Fixing A Toro Mower That Won't Start

[@gillgetter3004]

That’s why I watch your vids, no problem asking someone else!!!!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks!

[@stevepelino5986]

Truthfully until I started watching your videos as well as a few others I’m not sure what I’d do. With that said I’d definitely fix it myself now. Thank you for sharing this video. It’s always the little things that add up

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I appreciate that and there's no wrong answer to this one.

[@daniellevesque9732]

I would also do the whole job myself , and if I do run into a problem i would definitely check out some of your videos to try to find a solution. Thanks 👍🏻

[@christophermarshall5765]

I'd probably go through it on my own. Just for the other viewers/subscribers, the "vortex" system is not new. Victa here in Australia made Vortex mowers in the early-late 80's. These had a "power torque" engine. The blade disc underneath had raised sections, like a fan blade, which lifted the grass to be cut. They had special blades too. The blade holding disc was oval shaped. Very weird set up. The engine was a 2 stroke job, with compression relief valve in the head. It was vacuum operated.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you for sharing that.

[@hickorystx]

Work on myself as I have no one to ask for help. Fortunately, I am very handy and most times it works out. Thanks again for your time and effort in all your projects. I have learned so much from you!!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

no problem, I appreciate you and the time you spend here

[@turtle522]

Thanks. Bought this model July 2024. Cleaning the vortex vent is a helpful idea. Friend has one from last year I'll share video.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

no problem

[@sidewinder860]

I come here for just that. Knowledge. Thanks!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

You're welcome!

[@gpecci2253]

Really appreciated how detailed you were in tackling this project. I picked up some good ideas on how to approach a mower restoration. Blessings!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jeffmac3071]

When I have the time and patience I go to youtube university for answers. Your video was very helpful.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I really do appreciate it and so does YT

[@Shawnee.Hills.Small.Engine]

Following a video for help is what KZbin is for. I haven't worked on a Toro Vortex model yet, so this video will be very helpful when one shows up. 👍

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know that was my first and it was quite interesting. I can get behind the theory, but on the practical side, I don't think it works that well.

[@brianandrews7099]

My first serious attempt at a mower repair was on a Snapper rear engine rider and, half way through my repairs, the result was very much like this mower! Before this repair attempt, I just did the typical consumer method of run my cheap push mowers until it wouldn’t start and I couldn’t figure out why and then replace it with a new one but since this was my first new riding mower, I was financially forced to do more than just replace it. Since I had no idea what I was doing, I just moved from one mechanical component to the next, desperately hoping to luck into the problem, and leaving one mess after another in the wake! Finally, after days of guessing with no results, I finally consulted the internet to learn how to properly check the systems of the mower. I had to backtrack and properly repair and adjust the mess I had made to each system that had previously had no issues. I spent a significant amount of money replacing parts I had screwed up and at least twice the time it would have taken to learn to troubleshoot the machine properly. In the end, I did restore it to good running condition with the problem being a broken flywheel key preventing it from starting. Looking back at it, the time and money spent fixing that machine turned out to be an educational investment that still cost me less than giving up and taking the mower into a repair shop. Since that time, I have used the knowledge I picked up to repair countless other broken machines and to even purchase several broken riding machines to make into one good mower; a replacement riding mower for that Snapper when it came time to move up to a larger machine and literally saving myself several thousand dollars over purchasing a new machine as well as allowing me to have a much higher quality machine than I could have purchased new, since new machines are just not as well built as the 20 years old machine I rebuilt. I don’t fault the seller of this machine for attempting to repair it but it’s too bad they gave up and sold the machine instead of learning how to diagnose and repair it properly. That said, I can understand that taking on mechanical challenges does not interest everyone and some see their free time and money being better spent elsewhere. However, given the current inflated prices of goods and services plus the fact that I would rather invest my money in other things I want or need rather than replacing something I already have, I will generally try to fix something rather than replace it whenever I possibly can.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

wow, you said a mouthful and it completely agree with you! They did try, but it seems they weren't meant to work on machines and at least knew when it was time to pass it on.

[@jesterr7133]

I taught myself to work on small engines. At first, I would just take pictures, and then tear into it. When I ran into complicated stuff, I would try to find a video on it. Now I constantly watch videos about anything I haven't done before, so I can learn how to do it properly. I stick to channels done by professionals or people that have training and know what they are doing when I am trying to learn. I always double check anything i don't already know when I am working on something that doesn't belong to me.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's great advice, I wish I had the time to watch them, but work schedule is very tight nowadays

[@jameshedrick605]

If it had a problem like that I'd still buy it. Repairing mowers is one of my favorite hobbies along with working on ATVS that i'm getting better at now that i have one that needs some work done on but still does what i need it to

[@HomeGaragechannel]

good choice!

[@mikon3270]

I learned so much from this channel. Thankyou for what you do. It helps me stay on top with my 15yr toro and fixing mowers to sell. In my area mowers get picked up quick not many fix them up like us but instead they scrap them.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a shame to hear they get scrapped but to each their own

[@999thenewman]

This mower is mint. Looking forward to the next video on this.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks, and there is one huge issue with this mower, and it's a tough one to fix.

