Ryobi is one of the most popular brands of lawn mower and with a great range of models, there’s something for every gardener. However, from time to time, you might find that your Ryobi mower won’t start and that can be frustrating.
If your Ryobi lawn mower won’t start, the problem is usually to do with the battery. However, there could be other issues at play including broken components and clogged vents.
This guide serves as a checklist for those asking why won’t my Ryobi lawn mower start? Take a look through to see if any of these issues solves your problem. In the case that you can’t find a solution here, it could be that your ryobi lawn mower
1. Damaged Or Faulty Battery
Ryobi is one of the most popular brands of lawn mower and with a great range of models, there’s something for every gardener. However, from time to time, you might find that your Ryobi mower won’t start and that can be frustrating.
If your Ryobi lawn mower won’t start, the problem is usually to do with the battery. However, there could be other issues at play including broken components and clogged vents.
This guide serves as a checklist for those asking why won’t my Ryobi lawn mower start? Take a look through to see if any of these issues solves your problem. In the case that you can’t find a solution here, it could be that your ryobi lawn mower
How To Fix It
If the problem is that the battery is dead, it’s as simple as putting it on charge. If your battery is nearing the end of its life then you will need to replace it. Batteries are available from Ryobi and while they aren’t exactly cheap, it’s much less of an investment than buying an entire new lawn mower.
2. The Circuit Breaker May Have Tripped
A lawn mower is a very powerful machine that is surprisingly complex. They require a lot of power and this means that, sometimes, they can trip a circuit breaker which means that there is no longer any access to power and the machine won’t start.
Of course, this applies to electric lawn mowers and wouldn’t happen if you were using a gas model. You will be able to tell if the circuit breaker is the problem as it’ll be that the mower shuts down without warning and then won’t start up again.
How To Fix It
To fix this problem, you will first need to check that any cables you are using are not damaged and are working as expected. A lot of people use an extension cord to reach the far ends of the garden but if there is an issue with this, it will trip the circuit. Moreover, if you incorrectly pair extension cables and mains, this can also cause the power to trip. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it makes things much safer for you.
If there doesn’t seem to be any damage to your extension cable then the problem may lie elsewhere. You should take a look at the circuit breakers in the home and make sure that there isn’t anything else that’s shut off or damaged. You can test these breakers by using a small appliance.
If that appliance works without tripping the circuit breakers but you’re still having issues with the lawn mower, then it’s likely the case that the outlet you’re using isn’t suitable for the mower. To solve the issue, move to another power outlet.
3. Broken Start Switch
The start switch on your lawn mower may break and in this case, the machine simply will not start.
How To Fix It
This is a simple fix as you can use a multimeter to tell you if there is something wrong.
4. Bad Sensors
It seems to be a common issue that sensors on Ryobi lawn mowers tend to become faulty. There is a lot of information online as well as instructional videos on YouTube with more details of how to bypass the sensors. The good news is that, for the most part, this problem arises when the mower is still relatively new so you’ll be covered by your warranty. Keep in mind that if you do any work to bypass the sensors, your warranty won’t be valid.
How To Fix It
If you’re not bothered about voiding your warranty then you could try these instructional videos to fix bad sensors. The good news is that, as long as you are adept with a soldering iron, this is likely a quicker and more hassle-free fix than messing around trying to get a replacement or repair from Ryobi.
5. Damaged Flywheel Key
Sometimes, if the flywheel key bashes into a solid object, this can cause it to fracture. The reason for this is that it protects the engine should the lawn mower crash. However, the problem is that, once the flywheel key is broken, the mower won’t fire up.
How To Fix It
Fortunately, this is an easy fix and involves simply replacing the broken flywheel key.
6. Broken Fuse Or Fuse Key
If you have had problems with your fuse switch but your ryobi lawn mower still won’t start then this could be that the fuse has blown.
How To Fix It
You will need to check the fuse and inspect its condition to see if it has indeed blown. You can also use a multimeter which will allow you to check for continuity and this may also allow you to restore the problem. In other cases, you may need to replace the fuse.
7. Broken Recoil Starter
When you use the recoil start on a gas mower, this activates the crankshaft which in turn, causes the mower to start. However if you have a broken recoil start then the engine doesn’t move and nothing happens when you pull it.
How To Fix It
This problem will take a little investigating and you will need to take out the starting assembly for inspection. Make sure that it is operating as it should and check that, when you pull the recoil start, the tabs and cams on the pulley connect to the engine hub. The tab should also retract within the pulley if the starter rope is slackened.
If things aren’t working as they should then you will need to get a replacement recoil start.
8. Plug-Ins Aren’t Connected
When you use a gas lawn mower, you will have spark plugs which are used to ignite the engine. When these aren’t working, are dirty or don’t connect, the engine will not start.
However, a battery or electric lawn mower doesn’t have this particular part but they have something similar known as a plug in. Inside your ryobi lawn mower, there are a number of electrical cables and wires; larger mowers like riding mowers have even more of these. Among these wires, there may sometimes be a loose connection or plug-ins that have disconnected completely which can interrupt the mower’s ability to start.
How To Fix It
One of the easiest ways to determine whether this is the problem is to look at the internal parts of the mower. Checking around where the battery is located is a common area for disconnected plug-ins so make sure to look here.
Do make sure to turn the lawn mower off and engage the safety mode to prevent any nasty accidents.
Adjusting connections and reconnecting those that have come loose should be enough to return your mower to its normal working state.
9. Safety Handle Not Engaged
If you have an electric lawn mower then there will be a safety handle and this needs to be engaged if you want the mower to run. For those moving over from a gas powered model, it’s not uncommon for them to forget to engage this as it’s not something they would have been used to in the past.
Turning on a gas lawn mower means holding down a lever at the same time as pulling the recoil start This can be a tricky process and is something that puts a lot of people off continuing to use a gas lawn mower.
However, using an electric mower isn’t just about pressing a button to get going. You sometimes have to hold a safety handle as you press the start button otherwise the lawn mower won’t turn on. If you aren’t aware that you need to do this, you might find yourself scratching your head and wondering why the mower won’t start.
How To Fix It
As you can probably tell, this isn’t much of a problem. It’s simply a case of familiarising yourself with how to properly use your Ryobi lawn mower. When you purchase your mower, it’s worth taking the time to read through the user manual and get to grips with exactly how to use it; this will prevent any issues down the line with becoming confused.
While it might be an alien concept to have to use the starter handle, or starter key, this is actually imperative for safety. Having to do this means that there is less chance of a child turning on the mower accidentally.
10. The Vents Are Clogged
The final thing that you might want to check if your Ryobi mower won’t start is whether the vents are clogged. Just like in a gas lawn mower, there are vents that allow air to flow through the system. This keeps the internal parts cool and stops the lawn mower from overheating.
If you allow the vents to remain clogged this will boost the internal temperature of the lawn mower and will cause it to stop functioning correctly. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, however, as it means that the motor won’t become damaged.
How To Fix It
When it comes to clearing the vents in your Ryobi lawn mower, you will need to exercise extreme caution as there is a risk of damaging parts which will stop the mower from working altogether. Make sure never to use liquid cleaners or water and only clean the vents using a dry cloth. Compressed air is also an excellent way to unclog vents without the risk of damage to your machine.
