How to Start a Flooded Two-Stroke Engine
by Dwight Malone
Two-stroke engines are small internal combustion engines that are most commonly found on lawnmowers, chainsaws and weed whackers. They have a single cylinder and run on a mix of gasoline and oil. The gasoline provides the power, while the oil provides necessary lubrication to the crank shaft and piston. The engine may flood because of overpriming or because the choke has been left open too far, causing an excess amount of fuel to reach the combustion chamber. If your two-stroke engine is flooded, you can get it started with relative ease.
Step 1
Place the machine on a flat surface.
Step 2
Locate the spark plug that is attached to the engine. If you are unsure of the exact location, consult the owner's manual, as the location can vary from engine to engine.
Step 3
Attach the spark plug wrench to the tip of the spark plug and rotate the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the spark plug. Once it is loose, finish unscrewing it by hand and remove the spark plug from the engine.
Step 4
Deactivate the engine's choke by pushing in the choke control lever.
Step 5
Pull on the machine's starting cord rapidly eight times while fully depressing the throttle control lever.
Step 6
Wipe off any excess fuel from the tip of the spark plug, reinsert the plug into the spark plug hole and tighten with the spark plug wrench.
Step 7
Start the engine according to the manufacturer's instructions for that particular engine.
References
Things You'll Need
- Spark plug wrench
Warnings
- When removing the spark plug, be sure you are facing away from the area where the spark plug is located, as fuel may shoot out when the spark plug is removed.
Writer Bio
Dwight Malone is a journalist who has worked for various Chicago-area newspapers, including the "Chicago Tribune" and "Naperville Sun." He has been a writer, editor and graphic designer since 2000. Malone studied journalism at Eastern Illinois University.
