Riding mower engine vibration. Is Your Lawn Mower Rattling or Sound Weird? Check The Fixes Here
Your Wright Mower Vibrates and Shakes(Causes and How To Fix)
The Wright lawn mower is essential as you can use it for industrial and residential purposes. This lawn mower can be used anywhere. It has different features, from adjustable height settings to a large rotor blade.
Although this mower can be pretty efficient, there are times when different individuals have complained about it vibrating and shaking, only to stop working when they tried using it. When this happens, it can be pretty frustrating, especially when you have had it in mind to use for the day.
You are probably looking for solutions to this problem. We will discuss the possible reasons why your Wright mower vibrates and shake. We will also discuss solutions to this problem.
Why Is my Wright Mower Vibrating and Shaking?
There are different reasons why your Wright mower vibrates and shakes when you use it. Here are some possible reasons below.
A Worn Blade
This is one of the most popular causes of vibration and shakes when you operate your Wright mower. Using a terrible blade will affect the performance, balance, and stability of your lawn mower and its engine.
often than not, a worn-out blade will have uneven edges, which will result in excess vibrations and shaking when you move on uneven terrains. This vibration happens due to the blade not cutting through the glass efficiently.
Damaged Engine
Like a worn-out blade, a damaged engine can make your Wright mower vibrate and shake. If the engine of your Wright mower is bad, it will definitely affect its smooth running.
There are different effects a damaged engine can have on your mower. These effects range from constant misfires to inconsistent power output, wear and tear on the engine parts and a lot more. Once some or all of these things happen, your mower will always vibrate or shake when you use it.
Unbalanced Deck
An unbalanced deck can also vibrate your Wright mower. When you ride your Wright mower on an unbalanced deck, it will lead to the mower shaking due to the uneven or unbalanced blade rotation.
When the deck and blades are not properly balanced, the cutting force when the blade is in motion can cause the mower to jerk or vibrate, especially when riding it on uneven terrain. Apart from causing your engine to shake, an unbalanced deck will also stress your engine, potentially leading to faster wear.
Worn-out Tyres
Bad or worn-out tires are another popular reason or factor why your Wright mower shakes and vibrates when you ride it. The worse the conditions of the tires, the higher the tendency for the mower to shake anytime you ride it.
A worn-out tyre usually does not have enough thread to grip the ground. This can cause constant shaking and jerking of your lawn mower when you ride on bumpy terrain. Additionally, a worn-out tyre will not provide enough cushion to absorb the vibration of the engine when the mower is in motion. This will lead to the mower vibrating more than normal and shaking whenever you use it.
Clocked Vents or Air Filters
There is also a pretty good chance your Wright mower shakes and vibrates if the vents are clogged or blocked. This is because a clogged or blocked vent causes insufficient airflow. That is, it restricts the airflow to the engine thereby leading to the reduction of the efficiency of the combustion process.
This can make the engine jerk or vibrate, leading to the general vibrations you feel when you ride your Wright mower. Additionally, clogged air filters generally lead to debris building up around the engine which leads to vibrations.
How to Fix a Wright Mower Vibrating and Shaking
There are different solutions you can adopt to fix the problem of the Wright mower vibrating and shaking. However, the right or ideal solution to adopt largely depends on why the mower jerks or shakes in the first place.
You should take your time to confirm the reason why your Wright mower vibrates. Once you have done this, you can adopt the solutions below.
Check and Replace the Blades
This is the first thing you should do once you notice that your Wright mower vibrates or shakes anytime you take it for a ride. You should take your time to check the blades to confirm if the blade is in good working condition.
If the blades are bent or worn out, call a technician or an expert to fix them. If it cannot be fixed, get a new blade, as it will save you stress and prevent further damage to your engine.
Check if your Engine Is Damaged
If there is no problem with the blades, the next thing you should check is the engine. This is because engine problems can lead to the constant vibration of your Wright mower when you use it. You must take your time to check the engine and its components.
It is important to check different components such as the valve, the fuel filter, the carburetor and a lot more when it Wright mower shakes or vibrates. If you notice any faulty components in the engine, you can replace them.
In addition, you should also service your Wright mower engine regularly, as it reduces the chances of the engine developing faults over time.
