We bought a brand-new lawnmower with a Honda engine from Costco last week. Everything worked just fine the first time I used it, but now, after sitting idle for a week, I can't pull the starter cord. There's a little slack before it stops moving, almost like the engine is seized. It's got oil, it's got gas (not that it matters since it won't even turn over), I followed all directions yada yada yada.
So, before I return it, is there something stupid I've forgotten to do?
Thanks

I hate to start with assume but,

I assume you are holding the bail back, because that is the band around the flywheel used to stop the mower. Now is there any resistance when you pull the bail back? Could that linkage have come loose

quote:

Originally posted by sj4550:
I hate to start with assume but,

I assume you are holding the bail back, because that is the band around the flywheel used to stop the mower. Now is there any resistance when you pull the bail back? Could that linkage have come loose

Yeah - I'm holding it back while trying to start it. I'll check the linkage tonight.

Can you rotate the blade by hand?

I was going to offer assitance about the kill switch/handle or the kill switch mechanism on the throttle. But, it sounds like you've got a stuck motor. Like mentioned, can you rotate the blade manually?

To check to see if the engine is seized -

Pull the sparkplug wire off the spark plug. Hold the “bail”/ safety handle and reach under the deck to see if you can move the blade, even a little bit.

If you can move it, and it’s relatively easy, the engine isn’t seized. The problem may be with the pull cord mechanism.

If it won’t move it at all, the engine is seized. Major internal problems.

Either way, it’s too new to have such problems. Have your wife return it. They won’t hassle her about it, as it would be a losing battle. Get a new one or a replacement.

Just follow the basic "suck, squeeze, bang, blow" checklist...

1) Is the air cleaner or intake clogged and is it getting gas? (is the gas good)

2) Does it have compression?

3) Does it have spark?

I had a Honda generator that was notorious for jets clogging when gas went south and the only way to fixe it was a complete carb clean

pull wire off the plug and remove the plug from the engine to see if it rotates,

Its difficult to rotate an engine by hand with the plug in, too much compression, with it out the engine should move freely, My guess would be bad safety switch, unplugged switch, stuck pull cord mechanism..

Did you put oil in the engine before running it?

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Did you put oil in the engine before running it?

"You mean... you gotta put oil in it?"

Grass or stick causing stuck blade?

Was oil filled or checked before first use??

quote:

Originally posted by kramden:
Was oil filled or checked before first use??

I added the supplied bottle of oil prior to using it the first time. It smoked pretty heavily for the first 5 minutes or so, then the smoke stopped. I checked, and it still has the right amount of oil.

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
Can you rotate the blade by hand?

Make sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before trying this.

Check the recoil start mechanism itself. Sometimes the pull cord gets tangled up, or the ratchet mechanism gets dislodged. It should be too hard to inspect once you pull over the shroud.

quote:

Either way, it’s too new to have such problems. Have your wife return it. They won’t hassle her about it, as it would be a losing battle. Get a new one or a replacement.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This. I am glad somebody mentioned disconnecting the spark plug wire first.

Sounds like the brake is on.

Step 1 . . .Load it in your vehicle.
Step 2. . . Return it to COSTCO
Step 3. . . Take a new one home.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You missed one Step 4. Have your WIFE return it. Cuts out the stupid questions from the return desk.

Link to original video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u-axxCnGjIw