Husqvarna lawn mower is among the great brands that have dominated the industry the longest—it has been around since 1620.
The Husqvarna self-powered lawn mower came into the picture in 1995. No wonder it has countless excellent reviews from verified buyers and users!
Still, you can expect a few issues along the way. Read on to discover Husqvarna self propelled lawn mower troubleshooting.
Here are the most common problems faced by Husqvarna self propelled lawn mower users and how to troubleshoot.
Interesting Read: The best self-propelled lawn mower under $300
Husqvarna self propelled lawn mower problems
Regular servicing is vital for your Husqvarna lawn mower. Neglecting maintenance can cause costly damage.
We’ll cover nine common issues and provide a step-by-step troubleshooting guide to help you save money and keep your lawn looking great.
1. Drive pulleys
If you have trouble with your Husqvarna lawn mower, check the drive pulleys first for safety reasons. If the drive pulley is faulty, the lawn mower will run into unexpected stalling.
This belt runs across three movable components, including the clutch pulling system and contributes to driving the lawn mower wheels.
Sometimes Husqvarna self propelled lawn mower pulleys become unbalanced and shift away from the centre. The drive pulley connects to the machine’s crankshaft, steered by the V belt.
This rotation of the pulley and the belt turns the lawn mower wheels and moves the mower forward.
Therefore, when running the machine on a worn out or broken drive pulley, power transmission fails, wheels don’t rotate and it is impossible to move the mower forward.
2. Self propel cable
The self propel cable runs from the mower’s handles to the transmission. A plastic material covers the inner braided wire.
The plastic material is fragile at the ends that connect to the handle and the transmission. When the self propel cable breaks, the mower won’t self propel and, in most cases, requires replacement.
Always ensure you have reinforced the fragile parts of the cable. Also, ensure that the cable moves freely to avoid probable damage.
3. Lawn mower low on power
If your mower frequently experiences cut outs, it could be at the end of its life. If not, it’s not generating enough electricity. Sometimes it’s an easy fix.
Accumulated dust or debris in the vehicle’s air filtration system is another common cause of low power in Husqvarna mowers.
Another cause is a plugged air filter. If you have a plugged air filter, the engine will not receive enough air to burn the fuel.
The problem could also be your spark plugs. A dirty spark plug will not produce enough electricity to burn fuel in the combustion chamber.
After checking for dirt and dust in the air filter and spark plugs, inspect your blades. Sometimes, when cutting grass, debris, grass clippings and twigs get stuck in the mower deck and in between the blades.
When this happens, the blades do not rotate at optimal speeds, and this reflects as low power.
4. Lawn mower engine is hard to start
Petrol mowers can have many reasons not to start, and one of them is a spark plug that doesn’t ignite.
It’s impossible to start an engine if the plug does not ignite to burn fuel in the combustion chamber.
A dirty plug will always result in fuel combustion issues. The dirt is mostly from carbon deposits on the spark plug from partially burnt fuel or engine oil leaks into the combustion chamber.
The carbon deposits cause the plugs to require more voltage to ignite, which the battery cannot generate.
A faulty spark plug wire will also cause Husqvarna mower starting problems. A faulty spark plug wire breaks the circuit to the plug so it can’t ignite. The remedy in this case is to ensure there is proper wiring.
Sometimes, the mower presents starting issues if it runs on bad fuel or has a dirty fuel tank. This causes blockage problems to the fuel pump, and may block the fuel lines.
A blocked fuel line will not provide the combustion chamber with the correct fuel required to run the mower. To solve this problem, clean your fuel tank and use fresh fuel.
Sometimes the problem can be the mower blades. Read our article on why Husqvarna mower dies when the blades are engaged to find the solutions.
5. Engine transmission problems
This is a nightmare for any Husqvarna self-propelled lawnmower owner. That’s because it’s a problem with many related causes.
