Is My Engine Choke Symbol On or Off on My Lawn Mower? Everything you need to…

Is My Engine Choke Symbol On or Off on My Lawn Mower? Everything you need to know

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If you are finding it difficult to determine if your lawn mower’s engine choke symbol is “On” or “Off”, you aren’t alone.

The engine choke symbol is often difficult to find and/or read as it can fade or get covered in dirt and debris over time. Likewise, if your lawn mower choke is without a bulb, or the bulb is not working, it can also be difficult to know if the whether you’ve switched the choke symbol On Off.

I’m here to teach you a little about the basic function of a choke, help you determine which symbol is Off, which is On, and what to do if you can see your visual signals.

Where Is the Choke Located On a Lawn Mower?

The choke valve is typically found on the engine body or as a lever on the handle. There are a variety of gas lawn mowers on the market and the location of the choke valve will vary from machine to machine.

For example, if your lawn mower has a butterfly valve the choke valve will likely be positioned directly in the manifold. The same is true for other gas machines like snowblowers, generators, and stick edgers.

What Does Choke Control Do On a Lawn Mower Engine?

The choke in any electrical power equipment controls the air flow that enters the engine’s cylinders and mixes with the liquid fuel mixture.

This is true for both 2-cylinder and 4-cylinder machines.

When the choke is turned On, your carburetor is blocked by a small piece of metal or plastic. It completely restricts or “chokes” any air flow from moving into the engine, and it controls the air-fuel ratio as a result.

What Happens When You Close the Choke Valve?

When you close the choke valve on your machine, you send more fuel to the engine cylinder and restrict or “choke” the flow of air. The extra fuel helps heat the engine to the temperature needed to start an engine.

How Do You Tell if The Engine Choke Is On or Off?

Finding your engine choke’s On symbol and Off symbol can look a little different from machine to machine.

Your gas-powered machine may also include an auto choke. Some machines have a choke light, while others have hard-to-read symbols or markings.

You are out of luck if you are looking for consistency!

What’s The Symbol For Full Choke?

If you’re lucky, your machine has a choke trigger or lever near the engine labeled:

If, however, you are not so lucky, and your machine doesn’t clearly state this then the choke is likely labeled in one of the following ways:

• “Start” – this is commonly used to indicate that a choke is engaged and ready to start a cold engine.
• “Closed” – if you see this word near the engine control module, then you have a closed and engaged choke.

If all you see is a switch – usually red, but occasionally blue – then this relates to the choke valve. On either side will be an “I” and an “O”:

• “I” – the choke is engaged and the air supply will be restricted to the carburetor. Switch to the “I” position to start.
• “O” – the choke is not engaged. Switch to the “O” position after your machine is warmed up.

Still can’t figure it out? When all else fails, check your lawn mower manual. This should include information about the location of your choke, what position it should be in to start, and may have some recommendations for how long you should run your machine with the choke open before turning it Off.

What’s The Symbol For Half Choke?

Two-cycle engines commonly feature a half choke option. As you have probably guessed, this allows you to open your choke halfway or have it closed halfway.

The reason for this is many lawn mower’s (with or without this feature) will sometimes die out if you quickly move from full choke to no choke.

Using the halfway feature allows you to start your machine and then allows your machine to adjust to a reduced air flow. I have an old snowblower that if you start up and then kill the choke, immediately sputters out. If, however, I start in the full choke, then move to the half choke position and let it run for a minute or two before turning it Off, runs like the day I brought her home.

So how do you know if your lawn mower has a half choke?

• If your machine has a half choke symbol, it will be in a third color on your choke dial – right in the middle. This spot indicates when your choke lever is halfway open.
• If your machine doesn’t have a half choke symbol, don’t worry. Just slide the choke lever halfway between the open and closed position.

During Operation

Leaving the Choke On During Operation

Many machines will see a breakdown in power and performance if the choke lever is left in the On position. I do not even recommend leaving your choke in the half-choke position.

Check the choke if you are operating your machine, and it doesn’t seem to have the same giddy-up as it was the last time you used it.

When To Turn The Choke Off During Operation?

In general, you will want to turn the choke Off when the machine is warmed. When will vary from lawn mower to lawn mower.

Some machines will give you visual or auditory clues that it is warmed up such as sputtering or black smoke coming from the engine compartment. This is usually a good sign your machine is warmed up, ready to have the choke turned Off and used.

