more.
It starts again if i leave it for about 15 minutes but only ever does
the same amount before it sounds like it is running out of petrol.
The mower man bless him hasn't charged for subsequent trips to see him,
but it's now been there 5 times and been almost rebuilt!.
I make sure i don't strain it, it makes no difference if i try to cut a
little or a lot, it peters out after same time.
Petrol can replaced, fuel thing emptied and filled with clean petrol,
new cap with hole made bigger and so on.

Driving me up the wall as it means the grass takes about 2 days to cut
overall, so suggestions welcome.

Janet

A neon lamp and a glass spark plug could tell you a fair bit. The neon
goes in series with the HT lead, so you can see if the problems
electrical or fuel. The glass plug shows the flame colour as th engine
dies, so you can tell if its getting too rich, too lean, or just
cutting out completely in one cycle.


NT