Check if your Deck Is Balanced
Checking if the deck is balanced is another thing you can do once you notice that your Wright mower vibrates or shakes too often. An unbalanced deck can lead to constant shaking of your mower.
There are different methods you can adopt to check if your deck is even and balanced. You can easily raise your mower and turn on the blades to see if they spin evenly and smoothly. You can also use a level to check if the deck are even on both sides.
Once you nice that they are not even, you can make the necessary adjustments by raising or lowering them till it is level.
Check and Replace the Tyres if It Is Worn out
You can also check the tyres of your lawn mower once you notice that the vibration is likely a result of bad tyres. The best thing you can do here is to check the tyres to confirm their working condition.
Simply remove the tyres and inspect them for any wear and tear. If it needs replacement, go ahead and replace it. On the other hand, you can also gauge the tyre if that is all it needs. Lastly, attach the tyre to the mower and ensure the axle is securely tightened.
Clean Clogged Vents/Air Filters
If all the previous solutions aren’t an ideal fit to fix the system, you can go ahead and check the vents to see if dirt or debris is blocking them. Checking it is important as it allows you to remove the debris and other things that might be blowing the free passage of air into the engine. These things can affect the combustion process thereby leading to vibrations in your Wright mower.
To check and clean the vents, simply take out the vent cover and inspect it for dirt or debris. If there is visible dirt, use a brush to remove it. You can also use a compressed air canister to blow out the dirt or debris.
Safety Precautions to Observe when Troubleshooting your Lawn Mower
There are different safety precautions you should observe when fixing the problem of your Wright mower vibrating and shaking. Here are some safety precautions below.
- Always wear your safety gear and glasses.
- Ensure your mower isn’t in motion when you check its parts.
- Ensure there is adequate lighting
- Always read the owner’s manual before changing a part.
Conclusion
There are different reasons why your Wright mower vibrates and shakes. These reasons include a bad blade and a lot more. We have discussed some of these reasons in this article.
Popping Sound Coming From Lawn Mower-Here’s Why It Happens
We have also discussed possible solutions to fix the problem. Simply read through to get all the details you need
Written by Charles Blizzard
John Smith is a passionate lawn care enthusiast with over a decade of hands-on experience in maintaining beautiful and healthy lawns. As the founder of TalkLawn, he shares expert tips, practical advice, and in-depth knowledge on all things related to lawn care.
Is Your Lawn Mower Rattling or Sound Weird? Check The Fixes Here
Rattling is one of the most common sounds a lawnmower makes. If the lawnmower is rattling, it may have a part that could detach at any moment. Thus, you likely want to know why your lawnmower is making noise and how to fix it.
The most common causes of Lawn Mower Rattling are loose bolts and nuts, damaged or worn-out blades, a broken muffler, old engine oil, a clogged air filter, and debris lodged in the mower deck.
Lawn Mower Rattling: 6 Things to Check
Some major causes of lawnmower rattling and their respective solutions are given below.
Loosen Bolts and Nuts
Loosen bolts and nuts are the most likely reason why the lawnmower is rattling.
Over time, the vibrations produced by the mower could loosen the bolts, nuts, and screws that hold the mower together. This causes the mower’s parts to bang against each other.
Periodically, especially after extended use, inspect various components including the blade deck and engine for any visible sign of looseness for movement. If you don’t know which bolts or screws are loose, go over all of them and tighten the loose ones.
Use a wrench or socket to tighten those bolts and nuts. Ensure the correct torque, specified by the user manual to prevent under-tightening or over-tightening.
Damaged or worn bolts, nuts, and screws must be replaced. You may also use lock washers or thread-locking compounds to keep bolts and nuts from coming loose.
Damaged Blade
A lawnmower blade may be bent, become unbalanced, or the blade assembly may become loose, causing the lawnmower to rattle.
Bent Blade
Lawnmower blade could be bent or chipped upon contact with hard objects. A bent blade in contact with the skid plate causes rattling.
The blade is installed in the gap between the cutting disc and skid plate. When the disc rotates, an unsecured the skid plate due to a damaged skid plate cover applies vertical pressure on the blade. This causes the blade to be bent.