For example, I have a lawn trimmer that will tell me when she is ready. Because I have used this machine for so many years, I can hear the cold engine slowly warm up, and I know exactly what it sounds like when it’s time to change the choke position.

Keep in mind that turning your choke Off too soon will also stop the engine from running.

Is It Bad To Leave The Choke On?

Ideally, you will only use your choke when it is absolutely necessary as overusing the choke can permanently damage your engine.

As you become familiar with your equipment, you will get a feel for when your machine is warmed up and ready to go.

Remember, that the longer your lawn mower choke is in the full “On” position, the more fuel your machine will use. This wastes money, isn’t great for the environment, and can eventually create costly problems for your gas powered machine.

Should I Leave The Choke On or Off for Storage?

You will also want to turn your choke Off when storing your equipment, especially for longer periods of time.

Setting the choke symbol to Off also keeps debris and dust from getting inside parts of your machine- another proactive maintenance idea.

I always turn my choke lever Off, so I know when it’s time to heat up the cold engine again; I don’t have to guess if I turned it On or Off.

Engine With a Choke Switch – Troubleshooting Tips

Why Will My Machine Only Run With the Choke On?

Back in my twenties, when I wasn’t really Smart, I had a trimmer that would only run when the choke was in the “On” position. By the end of the summer, the engine burned up on me, and I cursed the manufacturer and vowed never to buy their product again.

My grandfather asked to take a look at it. Within about 30 seconds, he diagnosed the problem: user error.

The problem wasn’t the machine; it was that some dummy (me) had used the trimmer to remove heavy grass and a small brush in the spring. The fuel was nasty looking and the air filter was completely matted with grass.

If your machine only runs with the choke wide open, you have debris somewhere, creating an environmental choke and preventing air flow to the carburetor.

The fuel lines could be blocked, a dirty air filter, or a grimy fuel filter clogging the fuel supply.

You will want to check these out before you end up ruining your equipment.

Why Won’t My Machine Start?

If you have trouble getting your electrical equipment started and have tried opening and closing your choke:

• Check the fuel tank: It’s always a good idea to check the fuel tank. Ensure you are using fresh fuel and that your fuel supply lines and filter are clean. Blockage in fuel lines will cause your machine to run poorly or not at all.
• Check your air filter: Your air filter should be free of dust and debris, allowing for clean air intake.
• Check if your machine is overprimed: If your machine has a primer bulb, ensure you haven’t overprimed and added excess fuel to your lawnmower, trimmer, gas generator, or snow blower engine. Clear air intake is critical for a properly functioning machine.
• Check your choke lever: From time to time, check quickly to see if your choke lever or dial arrow is functioning properly.

FAQs

Q. What Position Should the Choke Button Be In?

A. When starting your machine, the choke would be in the start or On position.

Q. Can a Warm Engine Start With the Choke Off?

A. If you have been running your machine for a while, you may be able to restart it without using the choke. You will not harm your machine if you turn the choke back On to start it up. If it’s been running a while, you can probably shut it Off soon after starting.

Here’s an informative video on how to fix your mower just in case it only runs with choke on:

Final Thoughts

You now have a better understanding of what a choke is and what it is used for, and hopefully, knowing how to use it can help you spot other problems that your machine may encounter. Using your machine’s choke properly can save you time and fuel and hopefully help you avoid expensive repairs or replacement costs.

Hi, Alex Kuritz here. Growing up I remember that my family had one of the best lawns in the neighborhood. Richly green and lush. I did a lot as I grew up in terms of caring and tending for not only my family’s lawn but also my neighbors. I can say I have years of experience, and I am here to share it with you.

What Does a Lawn Mower Choke Do? Learn Its Irreplaceable Purpose

You might’ve noticed the little red button or lever on your mower, also known as a choke valve. They’re found on riding lawn mowers, rotary mowers, and more. Using the choke can save you from having to get a new mower, but how could that be possible?

A lawn mower choke reduces the airflow of the engine, allowing for more fuel to be used. This process allows the engine to spark and ignite easier, starting up in an instant. Choke valves should only be used when absolutely necessary, as they can damage the engine if they’re overused.

• Several purposes and reason to use a lawn mower’s choke valve
• How to use a mower choke
• Quick solutions to problems with a mower choke valve

What’s the Purpose of a Lawn Mower Choke?

