View Full Version : Overheated electric lawn mower
robinh6226
Feb 21, 2014, 04:54 PM
I'm a newly single mom and was out mowing the lawn with an electric HomeLite lawn mower. The grass was thick, and the mower started slowing down as it was struggling. It then stopped. When I tried to start it again, nothing happened. I waited awhile. I checked to make sure the blade was clear. I checked to make sure there wasn't a grass logjam anywhere. Then tried to start again. Still wouldn't start. I tried another outlet, then noticed that the house lights were dimming when I tried to start it, then the lights went out and I had to go to the house electrical and flip the switch to get it back. This would happen every time I tried to restart it. This has never happened before, after years of using this same mower and same outlets.
Is it possible that there's a blown fuse I can replace on the mower? Or that there's a reset switch somewhere? I'm at a loss.
Thanks!
Robin
odinn7
Feb 21, 2014, 09:00 PM
Sounds like the motor was overheated and bound up. Give it an hour or so and then see if it works. If not, and you can't find anything jammed in it, then it's probably time for a new one.
smearcase
Feb 21, 2014, 09:13 PM
If it is dimming house lights, not likely to be anything that can be reset on the mower. The load from the mower is causing the overload of the house circuit.
If odin's suggestion doesn't make a difference, either take it to an authorized shop, or try a new or different mower. It could already be a safety issue just touching it under present circumstances.
odinn7
Feb 21, 2014, 09:21 PM
I had rented a commercial deep cleaner for carpeting. I was running it for a few hours in the heat and the pump started to make noise and it finally seized and tripped the breaker. I didn't realize it seized and reset the breaker only to have it trip again. Once I let it cool down, it all worked fine. That is how this mower sounds but smearcase is right about touching it. Just be careful.
crigby
Feb 22, 2014, 03:58 AM
Hi,
Sounds as if it has a short. That is what kicks breakers. Heat could do it. Some of those machines had a rectifier the could have heated, shattered and shorted. If you provide a UT number(unique to Homelite) I may be able to look it up. At many years old as stated, it may not be possible since Homelite was fractured into many pieces a number of years ago.
Peace,
Clarke