[@phildelgiudice3448]

I try to do the basics myself. Luckily I’ve not made this many mistakes in mine YET! Fun vid. Thx.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeffcox2446]

Great videos you make some people have good intentions but sometimes best to take to a repair shop

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you and also Very true

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I check stuff no matter what the owner says and I always went in my own order. If I checked something and it worked I went on to the next thing unless I needed to dig deeper. The last mowing was 71% left. A heavy cut and the power company is happy. Happy weekend

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that mower is still doing great, Do you leave it at partial charge until the next use or do you charge it back up to 100?

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@HomeGaragechannel It just takes a couple of hours to get too 100 so we do it every time. We unplug it when it gets there. They said it don't hurt but we hear these tales about charging so we take it loose.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you for the information

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@HomeGaragechannel Sure thing!

[@pit4955]

Bet ya that somewhere on that mower it says “no oil change required” with that said most owners won’t even check if it needs oil. Actually I own the same mower and love the plastic carb just a simple cleaning and it’s good to go I do bore out that microscopic main jet to .020. and of cause I do all the maintenance. Manufactures are simply making them throw aways and we’ll keep on dumpster diving 😂. Thx for sharing

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you are correct, in a lot of ways, having a plastic carb is nice!

[@TheOnlyRealBoom]

Hello!, I have a homelite lawnmower but the thing is that I lost the filter cover for it and can't find it again, could you find a website where they sell filter covers for homelite lawnmowers?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

sure, try using Ereplacementparts dot com. Enter your model number from the sticker on the mowing deck and you should find several listing come up. Pick the one that applies to your mower.

[@doug2700]

You do a good job making videos

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thanks, I try my best.

[@kencurtis228]

TY for Sharing.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

no problem

[@orlandodizo5097]

very good

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you

[@MixingGBP]

Very helpful video. Looks like a newbie was tinkering on it to learn how to work on mowers or address a fix that was actually easier than they thought? I never had a toro with vortex, but it seems gimmicky to me.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes, it like the idea, of the extra air, but gimmick is the word that comes to mind too. As far as the newbie, possibly as I wouldn't want to guess their level of skill by looking at them.

[@BigCarris_53_64]

I would work on it on my own. I enjoy working on items by myself a lot of the time, but I do need your help, Home Garage. My weedeater pull rope won’t retract. This happened weeks ago. It does run really well, and I put trufuel in it. How I do get my pull rope to retract back together? Thanks!

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you'll have to take it apart so you can get down to the pull rope pulley and the spring. There's a slim chance that the pulley is jammed or the spring is broken

[@BigCarris_53_64]

@@HomeGaragechannel I will absolutely do that! Thank you Home Garage! You’re a REAL ONE 💯.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

anytime

[@BigCarris_53_64]

@@HomeGaragechannel 💯

[@BigCarris_53_64]

@@HomeGaragechannel Hey Home Garage, it’s me again! What actual tools do I need to disassemble my craftsman weedeater, so I can get it back to proper operation again? Thank you, Jack!

[@liljoeii6091]

That is a shame that it's got that many problems thank you for the video

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, but sometimes these things aren't easy to fix

[@Mechjoc]

Had a Toro Personal pace. That poor thing got used and abused. I finally got rid of it a couple years ago, but even with my lack of care? It'd fire up within a pull or two. Didn't even have to yank, it was just smooth.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

wow, that thing was a real champ then to keep running!

[@mvehmaa]

Well, why didnt you put the carb o-ring to its place?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

because that part comes when I work on the carb

[@josephponcik2641]

What are you using for soap?

[@motomaxsandiego]

Yes, the soap he uses seems to desolve dirt and leaves a shine. What soap and what ratio with water ?

[@seanwhitnah2471]

He uses SuperClean spray

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I’m using Super Heavy Duty Degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@snoopysrc]

I gotta sweet free ariens 17.5just needs a head gasket and it runs I am super excited

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice

[@robertmailhos8159]

Time is getting hard for everyone 😮😢

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, its sad

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@HomeGaragechannel yes it is 😔👎😭

[@Christian-l7p]

I would most likely do it by my self it's more fun and more challenging and u can congratulate ur self when u have done it.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

totally agree!

[@TheHobbyKid1]

what do you use as your de-greaser? I've tried dawn soap and water but as expected it didn't do anything.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I’m using Super Heavy Duty Degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@gearhead366]

I work on my own equipment, but I'll ask questions when I run into problems. I can generally fix them myself. I have a ZTR with an EFI engine. If it develops problems, it will likely be going to a dealer.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

wow, that's some mower you got there!

[@nisamvise1724]

hey do you ever plan on working on tractor mowers?

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I plan to, only if I can get them to the house

[@MarkMeadows90]

I would definitely work on it myself. But get guidance from watching videos on how to properly fix certain things with mowers in general.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

great answer

[@Fskhad]

What app do you use

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I use FB marketplace and Craigslist.

[@TheDronzDr]

Hey, can you tell me what solution you’re spraying on the mower to clean it? Thanks.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I’m using Super Heavy Duty Degreaser from Harbor Freight.

