Starting a lawn mower correctly: how to do it
Starting your battery-powered lawn mower is a breeze when you know how. We guide you step-by-step to make lawn care simple and hassle-free in any Aussie backyard.
21.11.2025
Overview: starting a lawn mower
- Starting a battery lawn mower Press and hold the start button, move the engine-stop bar towards the handlebar
- Preparing to start a petrol lawn mower: check fuel, oil level and spark plug socket
- Starting systems from STIHL: easy-start engine, choke, ElectroStart
- Starters at STIHL: pull cord, ElectroStart
- Starting an electric lawn mower: press the start button, pull the blade-stop bar against the handlebar
Starter spray for lawn mowers, such as STIHL Multispray, should be sprayed directly into the intake nozzle of the air filter. One or two pumps should be enough to get your lawn mower up and running again.
Starting a lawn mower is not difficult, but may require multiple steps which depend on the type of lawn mower.
- Battery lawn mowers: Insert the battery, plug in the safety plug, then press the start button
- Electric lawn mowers: Plug in the power cable, press the start button and finally move the engine-stop bar
- Petrol lawn mowers: Open the fuel valve, pull the choke forward, then firmly pull out the starter cord
Possible reasons why a battery lawn mower will not start:
- Battery not inserted
- Battery not charged
Possible reasons why an electric lawnmower will not start:
- Power cable not plugged in
- Defective power cable
Possible reasons why a petrol lawn mower will not start:
- Empty fuel tank
- Clogged fuel filter
- Spark plug too loose or dirty
Switching on a lawn mower: a science in itself?
Starting a lawn mower? It seems straightforward enough: pull the cord or press the power button and off it goes. In the best-case scenario, that’s exactly how it works. However, not every starting mechanism is the same. To prevent problems, we have gathered all the most important tips about how to start your lawn mower in this article.
Starting a battery lawn mower
STIHL offers many battery lawn mowers which are all started in a similar way. Here’s how to do it:
Insert the fully charged battery.
Now insert the safety plug.
Press and hold the start button. Move the engine-stop bar towards the handlebar, and the machine will start.
The different systems for starting a petrol mower
Once you have checked the petrol and oil, you can start your petrol-driven lawn mower. Below we have compiled checklists for you that cover all current STIHL lawn mowers.
Starting a lawn mower with an easy-start engine
Most STIHL lawn mowers are easy to start, as they are equipped with easy-start engines. These include the STIHL RM 248, RM 253, RM 443, RM 448 TX, RM 545, RM 650 T and RM 655 V.
To get them running, take the following steps:
With the help of these instructions, you should be able to start your lawn mower without any problems. If something still isn’t working, just contact your STIHL dealer. You can now get on with mowing your lawn.
Incidentally, read our article on how to get your lawn mower ready for winter when the gardening season is over.
Push the engine-stop bar towards the handlebar and hold it there.
Pull out the starter cord slowly until you feel compression resistance. Then pull it out firmly and quickly, before guiding the cord back in slowly.
Repeat the process until the engine runs.
Starting a lawn mower with choke
Choked lawn mowers should be started with a little more care. At STIHL, you will find chokes mainly on more powerful models for demanding home applications and professional use (STIHL RM 655 YS, RM 756 GS, RM 756 GC, RM 756 YS, RM 756 YC).
To start these models:
Fill the tank with petrol, then open the vent screw on the tank.
Now open the fuel valve.
For a cold engine, move the throttle lever to the choke position. If the engine or the weather is warm, move the lever to position I.
Pull out the starter cord slowly until you feel compression resistance. Then pull it out firmly and quickly, before guiding the cord back in slowly. Repeat the process until the engine runs.
If the engine is running and the throttle lever was previously set to “Choke”, now set it to position I.
Starting a lawn mower without a cord
If your lawn mower’s cord is broken, it can no longer be started. Although there are tricks for starting your lawn mower without a cord, we strongly advise against trying this. You may seriously injure yourself and others, or damage the lawn mower. You must visit a STIHL dealer to have the cord repaired or replaced, then you’ll soon be able to enjoy a functional and safe lawn mower again.
Starting a lawn mower with ElectroStart
Petrol lawn mowers with ElectroStart (for example STIHL RM 545 VE and RM 650 VE) are very easy to start.
Here’s how it works:
Fit the battery to the engine.
Push the engine-stop bar to the handlebar.
Press the start button and the mower will start. The lawn can now be mowed.
Starting a lawn mower with blade-brake coupling
Some lawn mowers from STIHL are equipped with blade-brake coupling. This blade coupling means you can uncouple the rotating cutting blades from the engine without needing to switch off the lawn mower. So for example, the lawn mower can be wheeled from one lawn to the next without damaging the blades on the way.
At STIHL, you’ll find blade coupling in both professional mowers and lawn mowers with easy-start engines. To move the blade while the engine is already running:
Start your lawn mower with a choke or easy-start engine as described above.
Pull the blade-stop bar towards the handlebar and hold it there. The blade coupling is unlocked.
Now pull the blade coupling lever towards the body. It will engage at the stop and can be released. The mower blade is engaged and rotates.
By the way: if you have any questions about how to refuel your lawn mower correctly, our article on the subject will tell you everything you need to know.
Starting an electric lawn mower
Electric lawn mowers can be used anywhere there are mains sockets available. STIHL offers power tools suitable for small and medium-sized areas. Starting an electric lawn mower is extremely straightforward:
First plug in the power cable.
Now press the start button.
Move the engine-stop bar towards the handlebar, and the machine will start. After the lawn mower is started, mowing can begin.
With the help of these instructions, you should be able to start your lawn mower without any problems. If something still isn’t working, just contact your STIHL dealer. You can now get on with mowing your lawn.
Incidentally, read our article on how to get your lawn mower ready for winter when the gardening season is over.
