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How to fix a pull cord stuck after tipping mower

less than a minute readApr 18Lyle Weischwill

Tipped your mower and now the pull cord won’t budge? You’re likely dealing with a hydrolocked engine. This quick how-to video shows how to fix a lawn mower pull cord stuck after tipping, so you can get back to mowing in just a few minutes.

Need help with other issues? Visit our DIY walk-behind mower repair page for troubleshooting tips, repair guides, and maintenance advice. Once you’ve diagnosed the issue, we’ll help you find the right lawn mower parts for your repair.

If you can't pull the starter rope on your walk-behind mower after tipping it over for maintenance or cleaning, the engine could be hydrolocked. Hydrolocking happens when if you tip the mower the wrong way and oil flows into the engine cylinder, keeping the piston from moving.

Don't worry—we can help you fix the problem without a visit to the repair shop.

Follow these simple steps to get the mower going again.

How to fix a stuck lawn mower starter cord

  1. Remove the spark plug and move the spark plug wire out of the way.

  2. Pull the starter rope several times to clear oil out of the cylinder. You'll see oil spray out of the spark plug hole.

  3. Wipe off the oil and reinstall the spark plug. Then connect the spark plug wire.

  4. Pull the starter rope to start the engine.

A lot of white smoke will come out of the muffler as the engine sputters to life, because the engine is burning off the oil inside the cylinder.

Once the engine burns off the oil, the mower should run smoothly.

To avoid hydrolocking the engine in the future, follow the owner's manual instructions for tilting your mower. With most push mowers, you can tip the mower backward or on its side with the air filter facing upward.

We hope this video helps you out today. Find more DIY tips in the repair help section of our website at SearsPartsDirect.com or on the Sears PartsDirect YouTube channel.