If there’s a lawn mower, there are operational problems!
And that stands true even for the ones that undergo regular maintenance. At least, that’s what I have learned after working with quite a few lawn mowers throughout the years. Besides, you might not always be in a position to call professionals, especially if it’s a seemingly minor issue.
So, when my friend told me about the jammed cable on her self-propelled lawn mower, I encouraged her to try fixing it at home. At the same time, I thought it’d be a good idea to share the steps with my readers as well.
Hi!I’m Stacy Smith, and today, I bring you this guide on how to fix self propelled lawn mower cable. Let’s get into the deets!
How To Fix Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Cable?
Just like how every lawn mower problem can’t be solved the DIY way, not every issue requires you to hire professional help either. However, keep in mind that the process becomes somewhat easy if you have a tool kit handy and have some experience dealing with such machines. If you aren’t confident of your “machine fixing” skills, I’d advise calling a professional for the purpose.
As far as the cable is concerned, there can be various reasons behind its malfunctioning. Apart from the general wear and tear due to high use, its location (between the handle and the transmission) makes it susceptible to breakdown and damages.
The good news is that some minor issues can be fixed at home. But before I walk you through the steps of fixing it, here are the things that you’ll need:
- Wirecutter
- Drive cable
- Needle-nose pliers
- A nut driver set (or at least a couple of nut drivers)
- Work gloves
- Plastic sandwich bags
Step 1
If you didn’t know this, all self propelled lawn mowers have a spark plug, and you should always start any repair or maintenance work by disconnecting it from the plug wire. This will prevent you from getting electrified at any point in time.
Step 2
For the next step, locate the cable clip on the mower handle and gently turn it upwards to detach the cable from the handle. Once it’s done, move on to the bail control bar to detach the zone control cable from it.
Now, locate the drive control lever and release the cable attached to it. You will find a release tab, which needs to be depressed to facilitate detaching the zone control and the drive cable clips. Use the pliers to cut the cables and secure them to the handle.
Step 3
Unscrew the cap on the fuel tank, take the sandwich bag and place it securely over the tank opening. Using the other hand, put back the fuel tank cap securely. This is done to stop gasoline leakage through the cap vent.
The next part of this step will require you to lift the mower, so you might want to ask for some help if it’s too heavy. Lift the front wheels and hold the mower in position by gripping the handle. There should be enough room to dismantle the mounting screws located at the bottom, which keep the drive cover attached to the mower.
After unscrewing the cover, lower the mower gently and carefully in an upright position to detach the mounting screws on the top cover. This will help you locate an adjustment lever (for height) to release it. At the same time, use a little force to pull off the drive cover.
Step 4
It’s now time to remove the end of the drive cable, usually found on the anchor post. There’s a release tab in this part, which needs to be depressed to loosen the cable sheath, which should be removed from the transmission lever so that you can easily remove the whole cable.
Step 5
Replace the existing cable with a new one by attaching its end to the anchor post mentioned in the previous step. Once done, push the drive cable sheath back towards the transmission lever.
Take the top driver cover, hold it in position and use the adjustment lever to adjust the height of the mower. Using a suitable nut driver, reinstall the screws to fix the cover in place. Likewise, push the front of the mower upwards (to access the bottom) for reattaching the bottom drive cover.
When it's secured, put the mower back in its normal position and open the cap of the fuel tank. Take off the sandwich bag and put the cap back on.
Step 6
To reinstall the drive cable, bring it around the engine (I do it from the right hand side), and form a connection between the zone control cable and the drive cable clip. Keep in mind that the bail control bar should also be connected with the zone control cable, so join the drive cable with its control lever.
Remove the clip of the new cable to securely install it on the handle and trim the loose end with the pliers.
Step 7
In the last step, reconnect the wire on the spark plug with the plug to make it operational.
As I have already mentioned before, smaller issues with the cable can be fixed, but bigger problems are best solved by replacing the cable altogether. You may even find the instructions for doing so in the instruction manual or on the official website of the brand.
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Conclusion
To be honest, I am not the biggest fan of dealing with machine-related problems.
But off late, repairing my lawn care equipment is something that provides me with immense satisfaction! Sure, there have been some hits-and-misses, but spending time online researching the different DIY fixes for lawn mowers and observing professionals do their work has helped me garner this skill.
On that note, I hope my guide helps you take on the job of fixing the cable of your self-propelled lawn mower.
I’ll soon be back with more such content. See you next time!