My less than one year old Toro 22inch Recycler Lawn Mower won't start. It worked two weeks ago. Using gas from the same can, it started today, but stopped midway through the yard. Even after priming, it won't start. I can still crank it. It has oil in it, but not much.

Sounds like the spark plug is just filed out try replacing it

You are supposed to know how to find out if it has no spark as you are a ham radio operator.
The carb has got water in the float bowl. Unscrew it a bit to drain water, retighting and try again. May be do this a couple of times to renove water.
Sos 88
k4DAP

You are supposed to know how to find out if it has no spark as you are a ham radio operator.
The carb has got water in the float bowl. unscrew it a bit to drain water, retighting and try again. May be do this a couple of times to renove water.
sos 88
k4DAP


I'm a female college professor with no clue about lawn mowers OR HAM RADIOS! You've got the wrong person.

Hello Cathy, when you try to prime the carb do you see, hear and feel resistance in the bulb as you pump gas? If you do not see any gas in the bulb there could be a fuel blockage. I doubt that your spark plug is bad after less than a year. What is the warranty length on this mower?

Excuse me Kathy. Seems I responded to a responder without looking closely.

90 percent of no a start problem I find is water in the gas. It condenses in gas containers and unfilled gas tanks during cold and warm weather changes - mostly during winter months.

Gasoline floats on water. Bottom gas tank water accumulation soon flows to the float bowl.
The engine will spit and sputter and maybe quit. You were able to cut OK the first time so no water in your gas tank.

Most likely there was water in your gas can. You got good gas the first fill because the gas came off the top. The next time you filled up, a little bit of water made it's way out into the gas tank, and went right to the bottom.

The first thing I do with a no start is loosen the nut on the bottom of the float bowl until gas leaks out and collect that in a clear glass container. (Not always easy) Any water present will be obvious. Then maybe drain some more.

I just filled my tiller from a 1/4 full 5 gallon metal gas can. It would not start. I got half a glass of water. It cranked and soon sputtered again. I finally just drained all the gas and poured back what I could get without the water going back in also. LOL

Where is the float bowl on a Toro Recycler mower?

It should be on the bottom of the carburetor which is located at the other end of a gas line from the gas tank. Mine is a metal bowl with a 1/2 inch size nut. I just loosens it until gas begin dripping out. Do this outside.