First, if you have a broken drive pulley or one worn out, it will not properly engage the crankshaft.
As a result, the crankshaft it connects to will not engage the flywheel, making transmission impossible.
A hydrostatic transmission problem is another component of this problem, especially if the machine uses old hydraulic fluids.
With a hydrostatic transmission problem, the machine responds with weak transmission. Another cause for transmission issues is low fuel levels.
6. Belt and engine problems
A worn out or loose Husqvarna self-propelled lawnmower drive belt is another problem. This happens when the belt has been in use over a long period.
When the belt is loose or worn out, the machine only operates at the lowest gear and the mower blade may not run.
Another danger of wearing a worn-out drive belt is that the particles might get into the engine and cause other issues.
7. Lawnmower uses excess fuel
If your lawnmower uses excess fuel, it may be worth checking for common maintenance issues. First, start with your air or fuel system.
In most cases, excess consumption is usually down to a blocked or leaking air or fuel system.
Faulty spark plugs will not burn the fuel efficiently. When this happens, the spark plugs will require more fuel to run the engine.
Some of the unburned excess fuel leads to fuel leaks through the exhaust pipe. The fuel leaks result in the mower consuming more fuel.
A blocked air filter or dull blades will also cause the engine to burn lots of fuel in order to produce the required power for proper functioning.
8. Lawnmower burning excess oil
The main reason for burning excess oils is running the engine with over-inflated cylinder gaskets that leak the oil.
When the oil leaks, the mower burns excess oil. Again, with a low engine oil level, the friction and temperatures rise, then the oil burns excessively.
Low grade oil also burns more than good quality oil. If you change your oil regularly, ensure it is of the correct quality.
And, even with the correct oil grade, do regularly change the oil in your Husqvarna mowers.
9. Tension on velcro belt
The belt needs to have the correct tension. If not, it will turn the wheel into the first gear or fail to turn it altogether and eventually cause engine problems. That’s why you need to tighten your velcro belt properly.
Husqvarna Self Propelled Lawn Mower Troubleshooting
Unleash the ninja within your lawn mower! In this troubleshooting section, we’ll tackle the mischievous mysteries plaguing your Husqvarna self-propelled mower.
Let’s slice through the weeds and get your grass-cutting game back on point.
Step one: Check the drive belt
The drive belt powers the drive pulley that connects to various transmission parts of the mower.
It directly connects to the drive pulley, which connects to the crankshaft and the transmission that moves the lawn mower wheels.
A worn out drive belt will not drive the mower wheels.
Replacing them is the best solution, although you can opt to repair the belts.
Step two: Check the drive pulley
The next step is checking the drive pulley. The drive pulley connects to the crankshaft that powers the mower wheels. If the drive pulley is unbalanced, the transmission will not work properly.
The only solution to a defective drive pulley is replacing it. You can replace the pulley on your own by first removing the mower blades and the belt.
Step three: Check the self-propelled cable
The wire runs from the mower’s handle to the transmission. Inspect the entire length of the cable to ensure it is unbroken.
Also, make sure it is loose because regular movement may break. If the control cable has kinked spots or broken, it needs replacement.
Step four: Check the transmission
The transmission operates with the help of an electrical drive belt connected to an engine crank.
Whenever the drive belt works normally, it drives the transmission, and the lawn mower wheels spin.
If a transmission has problems, the pulley rotates without turning the wheels. If you experience this, the drive shaft has a fault.
Unfortunately, this part of the mower is not repairable. Replace the transmission if you notice this issue.
Step five: Check the gearbox and wheels
Gears with worn-out cogs don’t properly engage with other gears. This Husqvarna mower has a drive transmission gear that connects to the wheel assembly.
It’s impossible to engage the transmission with worn-out gears. The only remedy for this problem is replacing the wheel assembly or ensuring the cogs engage.
The next thing to check out is for broken shift keys or clips that have fallen off. This causes the gear to slide off. If either is the issue, fixing them should solve the problem.