[@TheDronzDr]

@@HomeGaragechannel Think you very much

[@HomeGaragechannel]

no problem

[@TheDronzDr]

Just got some of it today. It work great. Thanks

[@garyhiggins4333]

If you're confident enough to fix your lawnmower, go for it. You have to start somewhere if not take it to local service shop 😊

[@HomeGaragechannel]

Great point!

[@mjg263]

Ugh, yet another Toro with a Briggs 725EX engine that has had the factory sticker destroyed almost certainly because of the owner trying to get the cover off the wrong way thanks to KZbin! There are some bad DIY videos circulating around (NOT from this channel) that incorrectly state the only way to get the cover off of a Toro with this engine is to punch holes in the factory sticker or rip it off completely and release the catch lever from the top. This, of course, is totally WRONG - you remove the two screws and pop the cover back to release the catch. I can’t tell you how many of these mowers have come in here with the factory engine label destroyed or missing because of KZbin videos with bad information on how to remove the cover. I bought about 5 of those stickers from my Toro dealer this summer to replace the ones I restore to sell, but soon we won’t be able to get them anymore. The videos that show people the wrong way to take the cover off will be around forever! (Again, NOT from this channel of course, always good info here!)

[@HomeGaragechannel]

thank you for the lesson, to be honest I've never had to deal with one since they all seem to be broken or missing when I get them. I'll have to try that next time.

[@jeffcox2446]

Took that screw out of the chainsaw I asked about idles just fine

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice! I wonder what the screw was interfering with?

[@ramadinsookhoo6141]

Hey bro what's up? I believe that the previous owner tried to repair this mower but somehow or the other it went horribly wrong since there was too many problems with their attempted repair bro.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I believe the same thing.

[@covishen]

For whatever reason I did not inherit the wrenching mechanical gene. I take it to someone else. I might make an exception to that rule though. My wife picked up 2 chainsaws that don't work for $10 at an auction.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

the same can be said for a lot of things, like cooking and carpentry so it makes sense

[@NickSpires09]

When running right they are great mowers why don’t lawn mower engines have spark arrestor screen

[@HomeGaragechannel]

because of the valves and the way the muffler is designed, the chances of flames coming out of the engine is rare

[@NickSpires09]

@@HomeGaragechannel thanks I just had that question your smart I thought I would ask you I work on my own stuff I learned from you explain stuff so well

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's good to know, and asking questions is how you learn, thats what I did.

[@LuckyKoiYT_Official]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@RussellBooth1977]

I would do it my own way which is basically what's shown on the video anyway !

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I had a feel you would, and I'm sure you'd get it running good too, Thank you Russell Booth

[@oakleyjack7600]

I would say spring were not installed correctly on carb and engine sucked in dirt leading to a scored cylinder.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that's a possibility

[@wallyklw5]

No, I’d try on my own

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nice choice

[@timtweet8149]

I'd try by myself, then watch a video on how to, them ask for help. Change the oil or add. Clean and check carb and repair.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

nothing wrong with that

[@kencurtis228]

I could do it all myself.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

sounds like a plan

[@benrobles752]

This type of carburetor gives me fits until I figure out which side of the choke arm to make it work properly.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I know right, most never seem to notice which side to put it.

[@jesterr7133]

What it says is that they did not maintain it properly.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

yes, you got that right, they did a sorry job for sure

[@johndenver8574]

People right now just want things. That's why battery mowers seem more attractive. Advertised as no maintenance. Just like an A.I boyfriend or a robot dog. NO WORK!! Mainly because people are working like a dog and are to tired to take care of anything anymore.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you make a good point,

[@hunter1953]

Look like whoever adjusted the valves got confused with the gap for a spark plug Just saying

[@HomeGaragechannel]

ah... you might be right! You're a lot smarter than I am, I just thought they did it completely wrong

[@matthewwearsch242]

That's shorty work is done by kids who don't want to mow the lawn 😂 it interups their video game 🎮

[@HomeGaragechannel]

LOL!!!!

[@cptyler150]

That engine sounds absolutely horrible that broad is slapping around inside there because of the low oil issue and the stupid marketing gimmick we had told not to change the oil.... I usually go right down to harbor freight and buy a predator engine and replace it that way...

[@HomeGaragechannel]

good idea, however the Predator engine has the wrong shaft size

[@DaBossk]

what makes you so afraid to say the name facebook marketplace? is it kinda like the name voldemort?

[@DaBossk]

I guess it's actually a good thing because if you mentioned it more people would start using it to find free stuff leaving less good bargains out there for people like us

[@HomeGaragechannel]

I'm surprised you hadn't figured out the reasoning yet, it's quite obvious

[@HomeGaragechannel]

that too, Is a great answer, but only second to the real reason.

[@DaBossk]

@@HomeGaragechannel well whats the real reason?? please respond

[@HomeGaragechannel]

it's so the viewers will ask and engage. The increased engagement is good for the channel, just like what you're doing right now. I appreciate it a lot.

[@williamBryan-k2e]

bad fixes. I think - has this one been sabatoged.

[@HomeGaragechannel]

you might be right