There’s a variety of lawn mowers, but for an internal combustion engine, the choke valve is usually located on the body of the engine or a lever on the handle. Most choke valves are butterfly valves mounted in the manifold up from the carburetor jet.

Lawn mowers are operated by using either electricity or fuel, either petrol/gasoline. For those using gasoline-powered equipment, droplets of fuel don’t evaporate well when it’s cold. In this instance, the choke has the following purposes:

• It reduces the flow of air into the carburetor’s throat, and in return, the internal pressure is reduced, and more fuel is efficiently pushed into the combustion chamber.
• The choke helps provide a richer fuel-air mixture to the engine to allow for combustion, which helps it stay running until it warms up enough for the engine to run efficiently on an open choke. This is necessary because a mower needs a rich-fuel to air mixture when starting it up cold for the first time in a while.
• The choke valve produces a higher partial vacuum, which increases the fuel draw.
• Choke valves can increase the usefulness and overall lifespan of riding lawn mowers.

How to Use a Choke on a Lawn Mower

Manufacturers commonly use two system types to achieve smooth cold starts; the choke plate type that’s usually controlled by a lever, and the primer bulb that is simplified and easy to use. The primer bulb creates fuel-rich condition by squirting extra fuel into the engine

• Pick a suitable position to start your mower to avoid tall grass catching the blade as you try to pull start the mower. If you are using the throttle lever-type system, move the lever to full choke, but if you have the primer bulb type, press it three times.
• The bail lever, also known as the dead man’s lever, is the bar at the top of the handlebars, usually marked with a stop symbol. It’s a safety feature, and it’s used to stop the blade from spinning and kills the engine within three seconds of bail lever activation.
• Yank the pull cord so that the engine may produce a spark strong enough to ignite the fuel.
• If the mower doesn’t start immediately after the first pull, give it about an hour, then try again. If it takes more than three pulls, the engine may flood, so you should give it some time. Approximately thirty minutes should be enough of a gap, but this time try it without applying the choke.
• As soon as your engine has warmed up, move the throttle lever to fast/run if the manual choke is fitted. WikiHow suggests that if you run your warm engine while the choke is on, it’ll give off black smoke, run poorly, and probably hurt it.

Maintenance Suggestions

Fixing a choke isn’t limited to experts with high-level experience and technical know-how, as many perceive. It’s not very difficult to understand, and it isn’t challenging to repair or find the problem. One only needs a few tools to be able to solve the problem in just a short time. The following are solutions for the common issues associated with the operation of a choke:

Solving the Flooding Problem: Starting the engine on the first pull of the cord is sometimes next to impossible. Instead of pulling the cord repetitively on full choke, pull it until the engine seems to be right on the cusp of starting. Move the lever to half-choke if you feel like the next pull of the cord will start the engine. This will allow some air to enter, and it will reduce the possibility of flooding the engine.

Solution for Choke Closing and Opening: According to Lawn EQ, make sure that the choke opens and closes efficiently, check and lubricate the choke shaft and the choke linkage.

You should use Gumout Carb and Choke Cleaner for a quick and easy application. Spray it on the metal surface and watch as gunk and grime slide right off. It can also be used to protect your choke shaft and carburetor to prevent them from getting clogged.

Dealing with the choke shaft to improve movement is simple; You just need to spray the shaft with the carburetor cleaner to loosen the grit. It will be knocked off during use, allowing the choke to resume working correctly.

Adjusting the Choke Linkage: If the choke linkage is not adjusted properly, it may hinder the choke’s proper opening or closing. This can be fixed by loosening the cable mounting bracket, as indicated in the equipment manual. The choke lever and cable casing can be moved to fix any gaps or problems with movement.

Final Thoughts

Lawn mower choke valves are very useful and easy to operate once you’ve given it a try. It might seem a little tricky, but it comes down to a basic lever or button.

Remember to follow the suggested step-by-step guide above to prevent flooding and smoking coming from your lawn mower. The last thing you want is a ruined mower when you need it the most!

Note: Clogged blades can be the reason that the mower doesn’t start. Review my other article more information about mower decks and how to clean them.

• Flooding and clogs are the two most common issues to deal with when using a mower choke.
• Always give your lawn mower at least an hour to cool down if it starts to smoke.
• Never start a lawn mower in tall grass; It could prevent the engine from starting.
• If you can’t get the choke to work, try starting the mower without it.

