Ryobi 40V mower self propel fix

The self propel feature on my 40V Ryobi mower stopped working. Ended up being an issue inside the on/off button housing.

[@LindyTCofer]

My sister and I are both in our 70s and have Ryobi lawnmowers. We both love fixing things I told her my self propelled feature was acting up on the lawnmower, and she found your video and sent it to me. Your video is very well done. Everything you said on the video was important and after I watched it twice, I was able to fix my lawnmower! So, my husband and I owe you a great big thank you

[@phog_vision]

That's awesome, you're the reason I make random videos of things!

[@wbryan06]

The entire plastic housing cracked and the SP levers would no longer work. I bought two toggle switches and wired the motor switch and the SP switch directly to them. Drilled a hole in the housing and mounted them on top. VOLIA! Turn the motor on with one....and the SP with the other. Thanks for the "How To" guidance. Will never have to worry about the plastic breaking again.

[@phog_vision]

Love this fix, awesome!

[@ROGUE_ZER0]

Do you have any pics? Or how to video? Great idea!

[@cambeck2152]

Awesome video to the point short and simple !! It’s frustrating watching you tube solution videos . Most way to long and the ppl go on about stuff that doesn’t pertain to the problem . THANK YOU !!! for a direct to the point well done solution video Top Shelf bro 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@phog_vision]

Agreed. You don't need my life story, just a solution.👍

[@BillShaw-x8s]

Thank you. I had the exact same issue. Wouldn’t have torn it apart it myself if I didn’t see your successfully fix. Even used your cushion idea. Great instructional video.

[@phog_vision]

Glad it helped!

[@SteveShnitzler-no7un]

Thanks for the video. Just fixed the same issue. Two tips. - it would be great to add that you need a T15 screwdriver to remove the screws. Second, I used putty epoxy to back the L shaped piece that broke. It’ll never break. Again, thanks for posting.

[@redtitan2005]

My self propel stopped working months ago. I've been just pushing the mower 🥵 This was my exact problem and got it fixed. 👍🏻

[@phog_vision]

Glad I could help!

[@clkinsler]

**update** I figured it out and it's working 100% again. I truly appreciate this one and only video about this problem. I can't believe they use such cheap parts.

[@phog_vision]

Sorry, just saw your comment. Glad the video was helpful!

[@jpschaefer]

Thank you, Sir!! Just fixed the same problem... even had the furniture felt. Going to go a step further and place some material between the yellow levers and the mower's main handles so that there's enough room only to activate the self-propel motor without applying further pressure on the switch and it's frame. It's no wonder the switch frame breaks... there must be a heck of lot of force applied to it when one is mowing. Once again, thank you for the excellent video.

[@clkinsler]

great video and very thorough. Now I need a video of where to put the start button, like yours everything flew out when I unscrewed the housing and I'm trying to figure out the start button. Thank you! probably saved me from buying a new one

[@phog_vision]

Glad you got it figured out. 👍🏼

[@TheTwinzies-fz8kt]

Also can’t figure out the start button and can’t find a diagram anywhere.

[@midnight4u]

Luckily I found your video because my self propel feature stopped working all of a sudden after one season of mowing. Take it apart and both the molded plastic L shaped piece and the dowel sheared off at the base. Basically the same problem you illustrate. What a piss poor design Ryobi for a $400 mower! I'm going to try and tack it back in place with super glue so both pieces stay in place while I then reinforce the base of both pieces with epoxy. Should be fun. I think if I buy the new part it will only wind up breaking again due to the poor design of the molded part. They should have molded in a tapered feature or thickened the base wall at the bottom to eliminate the stress riser there. Thanks a bunch for posting this, very helpful!

[@phog_vision]

Glad it was helpful!

[@scotthunter1237]

I cannot thank you enough for this video I just took mine apart and it was the same issue. I have just finished gluing that plastic part and after it cures i will put it back together .You just saved me 500.00 on a new lawn mower. Thanks again.

[@phog_vision]

Great news, glad it was helpful!

[@scotthunter1237]

@@phog_vision ok update I didn’t glue it on the correct angle so I used two of the round pads and it actually made it nice and tight so if next time it fails try that. and once again thanks

[@shanephillips8111]

Thanks for this great video. My problem was this exact issue. But, I too, had a challenge figuring out how to connect the starter button. I ended up leaving it outside of the housing for the short term.

[@rexcadral3468]

Came looking for this exact solution. Thanks for posting!

[@phog_vision]

Happy to help!

[@Hometmc]

Thanks for the video. I used a golf tee to replace the plastic post that held the switch.

[@phog_vision]

Great idea!

[@bradbarker8952]

YOU ARE MY HERO!!! I had the same issue & fixed the same way you did in the video... thank you 😊

[@phog_vision]

My pleasure! Glad it was helpful!

[@michaelfitzgerald1328]

I tried to order that part (second one) today, They told me it's on back order and will be available in March. Oh, I forgot they had me listening to music for quite awhile then bong up, but I spoke to a very nice lady oncall three!

[@patrickkirchner5271]

Thanks so much for posting this. This exact issue happened with my mower and I happened to find your video before I gave up and went to buy another one. This was a huge help, thank you.

[@phog_vision]

Yes sir!

[@calvinglomstad5612]

Great video! My problem exactly. TIP: Turn mower over. Nothing falls out. Switches stay in place and easy to reorient. Used 2 part epoxy and same furniture pad.

