How to start lawnmower with screwdriver?

How to start a riding Lawn Mower with a Screwdriver? (2 Methods)

For cutting and shaping lawns quickly, Riding lawn mowers are the best. If properly maintained, the lawn mower can be used for several years. But what if you lose or break the key during ignition? Or you are not able to start the lawnmower? Well, in this article, we will show you how to start the riding lawn mower with a screwdriver if you don’t have a key.

People usually use horse-riding lawn mowers to cut extensive gardens with a lot of grass. Due to their speed and good mowing ability, riding lawn mowers have some advantages over ordinary lawn mowers. But the trade-off is that they are more complex machines.

These riding lawn mowers have ignition keys for two reliable reasons. They provide safety functions that are similar to safety precautions. The lawn mower key can sometimes be lost, or it can break during ignition. If you don’t know how to start the riding lawn mower without a key, the situation will get worse. We will try to explain some effective methods, such as how to use a screwdriver or some other tools to start a riding lawn mower.

In simple words, you can try the  following 2 methods to start riding Lawnmower with a screwdriver:

Method 1

Step 1: Engage the brakes of a lawnmower

Step 2: Disengage the blades of the lawn mover.

Step 3: Find the battery and also the ignition coil.

Step 4: To bridge the mechanism, use the Screwdriver

Method 2

Step 1: Engage the brakes and disengage the blades of lawnmower.

Step 2: Find an appropriate flat-head screwdriver.

Step 3: Place the screwdriver carefully in the ignition keyhole.

Step 4: Rotate the screwdriver in the keyhole.

Before starting the lawnmower with a screwdriver, don’t forget to check the various components of the lawnmower. It is necessary to take some time to perform some pre-startup checks to ensure that all functions are functioning properly. Check the gas and engine oil levels and make sure the blades are in good condition. At the end of this blog post, we will provide some maintenance tips to help you further.

Method 1: By the following 4 simple steps, Start a riding lawnmower with a screwdriver:

Step 1: Engage the brakes of the lawnmower:

Engage the brake of the lawnmower to the parking position. Depending on the type of lawnmower you have, this step may vary. Usually, a lever needs to be pulled to engage the parking brake, while in other lawnmowers, the work can be done by simply pressing the brake pedal.

Step 2: Disengage the blades of lawnmower:

Take this step as a precaution to prevent any danger caused by a sudden start. Make sure that the blades of your riding lawn mower are disengaged.

Step 3: Find the battery and also the ignition coil:

After the lawnmower is in parking mode and the blade is disengaged, find the lawn mower battery. Usually, once you open the cover of the machine, you can easily see the withered condition of the machine from the left or right side, depending on the model and manufacturer of the model. For some lawnmower models, the battery is located under the chair.

If you find the battery, you can also quickly find the ignition coil along the cable from the battery to the battery. You can also check the user manual to understand the exact location of the required parts in the lawnmower.

Step 4: To bridge the mechanism, use the Screwdriver :

Now you need to find a small box hanging on the side of the engine compartment. Once you find it, you can use the bridging mechanism with the help of a screwdriver.

Space should be bridged between the starter and the solenoid (ignition coil). You can use a screwdriver to perform this task here. With the help of a dual-purpose screwdriver, touch the two connectors. After contact, the lawnmower should finally start and you can start mowing.

Please remember that during this process, some rubber gloves should be worn as a precaution to avoid sparks.

Note: If you are not sure what you are doing, please pay more attention. Using this method, it is easy to cause a short circuit that can damage the battery and other electrical components. If you are not sure what to do, please don’t do it. Check method 2, or ask an expert for help.

Method 2: By the following 5 simple steps, Start a riding lawnmower with a screwdriver:

Step 1: Engage the brakes and disengage the blades of lawnmower:

As with the previous method, engage the brakes and release the blades of lawn mowers just in case of any hazards.

Step 2: Find an appropriate flat-head screwdriver:

The use of a flat-head screwdriver is essential in this method. It is a screwdriver with a wedge-shaped flat head, used to loosen a screw with a linear or straight groove on its head.

Look for a flat-blade screwdriver, which is a little smaller than the ignition hole.

Step 3: Place the screwdriver carefully in the ignition keyhole:

Now, in this step, you will use a screwdriver as a substitute for the key we have just lost. Now, carefully place the screwdriver in the keyhole so that it is fully aligned inside without damaging the ignition chamber.

Step 4: Rotate the screwdriver in the keyhole:

Just like turning the key in the ignition chamber, turn the screwdriver alike. The engine will begin to roar. Keep rotating until the engine starts. You have now replaced the key with a flat-head screwdriver and started the machine.

Remember that some lawn mowers have a safety program that prevents the ignition hole from being activated by anything other than its signature key. For them, this method may not work. However, this method has been successfully applied to various models of Cub Cadet and Craftsman riding lawnmowers.

Lawnmower Maintenance Tips

Maintenance is important if you use your lawnmower regularly and want to make it last for many years to come. To help you maintain your lawnmower, we have collected some tips for you to follow:

  • Check the gas level and do not use old gas
  • Check Oil level and replace if needed
  • Check and clean the spark plugs
  • Replace the battery
  • Clean the air filter and carburetor

Final Thoughts

This article provides individuals with a way to start the lawnmower with a screwdriver. Sometimes, under certain circumstances, you may not be able to use the lawnmower key. The key may be lost, broken in the ignition chamber, or have other problems.

Therefore, in that case, a person can start his lawnmover or use a screwdriver by engaging the bridge mechanism or using a screwdriver as a key. These two steps have been discussed in detail in the article above.

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