What Does a Lawn Mower Choke Do? Learn Its Irreplaceable Purpose

You might’ve noticed the little red button or lever on your mower, also known as a choke valve. They’re found on riding lawn mowers, rotary mowers, and more. Using the choke can save you from having to get a new mower, but how could that be possible?

A lawn mower choke reduces the airflow of the engine, allowing for more fuel to be used. This process allows the engine to spark and ignite easier, starting up in an instant. Choke valves should only be used when absolutely necessary, as they can damage the engine if they’re overused.

• Several purposes and reason to use a lawn mower’s choke valve
• How to use a mower choke
• Quick solutions to problems with a mower choke valve

What’s the Purpose of a Lawn Mower Choke?

There’s a variety of lawn mowers, but for an internal combustion engine, the choke valve is usually located on the body of the engine or a lever on the handle. Most choke valves are butterfly valves mounted in the manifold up from the carburetor jet.

Lawn mowers are operated by using either electricity or fuel, either petrol/gasoline. For those using gasoline-powered equipment, droplets of fuel don’t evaporate well when it’s cold. In this instance, the choke has the following purposes:

• It reduces the flow of air into the carburetor’s throat, and in return, the internal pressure is reduced, and more fuel is efficiently pushed into the combustion chamber.
• The choke helps provide a richer fuel-air mixture to the engine to allow for combustion, which helps it stay running until it warms up enough for the engine to run efficiently on an open choke. This is necessary because a mower needs a rich-fuel to air mixture when starting it up cold for the first time in a while.
• The choke valve produces a higher partial vacuum, which increases the fuel draw.
• Choke valves can increase the usefulness and overall lifespan of riding lawn mowers.

How to Use a Choke on a Lawn Mower

Manufacturers commonly use two system types to achieve smooth cold starts; the choke plate type that’s usually controlled by a lever, and the primer bulb that is simplified and easy to use. The primer bulb creates fuel-rich condition by squirting extra fuel into the engine

• Pick a suitable position to start your mower to avoid tall grass catching the blade as you try to pull start the mower. If you are using the throttle lever-type system, move the lever to full choke, but if you have the primer bulb type, press it three times.
• The bail lever, also known as the dead man’s lever, is the bar at the top of the handlebars, usually marked with a stop symbol. It’s a safety feature, and it’s used to stop the blade from spinning and kills the engine within three seconds of bail lever activation.
• Yank the pull cord so that the engine may produce a spark strong enough to ignite the fuel.
• If the mower doesn’t start immediately after the first pull, give it about an hour, then try again. If it takes more than three pulls, the engine may flood, so you should give it some time. Approximately thirty minutes should be enough of a gap, but this time try it without applying the choke.
• As soon as your engine has warmed up, move the throttle lever to fast/run if the manual choke is fitted. WikiHow suggests that if you run your warm engine while the choke is on, it’ll give off black smoke, run poorly, and probably hurt it.

Maintenance Suggestions

Fixing a choke isn’t limited to experts with high-level experience and technical know-how, as many perceive. It’s not very difficult to understand, and it isn’t challenging to repair or find the problem. One only needs a few tools to be able to solve the problem in just a short time. The following are solutions for the common issues associated with the operation of a choke:

Solving the Flooding Problem: Starting the engine on the first pull of the cord is sometimes next to impossible. Instead of pulling the cord repetitively on full choke, pull it until the engine seems to be right on the cusp of starting. Move the lever to half-choke if you feel like the next pull of the cord will start the engine. This will allow some air to enter, and it will reduce the possibility of flooding the engine.

Solution for Choke Closing and Opening: According to Lawn EQ, make sure that the choke opens and closes efficiently, check and lubricate the choke shaft and the choke linkage.

You should use Gumout Carb and Choke Cleaner for a quick and easy application. Spray it on the metal surface and watch as gunk and grime slide right off. It can also be used to protect your choke shaft and carburetor to prevent them from getting clogged.

Dealing with the choke shaft to improve movement is simple; You just need to spray the shaft with the carburetor cleaner to loosen the grit. It will be knocked off during use, allowing the choke to resume working correctly.