The worn-out or bent blades must be replaced with new ones. The skid plate cover should also be checked for replacement.
Unbalanced Blade
Lawnmower may rattle because of one side of the blade may be lighter than the other.
Use a lawnmower blade balancer to fix the unbalanced blade.
Loose Blade Assembly
Loose Blade Assembly causes the blade to vibrate and move in an uneven manner, thus making contact with other parts of the lawnmower.
The blade adapter that connects the blade to the engine’s output shaft may also become loose or damaged, causing vibration and rattling.
To fix a loose blade assembly, take the following steps.
Step-1: Disconnect the spark plug
Prevent the accidental start-up of the lawnmower by disconnecting it from the power source.
Step-2: Tighten the bolt
Tighten the bolt that holds the blade. When tightening, you can use a piece of wood to prevent the blade from turning.
Damaged Muffler
A muffler is used to reduce the sound of the engine exhaust by a lot. A broken muffler might have holes or cracks that can be seen with the naked eye, or it might not fit right on the engine outlet.
If the muffler is broken, it may not work well with the engine. The gap lets engine noise and vibrations escape, making a rattling sound.
Again, a broken muffler can mess up the flow of air and the pressure inside the engine. This makes the engine shake more and make a rattling sound.
Depending upon the extent of the damage, you may decide whether to replace or repair the muffler. over, it’s recommended to replace the damaged muffler with a new one since they are not too expensive.
It can be done in a few easy steps-
Step-1: Cool down the engine
Make sure the engine is not hot. It is wise to wait for some hours before replacing the muffler. It’s recommended to use a pair of gloves for protection.
Step-2: Locate the muffler
Mostly, mufflers are located on the side or rear of the engine. Typically, they are attached to the end of an exhaust pipe. Unscrew the exhaust pipe to remove the muffler entirely. You may need a pipe wrench to unstick the rusted muffler.
Step-3: Repair or replace the muffler
If the muffler has minor cracks or tiny holes, it can be repaired using patching materials or muffler repairing tape like FiberFix.
On the other hand, severely damaged or rusted mufflers must be replaced with a new one. Install the muffler by putting the threaded end into the engine’s exhaust outlet and spinning it clockwise to tighten.
Contaminated or Damaged Engine Oil
Engine oil works as a lubricant between moving parts of the lawnmower engine and prevents the parts to rub against each other.
Over time, oil becomes degraded or contaminated with debris, dirt, or water and can no longer perform the intended work.
The engine requires to change the oil every 30 to 40 hours of use or twice a year. Use the following troubleshooting steps to change the oil-
Step-1: Start the lawnmower
It is important to warm the oil for warm oil flows easily.
Step-2: Drain the old oil
Remove the drain plug which is located near the bottom of the engine and drain out the old oil completely in a container.
Step-3: Add fresh oil
Fill the oil tube at the optimum level with the recommended type of oil.
Clogged Air Filter
The air filter works as a barrier to prevent debris, dirt, and dust from entering the engine and allows only clean air to enter.
Over time, the filter fills with those dust or debris and becomes clogged. This blocks the airflow to the engine and causes rattling.
You can clean or replace the clogged air filter by following the easy steps given below.
Step-1: Turn off the mower
Remove the spark plug wire to ensure safety.
Step-2: Locate the air filter
Mostly it is rectangular in shape and is located near the carburetor.
Step-3: Clean or replace the filter
Remove the air filter cover and tap on a hard surface to displace all the debris and clouds of dust. If the filter still looks dirty, use compressed air to blow it clean or brush the filter. The damaged filter must be replaced.
Step-4: Reinstall the air filter
Cover the filter and put it back in place.
Debris in the Mower Deck
Grass, clippings, stones, dirt, twigs, and other debris may build up underneath the mower deck gradually. Mowing on uneven or rough terrain causes more debris to trap in the deck. This debris stuck between the blade and the deck or vibrates against the deck, causing the lawnmower to rattle.
You should adjust the mower deck height and avoid mowing on rough terrain. You can follow the simple steps given below to clean the mower deck.
Step-1: Clean the mower deck
Unplug the wire and clean the deck with a stick, brush, scraping tool, or compressed air to blow out the debris. Use a power washer only if the user manual allows the use of water.