[@jeffmichaels3653]

Thanks, man! I had the same exact problem and used your same solution. Good as new!

[@henriklucky7735]

Very thorough and well done. Thanks.

[@Keepinitreal4unow]

Omg. I was apprehensive about unscrewing it. I held on tight and there it was the same broken piece. I supported it with glue, cardboard and hot glue. I hope it sticks. But 🎉🎉🎉🎉 it is working

[@jesswilliam5346]

I had the exact same issue! Thank you for your video

[@kevinmartini7418]

My drive is working intermittently, this seems like it could explain it. Thanks!

[@ish960]

Thank you for sharing this! I have this problem with mine.

[@phog_vision]

You bet, glad it helped out.

[@LegendLength]

thanks a useful reference video there's not much info out there for this model

[@notblazedfordays9536]

My model is a little different but I don’t hear the clicking noise when I push in the self propelled handle… time to give it a try! Thanks for the video!

[@Jimmyschocke]

Thank you for this video. I had the exact same problem and it did indeed exploded lol

[@phog_vision]

Boom. I get it. 😆

[@EVRider]

Thanks! I'm going to give your fix a try.

[@MrStradia]

Awesome, We just picked one up, and the self propel doesn't work. When I pull the handle I can hear the switch but no other noise like anything it trying to engage. I will probably take it apart like you did to check it out. Hopefully and easy fix. I saw another video where the cable going into the engine housing needed to have some tension on it for it to work. Thanks for the video.

[@phog_vision]

My pleasure. Hope yours is an easy fix.

[@thomasjcook7975]

Thanks for the Great video but where do the switches go??

[@phog_vision]

@@thomasjcook7975 sorry, missed your comment. If you go to this diagram and zoom in it shows the orientation of the switches. images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/3a/3af9e402-c252-4248-b54a-b7589c232cf9.pdf

[@thomasjcook7975]

Great video. But where do the switches go Thanks

[@christinelund-molfese]

@skalnican, I am also having trouble knowing where to put back the two switches... As just like you describe everything fell out when I opened it. If you could kindly post a diagram of this I would be SO appreciative! I am already grateful but even more so if I knew where the switches go.

[@ElRebel]

You da real mvp

[@phog_vision]

Glad it helped!

[@joeserrenti9857]

Great Repair ! Gotta say though, I hope that mower wasn't expensive, because the gauge and strength of all those plastic parts is really cheesy and cheap. I mean, there are kids toys with stronger plastic parts than that thing.... Good luck with it, I have the Ryobi 40v weedwacker and so far it's still working, but the battery didn't last very long...

[@phog_vision]

Agreed. I was less than excited when I took it apart. The mower overall feels....cheap.

[@johnrhodes7886]

Speed control is a common problem. Many go too fast to mow or even walk behind. Do you think that the speed control is a variable resistor that can be modified so that the propel motor would run slower?

[@phog_vision]

You’ve got me on this one. Honestly have no idea.

[@cesarantoniocancinorueda1036]

Amazing!!! Thanks man Question; what glue did you applied ?

[@phog_vision]

I used super glue.

[@ryanreppert5384]

I added some trimmed felt backer underneath the self propelled switch for it to sit on while it sits on those two spindles…

[@phog_vision]

Nice, thanks for sharing!

[@berettaguy7445]

Do these self-propelled battery mowers have belts?

[@denisegagnier]

You didn't show where to put the switches back in. Do they both fit into the space where you glued?

[@phog_vision]

They did, yes. Sorry I didn’t get a shot of that. There are 2 switches. One for self propel engage and one for On/Off. I had to puzzle piece it back together since the whole thing fell apart when I opened it. There are parts diagrams online that help give you an idea of how it all fits back together.

[@denisegagnier]

@@phog_vision I've tried to find diagrams but have not been able to find one that shows how it all goes back together

[@eliseo19598419]

Where can I find a replacement handle for the self propelled feature.

[@jonschnell5977]

Can anyone tell me where the second switch to turn the mower on goes? It seems the most important part, reassembly, was left out.

[@laurawise7107]

Oh hopefully mine is that simple!

[@MrDoctornic]

So I checked all the switch. My mower turns on and off. When I try the self propelled it makes noise and doesn’t engage. So I need to remove the transmission? How do I do that

[@phog_vision]

Sorry, that sucks. Unfortunately I haven’t run into this problem so I have no idea, sorry. I hope you can track down a tutorial somewhere.

[@LovesGrilling]

This is why battery mowers are so so stupid. They are designed to fail like this over time, where plastic pieces slowly wear from normal basic use, and it why I won't buy an electric mower.

[@phog_vision]

Agreed. Lots of plastic on this thing.

[@Badger1949]

Same issue here. Tried glue but probably won't last long so I ordered a new part from Ryobi $2.03 plus $6.00 shipping. Part number 532198

[@phog_vision]

Nice, thanks for sharing the part info. 👍🏼

[@Badger1949]

@@phog_vision The video saved me. It showed where the spring goes between the handles. My spring shot across the room and I didn't know where to reattach it Also mentioning theT15 screw helped and a trip to Menards.

[@Badger1949]

Fixed it!! But the flimsy white wire broke on the white plug socket so I soldered the white and black wires directly to the prongs. We'll see how long this DIY repair works next Spring.