Do you ever feel, Lawn mowing is a tedious job? And if the engine of your lawn mowing machine keeps cutting off because of its outdated spark plug, it becomes more disturbing. In such a case, changing the spark plug should be the to-do thing. Now questions may arise regarding– What Spark Plug To Use For Lawn Mower?
Well, worry not because we have got you covered. This piece of writing will guide you – on how to choose the right spark plugs and will address a few other queries relating to choosing lawn mower spark plugs.
Identifying- Symptoms of Bad Spark Plugs
Several causes or symptoms may appear when your spark plugs not working properly. And you can easily identify it.
Let’s know about some mostly faced symptoms so that you know whether or not the problem is with your spark plugs.
- Difficulty With Starting The Engines
- Engine Performing Poorly
- Excessive Fuel Consumption
- Error In The Physical Appearance
1. Difficulty With Starting The Engines
This is the most commonly occurring problem when the spark plug is bad. The land mower gets harder than normal to start.
If it’s a push mower, then it will require more pulls than necessary, and if it’s a lawn tractor, then turning the key once won’t start the engine. This happens when the sparks created by the plug are too weak to ignite the fuel.
2. Engine Performing Poorly
Even after you have managed to start the engine, it will cut off after a while. You will have to crank the engine again, which will be more difficult now because of the heat produced.
The expansion caused by heat, in the gap between the plug’s center and firing electrodes, will weaken the ignition.
3. Excessive Fuel Consumption
On top of those, if your mower engine starts consuming fuel more than normal, then be sure of what to blame. Plug creating weak sparks messes up the fuel burn and increases the consumption. If you notice that the engine is out of fuel more frequently than necessary, your poor plug might be the culprit.
4. Error In The Physical Appearance
Detach your spark plug and perform a check to see if it has Flathead Engine Spark Plugs & Gaps. The center electrode of the plug should have its top flat. If you find that to be round, then you might need replacement it. Furthermore, any kind of damage to the body will require a replacement spark plug.
Lawn Mower Spark Plug Chart?
This is easier than you think. But one thing you need to remember is that spark plugs for lawn mowers comes different sizes.
The key differences are that the size and length of the thread of sparks plugs are greater in an automobile than in a lawnmower. So, make sure you don’t confuse between the types.
How to change lawn mower spark plug?
If your lawn mower is having trouble starting, it might be time to change the spark plug. This is a relatively easy task that you can do at home with a few tools. Here’s how you change a lawn mower spark plug:
- Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug. Use a socket wrench to loosen the nut that holds the wire in place.
- Remove the old spark plug using a spark plug wrench or socket wrench. Be careful not to drop it on the ground as this could damage the electrode.
- Inspect the old spark plug and look for any signs of wear or damage such as cracks, holes, or burnt areas. If there is any damage, replace it with a new one of matching size and type.
- Carefully insert the new spark plug into the socket, making sure not to cross-thread it.
- Tighten the spark plug using a wrench or socket until it is snug but not overly tight.
- Reconnect the spark plug wire and tighten the nut holding it in place.
- Start the lawn mower and check for proper operation.
With these easy tricks you can also check or change your other vehicle plugs too. Like, cars, trillers, pressure washers, etc.
Pro Tips:
How to Check Performance and Fix – Spark Plug Not Firing Issue
You might sometimes want to check the ignition spark of your plug to see if it’s going well. There are spark plug testers that you can use.
Disconnect the ignition coil, and connect the tester in between the coil and the plug. Now, rest it aside and crank your engine.
Check if your plug is sparking or not. If your plug is flashing with a small light, it is sparking. And if there is no fire at all, then your plug is not sparking. You can also check it by using a screwdriver on the ignition coil.
Checking spark fire in clear view. Let’s watch a video-How it looks like?
How Often to Change Lawn Mower Spark Plugs?