Step-2: Use WD-40 to the deck
After you have cleaned up the debris properly, apply some WD-40 which keeps the debris building up again.
Maintaining a beautiful lawn can be a daunting task, especially if you lack the appropriate know-how and tools to handle the challenges that may crop up. Fortunately, LawnAsk is here to offer you an all-encompassing resource that covers everything you need to know about lawn care.
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Is Your Lawn Mower Vibrating Badly? Possible Causes
Excessive lawn mower vibration is a common issue that can be caused by several factors. If your mower is vibrating and you want to know why, you’re in the right place.
Lawn mower vibrations can even be the result of dull blades, leading to an uneven cut. To address this, make sure to sharpen mower blades regularly.
It will give you the opportunity to inspect your mower and spot problems before they arise. Let’s discuss all the possible causes your mower may be experiencing.
What should I do if my lawn mower shakes exessively?
Bad vibrations and exessive shaking are signs a lawn mower is no longer balanced and can cause engine damage or injury. Turn the mower off, let it cool, and investigate further to diagnose the cause of the vibration problem.
Possible Causes of Exessive Lawn Mower Vibration
One of the main causes of lawn mower vibration is an unbalanced or loose cutting blade. This can happen the blade strikes a hard object like a rock or tree stump.
Another cause can be a damaged or worn-out drive belt, belt pulley, or pulley bearing. Inspect and maintain your lawn mower regularly to avoid these issues.
Why is My Lawn Mower Vibrating?
If your lawn mower is vibrating excessively, it is usually a sign of a problem that needs to be addressed promptly. In this section, we’ll explore some of the common reasons in a little more detail and explain what you can do to fix it.
Unbalanced Cutting Blades
One of the most common causes of lawn mower vibration is unbalanced blades.
Over time, the blades can become unbalanced due to wear and tear, hitting rocks or other debris, or improper sharpening. When the blades are unbalanced, they can cause the mower to vibrate excessively.
To fix this issue, you can either sharpen the blades or replace them with sharp new blades.
If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, you can take your mower to a professional for maintenance.
Worn-Out Mower Blades
Another reason why your lawn mower may be vibrating is worn-out blades. Over time, the blades become dull and worn, which can cause the mower to vibrate when in use.
To fix this issue, you should replace the blades with new ones. Make sure to choose the right size and type of blade for your mower. Good news, you probably won’t need to sharpen the new blades.
Damaged Mower Parts
Damaged parts can also cause your lawn mower to vibrate. Parts like the the engine mounting bolts, electric clutch, spindle housing bearings, and pulleys also require maintenance as they wear over time.
If any of these parts are loose or damaged, they can cause the mower to vibrate excessively. Listen to the sound your mower makes to help diagnose which parts may be damaged.
To fix this issue, you should inspect the parts and tighten or replace them as needed. If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, again, take your mower to a professional for maintenance.
Engine Problems
Finally, engine problems can also cause your lawn mower to vibrate. Some of the issues that can cause engine vibrations are as simple as a dirty air filter causing incomplete combustion
A clogged fuel line or worn-out spark plugs can contribute to mower vibrations, though they tend to happen gradually.
If the engine is not running smoothly but it’s been running rough for some time I recommend a complete tune-up.
To avoid engine issues, perform regular maintenance on your mower, including changing the air filter, cleaning the fuel lines, and replacing the spark plugs.
If the engine is still not running smoothly, you should definitely take your mower to a professional for an inspection.
Briggs and Stratton engine repair noisy rattle source lawn mower
Risk of engine damage
Exessive vibrations in a lawn mower come with a serious risk of causing engine damage, especially if the engine was worn or damaged already.
To diagnose the crankshaft and other internal parts, a complete teardown will be neccessary. If you have ruled out all of the “easy” things to check, your next stop will be to check the shear key.
When I ran over a tree stump the shear key should have done its job and broken to protect the rest of the engine, but it didn’t. Thankfully there was no further damage, but the shear key was visibly dented and I replaced it out of precaution.
Summary
I don’t recommend you perform any task you’re not comfortable with, or sure you can do it right. Check the blade first, and the belts, pulleys and mounting bolts. Anything beyond that requires a bit of mechanical aptitude and some small engine repair tools.
