Why Does My Mower Backfiring?

Is the little engine on your mower, snow blower or outdoor power equipment making loud noises? This FAQ from Briggs & Stratton will assist you determine the issue and discover options.

What Causes Mower Backfiring?

Backfire is a condition referred to as a loud bang, poof, explosion, etc., while the engine is running or while shutting down. Afterfire takes place after the engine has actually been shut off.

Note: Backfire and afterfire through the carburetor will not damage the engine at all!

Find out the most typical causes and possible fixes for engine backfire and afterfire.

Mowers are crafted to deal with particular blends of gas, using the wrong mix can unbalance the system. To mower backfiring, simply alter your blend– look for a no-alcohol blend, or a minimum of a lower alcohol mix if a no-alcohol blend is not offered.

Why Does My Mower Backfiring

Why Does You Mower Backfiring after Run

A backfire is frequently triggered during fast deceleration, as the engine attempts to bring its timing in line with the lowered throttle. This can frequently result in an excess of air in the mix, creating a lean blend. The lean mix is then pushed into the exhaust system due to incomplete combustion due to the fact that of the mistiming, where it spontaneously combusts with the popping sound that is heard. This sounds like a prolonged process, but in fact takes place in a flash due to the accuracy timing of mower’s engine.

Walking behind a lawnmower while it’s backfiring could make you feel like you’re a character in a funny film if it weren’t so frustrating. According to Briggs & Stratton, a leading maker of lawnmower engines, muffler backfires won’t harm your lawnmower, but some backfires originate inside the engine and aren’t as benign. Neither type will win you any points with the next-door neighbors. Comprehending how lawnmowers work can help you to comprehend how backfiring occurs.

1. Combustion Chamber Backfires

The majority of lawnmowers have a four-stroke engine. In such engines, a mixture of gas and air get in the combustion chamber on the intake stroke and are sparked by the trigger plug on the compression stroke. The explosion owns the piston on the power stroke, and the engine expels exhaust on the exhaust stroke. Backfiring can happen if combustion occurs during any other than the compression stroke. The cause may be sticking valves or the wrong fuel mixture, and it might affect the performance of the engine. It isn’t as common as muffler backfires, which occur for a different reason.

2. Pops and Crackles

If you hear a loud surge or popping sounds when you lower the speed of the engine or simply after you shut it off, the muffler is backfiring. It’s occurring due to the fact that fuel is making its method into the muffler– which is hot– and firing up. It typically takes place because, as the engine is decreasing, some unburned fuel exits through the exhaust port. Muffle backfires can be particularly disturbing when they take place after you shut off the engine. The cause is typically a mix of engine and muffler getting too hot.

3. Watch the Gas

Because muffler backfires do not harm lawnmowers, lots of people just tolerated them. If you choose the purr of a well-tuned engine to the crackling noise of a backfiring one, nevertheless, examine the fuel you’re utilizing. Fuel that has a high concentration of ethanol burns hotter than pure gasoline and is among the primary causes of muffler backfires. It’s likewise suggested to throttle-down more carefully. If your lawn mower backfires after you shut it off, it’s because the engine and muffler are too hot. Letting the engine idle for 15 to 30 seconds before shutting it off provides it a possibility to cool off.

4. Maintenancing

Combustion chamber backfires are generally more noticeable than muffler backfires, and detecting and correcting them takes a bit more effort. They can occur due to the fact that the spark plug is misfiring. If cleaning or replacing the plug does not remedy the problem, the carburetor mixture may be too lean– too much air in the mix makes it more unpredictable. That may be due to the fact that you accidentally left the choke on, however if it isn’t, attempt adjusting the carburetor mixture, following instructions in your owner’s handbook. If absolutely nothing works, the best strategy is to take the lawnmower in for service. The valve seals could be used or the carburetor in requirement of replacement.