Adjusting the Choke Linkage: If the choke linkage is not adjusted properly, it may hinder the choke’s proper opening or closing. This can be fixed by loosening the cable mounting bracket, as indicated in the equipment manual. The choke lever and cable casing can be moved to fix any gaps or problems with movement.

Final Thoughts

Lawn mower choke valves are very useful and easy to operate once you’ve given it a try. It might seem a little tricky, but it comes down to a basic lever or button.

Remember to follow the suggested step-by-step guide above to prevent flooding and smoking coming from your lawn mower. The last thing you want is a ruined mower when you need it the most!

Note: Clogged blades can be the reason that the mower doesn’t start. Review my other article more information about mower decks and how to clean them.

• Flooding and clogs are the two most common issues to deal with when using a mower choke.
• Always give your lawn mower at least an hour to cool down if it starts to smoke.
• Never start a lawn mower in tall grass; It could prevent the engine from starting.
• If you can’t get the choke to work, try starting the mower without it.

What Is the Purpose of Choke Symbols on the Lawn Mower?

Have you ever wondered what the purpose or meaning of the choke symbols on the lawn mower is?

What can you do with the choke lever? Well, you’re not the only one who’s concerned about this issue.

Choke symbols show on which side you can engage and disengage the choke. There would be two symbols consisting of an “O” in the center and a line.

If the line is vertical, the choke is on, while the diagonal line means it’s off.

Wait, that’s not all; there are many things you need to know. For example, how you can use this choke and start the mower engine.

We’ll answer all these questions below, so don’t wait further and scroll down the page now!

What’s the Purpose of the Choke?

The purpose of the choke is directly related to starting the engine of any machine.

In cold weather, we usually face a lot of difficulties while starting the lawnmowers because of cold engines. That’s the point when the choke lever helps.

In cold weather, you need a richer mixture of fuel with restricted airflow in the carburetor to start the engine.

This can only happen when the choke is in the “close position.”

The reason behind it is the choke is connected to the carburetor.

When we set it in the off position, the choke restricts the airflow inside the carburetor, which helps start the engine.

Afterward, when we hear the sound of the engine starting, we put the choke again in the “On” position, that’s also known as the “Run” or “Operating” position.

The “On” position puts the engine in operating mode, and the machine works.

For more information, you can watch the video below!

You can see two signs in the image. In both signs, there’s an “O” symbol and a “line.” One line is in the horizontal shape; it’s the “On” or “Operating” position.

And the diagonal line means the “Off” or “Close” position of the choke.

How Can You Use the Choke Lever to Start the Mower?

Here comes the next point: how you can use the choke lever to start the engine of the mower.

Honestly, it’s a simple and two-step process.

• If your engine is cold and not starting, put the choke in the “Off” or “Close” position; this step helps in starting the engine.
• Once you see that the engine is started, you need to set the choke lever again in the “On,” or we can say in the “Operating position.”

The process is the same for all types of lawn mower engines, whether it’s self-propane, riding, or zero-turn mower.

The only thing that will be different might be the place where the lever is installed.

In a self-propane lawn mower, you’ll find the lever above the wheel with the symbols.

On the other hand, in a zero-turn mower or riding mower, the choke lever will be beside the PTO switch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can the engine work without using the choke lever?

Technically yes, the choke lever is only used when the engine is cold, which mostly happens in cold weather.If the engine is in the normal temperature or warm, there’s no need to turn the choke in the “Off” or “Close” position.

What’s the automated choke?

As the name suggests, automated choke means an “automated mechanism.”If your machine comes with an automated choke, it automatically restricts the airflow when the engine is cold and again turns into an operated mode when no longer needed.

Is the choke open or closed?

Check the lever of your choke; if it’s turned towards the sign where the line is in the diagonal shape, it’s in the “close” position.While if the choke lever is towards the sign that has a horizontal line, it’s in the “open” position.

Conclusion

In short, the mechanism of the “choke lever” is used to start the engine when it’s cold.

You can check the choke symbols to understand on which side you should turn the lever.

If the symbol has a “diagonal” line, it means it’s in the “Off” or “Close” position.

In contrast, a horizontal line means it’s the “On” or the “Operating” position. To start the engine, turn the lever towards the “Off” symbol.

Hey, It’s Noah Smith, writer and founder of this blog and horticulturist by profession. I’m here to make your lawn, garden, and backyard perfectly green and full of beauty.