Performing regular maintenance on your mower, avoiding running over hard objects, and addressing any issues promptly, will help keep your mower running smoothly and prevent excessive vibration.
Note: I’ve included tips for troubleshooting riding mowers in this guide but most of the tips apply to push mowers as well. Happy mowing!
Why Does My Lawn Mower Vibrate a Lot? (And How to Fix It)
If you are reading this article, it means your lawn mower is vibrating excessively. It can be very frustrating and provide you with a very uncomfortable mowing experience. Look, vibrations are normal in any mechanical system, but excessive vibrations are signals that indicate there is something wrong with your lawn mower.
From unbalanced mower blades to a damaged flywheel key, there are lots of reasons why your lawn mower vibrates badly.
In this article, I will tell you the causes of lawn mower vibrations. I will also tell you how you can fix the excess vibration problem and prevent it in the future.
Before we start our discussion, we need to understand why it is important to fix the excess vibrations in your lawn mower. Let’s start.
Why Excess Vibrations Are Bad For Your Lawn Mower?
I have many times observed that people take vibration problems easy and do not put the effort into fixing them which is very wrong. Here, I will give you reasons why it is important to fix the excess vibration problem of your lawn mower.
1) They Reduce the Operator’s Comfort
When your lawn mower is shaking badly, it can make the mowing experience uncomfortable. The constant shaking of the lawn mower’s engine can cause tingling sensations in the hands and increase your chance of suffering from fatigue over time.
Well, if you mow your lawn rarely, you won’t face such a problem, but if you are a professional landscaper who frequently mows a lawn or if you are an individual who has to mow large lawns then you may face such issues once the lawn is mowed.
That’s the reason I recommend you fix the lawn mower vibration problem as soon as possible.
2) Excess Vibrations can Decrease Mowing Efficiency
When a lawn mower starts vibrating badly. And when this occurs, the blades of the lawn mower shake excessively, and your lawn mower starts cutting unevenly. So, we can say that vibrations can reduce the mower’s cutting efficiency.
3) Vibrations Can Increase Wear and Tear
When a lawn mower starts vibrating badly, it can damage the other parts of your lawn mower such as the mower engine, blades, and other important components. If these vibrations continue for an extended period of time, you will have to spend lots of money on repairing them. Vibrations can also loosen the bolts and other components, which can be hazardous.
4) They can Reduce The Fuel Efficiency
Apart from this, excessive vibrations can also decrease fuel efficiency. To avoid both of these problems, it is important to fix the vibration issue as early as possible.
5) They Make Mower Noisy
Excessive vibrations can increase the noise level of your lawn mower and make them noisy and irritable.
Now, let’s discuss the possible causes behind the excess vibrations of your lawn mower.
Why does Your Lawn Mower Vibrate a Lot?
1) Imbalanced Blades
Imbalanced or loose lawn mower blades are one of the major causes of your lawn mower’s bad vibration. When the blades of your lawn mower are imbalanced, they can’t rotate properly around their axes, which makes the mower vibrate.
How to Fix It?
In order to fix an imbalanced blade. You need to check whether the blade is imbalanced or not; you need to remove it from the mower and place it on a blade balancer. If you find the blade to be improperly balanced, the blade balancer will tilt to one side.
To fix the issue and get it in proper balance, you should remove the material from the heavier and recheck it on the blade balancer. If you find it very difficult to balance it, you can remove the blade and replace it with a new one.
2) Damaged Flywheel Key
The Flywheel key is an important component of your lawn mower. If it is damaged, it can make your lawn mower vibrate badly. A flywheel key is a small metal piece that connects the flywheel to the crankshaft of the mower’s engine. It plays a vital role in shearing off the lawn mower if the engine gets stopped suddenly, such as by hitting a hard object while mowing.
And when the flywheel key of your lawn mower is damaged, it shuts off the timing of the engine and produces bad vibrations.
How to Fix It?
If you find the flywheel key of your lawn mower to be damaged, you can get it repaired or if the damage is high, it is better to replace the old key with a newer one. Since replacing a damaged flywheel key needs expertise, you should seek a professional’s help.
