Start Your Lawn Mower in One Pull
April 21, 2010 at 12:01 am Chad Upton 5 comments
If your mower is hard to start or runs rough, this secret is for you.
I get a lot of these secrets from my dad and he gave me this one last spring. My mower ran a little rough and it took a couple hard pulls to get it going. Within a few starts after this secret, it was starting with one easy pull.
The secret is pretty simple: use premium gasoline!
I know what you’re thinking, “I’m not made of money!” But, this is a very affordable experiment to try. In your car, it costs significantly more to use premium fuel, so you’re probably not going to use it unless you have a high performance car that requires it. But, the fuel your lawn mower burns might only cost a few extra dollars per year for premium.
The benefits to your mower are as easy as 1, 2, 3:
- Starts easier
- Runs smoother
- Lasts longer
The proof is in the pull. Now that it starts easily and runs smoothly, I know it’s going to last longer and that’s worth a few more dollars per year.
The same applies to your car. If your car engine runs rough, you should give mid-grade or premium fuel a try. Your engine may sound noticeably better, idle smoother and start much easier too. If not, then it’s a waste of money.
In fact, the FTC says that premium fuel is a waste of money unless your car requires it or runs rough without it. If neither your mower nor car engine improve with premium fuel, then stop using it.
Broken Secrets
Written By: Chad Upton
Photo: yewenyi (cc)
Sources: Louisiana.gov, FTC
Entry filed under: Around The House, Automotive. Tags: fuel, gas, gasoline, knock, lawn, mower, octane, petrol, ping, pull, smooth, start.
Broken Secrets 
1.
Robert the Skeptic | May 7, 2010 at 1:22 pm
I saw this article previously, so when I picked up my lawn mower from the small engine repair guy this week I asked him about the premium gasoline thing. Sure enough, the professional confirmed it; your mower will run better and last longer running premium. Thanks for the tip.
2.
Bernie | May 25, 2010 at 7:32 am
now here’s a trick not alot of people know..
If you want to start your lawn mower on the first pull,
stand directly on the back tires, of the mower, and pull the chord straight towards your chest.
It will start the first time, EVERY time
3.
seriously? | May 18, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Is this a trick?
4.
Carol | October 1, 2013 at 3:19 am
If you stand on the back tires, you can’t pull the rope back far enough to start it. Plus you’ll probably fall flat on your ass trying it.
5.
Pamela Grover | April 12, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Didn’t work for me Bernie…but yeah, I got better mileage on my car using premium. I imagine it would do well in my mower!