OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions on Other Engines Rover Suzuki 2 stroke not starting when hot

Hi all,

we have had a Rover Suzuki 2 stroke for over 10 years and love the thing. Only problem is that although it will start when cold (2-4 pulls), it will not start warm. This wouldn't be so much of a problem except that we are on a sloping block that has been tiered, so we need to turn it off to move it up garden steps etc. This makes what should be a simple hour or so of mowing into a whole weekend event.

We had it serviced several months back, and although it came back starting easier cold, the problem of not starting warm began. Once going she mows great, but will then turn off if it hits thick grass or a twig. Never did that before either.

Mower model number is 3122, and motor model number is M122x. Cannot find any info on these (only on the 2122 and M120x). Before I subscribed I thought to ask if you have a workshop manual for this model available?

The local mower shop suggested the coil, and the mechanic gave us a coil he had that had been tested and working, but that didn't work. He is a little stumped too. Hubby put in a new spark plug too. Any suggestions are most welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Toni

Hello Toni,
If your problem started after the service, check to see if the heat shield (aluminium plate) and plastic insulator are in place between the engine and the carby. These prevent heat transfer from engine to carby and assist hot restarting.

The manual for your machine is available on the TORO website.

There are also other threads on this site for suzuki engines.
cheers from Mark

Thanks Mark, I will have a look at that and let you know how I go.

Cheers,
Toni


Edit - I have been searching the Toro manuals, but cannot seem to find the right one. Is the Suzuki 3122 similar to the 2122? Sorry to be a pain. Ta.

Hi Toni, welcome to Outdoorking. Finding problems can be a complicated procedure, or you can be lucky and find they have a simple and more or less obvious cause. Unfortunately it requires a Sherlock Holmes process unless you just take a scatter-gun approach and give the machine a general tune-up. At Outdoorking we usually attempt to play Sherlock, because it is much more fun.

As mark said, it will probably be worthwhile downloading the workshop manual for your engine. You can get it here:
http://www.toro.com/en-us/parts/Pag...Lm2IVhOJIHhZ9wIClCEiu122kfJiC2/A08JVarky

Click on the "Manuals" tab. Then move down the page to the manual identified as "Service Manual (English) 492 0260".

The Sherlock route to problem solving involves paying careful attention to the symptoms, and pursuing only the potential problems that are consistent with the symptoms.

In this case, you have reported that the engine will not restart when it is warm. However the particular circumstances of your terraced garden suggest that it may also be that the mower will run for a fairly specific amount of time, then it stops and will not restart for another fairly specific amount of time. When that happens with a two stroke engine, whether on a mower, a line trimmer, a chainsaw or whatever, there is one simple fault that is often at the heart of the problem. Your engine can only get fuel out of the fuel tank if air is able to get into the fuel tank to replace it. This happens through a plastic (imitation rubber) vent in the fuel tank cap. Often with time, dried-up 2 stroke mix in this vent oxidises and gums up the vent, so no air can get in. You can test for this problem simply by loosening the cap half a turn and trying to mow the lawn. If the mower then works perfectly, you need to clean out the tank cap vent.

Please try this possible solution then come back and tell us whether it worked. If it doesn't work, we'll return to Sherlock thinking mode. If it does work, we'll close this thread. If it works and you don't come back and tell us, we may never speak to you again. I can promise I won't, for one.