3) Engine Mounts Are Damaged
Engine mounts are an important component of lawn mowers that are installed to absorb engine vibrations and reduce noise. But as the lawn mower gets older, the engine mounts become worn and start generating bad vibrations in the lawn mower.
Apart from the damaged mounts, you should also look for the loose or missing bolts of mounts because a lawn mower can also vibrate because of loose or missing mount bolts.
How to Fix It?
If you find that the engine mounts of your lawn mower are damaged, the only way to fix this issue is to replace them with newer mounts.
In order to check whether the mounts are worn out or not, check whether there are any kinds of cracks, damage, or wear on the mounts. If they are damaged, bring the new mounts from the lawn mower repair shop or order them online and replace them.
If you find the mount bolts are loose, you should immediately tighten them up and if you find bolts missing, install the new bolts.
4) Engine is Not Tuned Up
When the engine of your lawn mower is not correctly tuned up, it can cause the mower to vibrate badly.
It is because when the lawn mower is not tuned up, it runs too slowly or too fast and ends up causing excessive vibrations that are transmitted from the engine to the body of your lawn mower.
How to Fix It?
You can keep the lawn mower engine properly tuned by adjusting the carburetor, spark plug, air filter, and other components of your lawn mower as needed.
5) Air Filter is Dirty
If you regularly use your lawn mower but don’t make effort to clean it, then it gets clogged. And when it starts struggling to breathe air properly, which eventually makes your mower vibrate badly.
How to Fix It?
In order to fix a dirty air filter, you need to clean it properly. And in my opinion, you should not wait for your air filter to get dirty. Instead of this, if your lawn mower usage is more, you should clean the air filter regularly. It is because cleaning the air filter won’t only prevent the lawn mowers from producing excessive vibrations but also help you improve the performance of your lawn mower.
6) Engine is Under Load
It is one of the most common mistakes that people make while using a lawn mower. If your lawn mower is vibrating while you use it, there is a good chance that its engine is under load. Generally, it happens for two reasons.
First, you are mowing wet or thick grass and second, you are operating your normal lawn mower in hilly or high-slope areas. In both of these cases, your lawn mower engine undergoes stress and suffers from excess vibrations.
How to Fix It?
If this is the case, you should avoid mowing wet or thick grass or you should use more powerful lawn mowers which are specially made up for mowing thicker grass. Along with this, you should also avoid using normal lawn mowers in hilly areas or use lawn mowers that are specially made up to be operated in hilly areas.
7) Valves Are Not Adjusted
If your lawn mower is still vibrating excessively even after checking the blade and engine, then you need to check the valves. Most lawn mowers come with overhead valves. Though these valves are simple to adjust, if you have a flathead engine lawn mower, it will be a little bit difficult for you to adjust the valves.
If you don’t adjust the valves correctly, you may face difficulty in starting the mower which causes annoying vibrations.
How to Fix It?
You can fix this issue by adjusting the valve to its ideal position. Though it seems easy, if you are not an expert in lawn mower-related things, I don’t recommend you do it by yourself. Instead of that, you should get professional assistance.
8) Crankshaft is Damaged
When the lawn mower gets hit by a rock or any other hard object, its crankshaft gets damaged. The crankshaft is one of the most important components of the engine in your lawn mower.
It connects directly to the blade. It means that if there is something wrong with the crankshaft, it can distort the movement of the blades. And as discussed above, imbalanced blades can make your lawn mower vibrate badly.
How to Fix It?
In the situation of a damaged crankshaft, you need to repair it. However, if you are new to lawn mowing or have started using a lawn mower recently, you should not repair it by yourself.
In my opinion, it is better to approach a professional lawn technician and get your mower repaired.
These are the most common causes that make lawn mowers vibrate badly and solutions to fix them.
Conclusion
Here, I have covered all the reasons that can make your lawn mower shake badly. Finally, I would like to tell you that it is not recommended to use a vibrating lawn mower, both from a comfort and safety perspective. To avoid this issue, you need to do regular maintenance, such as cleaning the air filter and sharpening the blades, because all these practices can keep your lawn mower from generating excessive vibrations.
If your lawn mower doesn’t stop shaking even after applying all the fixes I have mentioned in this article, you should bring it to its specialist and get it repaired.