Step six: Check the tension on v-belt
Another problem with the belts is incorrect tension. A loosely tightened belt will turn the wheel into the first gear within its limits. In most cases, it will not turn the wheel at all.
It is always advisable to have a properly tightened velcro belt. In the long run, loose belts cause engine problems.
Step seven: Check the transmission
The drive belt powers the transmission, and when the two are working properly, they power the running of the wheels.
To diagnose the transmission, you need to get the engine to run and check whether the pulley and wheels are turning.
If the pulley spins and the wheels do not run, you have a broken transmission, specifically; the drive shaft.
Unfortunately, the only way to solve this is by replacing the transmission. A local Husqvarna dealer will help you with that.
Other times, a grass plugged transmission hinders the self-driving system from working. To correct this, remove the grass from the gearbox and your self-driving system will function properly.
Step eight: Check the engine’s compression
Should you discontinue mowers that have offered service for over 10 years? Probably yes, but diagnosing your engine compression may solve all your issues.
Sometimes there could be several solvable mechanical problems, especially if the machine overheats and does not start.
It could be a spark plug issue where the gap between the plug electrodes expands. If the gap between the electrodes expands, the mower will heat up.
The solution is restoring the gaps between the electrodes or replacing the plugs altogether.
Another thing to check is low engine compression from excessively large valve clearances.
These valves control the outlet of burned fuel and the input of the mixture of air and fuel. Fixing the issue requires the expertise of a small engine repair technician.
Step nine: Check the spark plug
Check if you have dirty or damaged spark plugs. You can use a multimeter for a continuity test between the two ends of the spark plug to ensure that the current flows.
If a spark plug fails the continuity test even after cleaning it, replacing it is the only remaining solution.
See: How to make a pull start easier
Husqvarna self propelled not working – troubleshooting table
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Engine fails to start | Faulty spark plug or fuel issues | Check spark plug, fuel supply, and carburetor |
| Uneven cutting | Dull or damaged blades | Sharpen or replace blades |
| Excessive vibration | Unbalanced blade or loose parts | Check and balance blade, tighten loose components |
| Loss of propulsion | Worn or damaged drive belt | Replace the drive belt |
| Mower moves sluggishly | Clogged air filter or low oil level | Clean or replace air filter, check and top up oil |
| Engine overheating | Dirty air filter or cooling system issues | Clean or replace air filter, check cooling system |
| Excessive noise | Loose or damaged components | Tighten or replace loose/damaged parts |
| Self-propulsion not engaging | Faulty drive control cable or linkage | Inspect and replace faulty cable or linkage |
| Poor grass collection | Clogged or damaged bag or chute | Clear debris, clean or replace bag/chute |
Specific Model Complains
Husqvarna lc221a problems
- Engine starting issues
- Stalling during operation
- Self-propulsion problems
- Poor cutting performance
- Wheel alignment issues
- Grass collection problems
- Vibration and noise
- Clogging of the discharge chute
- Build quality concerns
FAQs
How to fix self-propelled lawn mower cable Husqvarna
To fix a self-propelled lawn mower cable on a Husqvarna, follow these steps: 1. Locate the drive control cable. 2. Check for any visible damage or disconnection. 3. If damaged, purchase a replacement cable. 4. Disconnect the old cable and attach the new one using the appropriate connectors. 5. Test the self-propulsion feature.
Final Thoughts on Husqvarna Troubleshooting
The Husqvarna self-propelled lawn mower has great features. We understand why it’s a machine of choice for most users.
However, like any other machine, it can develop some problems with time. This includes steering problems, vibration issues, power issues, engine overheating, starting issues and such.
We’ve covered all that and now you know what to do when your Husqvarna self-propelled lawn mower acts up and needs some troubleshooting.
As you’ve seen, most of the fixes, even to mechanical problems, are easy, so roll up your sleeves!