It depends on your usage to decide how often you should replace the mowers spark plug. It’s recommended to change once a year at least. Anyway, you can keep your plug for two straight years, if the rate of your usage is not so high. As long as it functions well, you can keep it.
Spark Plug Type and Lawn Mower Spark Plug Gap Chart
You know! 8 mm to 14 mm plugs sizes are available in the market. But 10 mm to 12 mm sizes are the most commonly used spark plugs. Even it can be over 14 mm+ for exceptional mower engines.
Anyway, to understand a clear mindset on mower plug sizes and gaps you may keep eye on this image below. It will help you more.
How to Clean a Spark Plugs?
After long use, you will locate dark soot over the plug made from carbon. It is better off to clean that up.
The recommended way of cleaning plugs is a wire brush to rub over them and use plug cleaner spray, which is specifically made for cleaning the ignition area.
However, keep in mind that you should never use shot blasters or abrasives to clean the plugs, ever!
Lawn Mowers Spark Plug lifespan Time– How Long it Goes?
A regular lawn mower sparks plug can serve you up to two years, though it depends on usage. You should clean the plug regularly to have it last longer.
Sometimes the engine may not work properly because of the oil-smeared over the plug. In this case, you don’t have to switch the plugs at all. Just clean it and reattach it, your engine will work fine!
How to tell if a mower spark plug is bad?
There are a few ways to tell if a spark plug is bad. One way is to look at the end of the spark plug. If the end is black or damaged, it may be time to replace the plug.
Another way to tell if a spark plug is bad is by looking at the color of the wire attached to it. If the wire is white, it means that there is no longer a good connection between the electrode and ground, and this can cause misfires.
Finally, you can try starting your lawn mower with a new spark plugs in place of your old one’s just to see how they perform side-by-side!
How to test a spark plug on a lawn mower
Easy Method:
Remove the spark plug from the engine. If it’s dirty, wipe it off with a rag. Then, use a Spark Plug Tester tool to test for continuity between the center electrode and ground electrode.
You can put the spark plug back in the engine if there is continuity. If resistance readings are too high or there is no continuity, the spark plug needs to be replaced.
Complex Method:
To test for a weak spark, remove the spark plug from the engine and hold it close to the ground. Then, pull the starter cord and watch for a spark between the electrodes. If you see a strong, blue spark, then the spark plug is good. If you see a weak or yellowish-orange spark, then the plug needs to be replaced.
How to gap a lawn mower spark plug?
If your lawn mower is giving you trouble starting up, it might be time to gap the spark plug. This simple process can be done in just a few minutes and could save you a lot of headaches down the road. Here’s how to do it:
- Make sure that your spark plug is the right size for your lawn mower. You can find this information in your owner’s manual or by asking at a local hardware store.
- Next, use a feeler gauge to measure the gap between the electrodes on the spark plug. The ideal gap is usually between 0.02 and 0.03 inches (0.5-0.8 mm). If the gap is too large or too small, it can cause problems with starting or engine performance.
- To adjust the gap, gently bend one of the electrodes until it reaches the desired width. Be careful not to damage or break off any of the electrode material as this could cause serious engine damage.
- Once the gap is set, re-install the spark plug in the engine and you should be good to go!
Where is the spark plug on a lawn mower?
The location of the spark plug on a lawn mower can vary depending on the model. However, it is typically located near the front of the engine, close to where the ignition coil is located.
How long does a lawn mower spark plug last?
A lawn mower spark plug typically lasts around 100 hours. However, this can vary depending on the brand of spark plug and the model of lawn mower.
What size spark plug does a craftsman lawn mower take?
A Craftsman lawn mower typically uses a spark plug with a 14 mm thread size.
Final Words
Now you know how easily you perform maintenance on your lawnmower if the problem comes from the spark plug. Also, now you have a clear idea of how long maintenance time should need to change the spark plug at home or garage.
That’s all about lawn mower spark plug choosing and replacing guides. Hope you’ll enjoy our complete guides.
