8 Common Craftsman Lawn Mower Problems (Troubleshoot)

When buying your lawn mower, you understand you’re eventually going to run into a problem. You bought a Craftsman over a lessor known brand hoping it will be less problematic because of the reputation Craftsman has in the equipment and tool industry.

This may hold true. However, every mechanical piece of equipment will eventually develop problems as parts wear due to age.

I have put together a list of some of the most common Craftsman lawn mowers and what items you should look at when experiencing these issues.

You will also find a link to my articles that explain the issues in more detail. I hope this helps narrow down your problems so you are able to identify and fix your Craftsman mower problem.

Craftsman Lawn Mower Problems

The most common problems in a Craftsman lawn mower are:

• Craftsman fails to start
• Loss of power or the mower dies while mowing
• Craftsman begins smoking
• Craftsman has a weak hydrostatic transmission
• Craftsman won’t drive straight or steer correctly
• Craftsman won’t move
• Craftsman is vibrating
• Craftsman is providing a bad or uneven cut

A lot of the problems with your Craftsman lawn mower can be fixed with a few tools and a little effort. There are some items that should be left for a professional mechanic so you don’t cause damage to yourself or your mower.

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Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual before diagnosing, repairing, or operating. Consult a professional if you don’t have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely.

Mower Won’t Start

A Craftsman lawn mower may fail to start because of a bad battery or charging system; faulty electrical components; and air and fuel restrictions. These restrictions can be due to plugged filters, dirty carburetor, clogged fuel lines, and a bad fuel pump.

Detailed information can be found at:
Reasons a Craftsman Mower Won’t Start: The Complete List

Cause	Reason for Problem	Solution
No gas in the fuel tank	Fuel tank is Empty	Fill with fresh fuel
Bad or old fuel	Fuel breaks down overtime making your fuel less efficient and prone to clogging the fuel system	Drain the fuel tank and fill it with fresh fuel. Use a fuel additive like Sea Foam to stabilize the fuel and assist with cleaning the fuel system. Use the right fuel.
Faulty or clogged fuel cap	The vent in the cap can get clogged causing your tank to form a vacuum restricting fuel flow	Use a thin piece of wire to try to clear the clogged vent. Replace the cap if needed.
Bad spark plug	Excessively dirty or broken spark plug; bad connection; not gapped correctly	Replace with a new spark plug, secure connections, and ensure it is gapped to manufacturer specifications
Plugged air filter	Dirt and grass can plug the air filter preventing airflow	Remove the filter and clean it. Replace the filter if it is in bad condition.
Plugged fuel filter	A dirty fuel filter will restrict fuel flow	Replace the fuel filter
Bad fuel pump	A failed or leaking fuel pump will no longer create the pressure needed to pump fuel	Replace the fuel pump
Blocked fuel lines	Bad fuel deposits and dirt can build up and clog the fuel lines preventing the engine from getting the required fuel	Use a carb cleaner and compressed air to clear the clog out of the fuel line. Replace the line if necessary.
Dirty carburetor	The carburetor can become dirty and clogged due to bad fuel and ethanol deposits preventing fuel flow	Clean all of the components making up the carburetor. Replace if needed.
Bad battery or loose & dirty terminals	A dead battery, loose cables, or corroded terminals can cause starting problems	Charge your battery and replace it if it won’t hold a charge. Make sure your cables are tight and clean the corrosion from terminals.
Bad safety switch	Safety switches are a safety measure that exists to prevent your mower from starting in certain situations. When a switch fails, your mower may not start.	Test and replace faulty safety switch
Bad ignition switch or coil	Your mower will not start when either the ignition switch or coil is bad	Test and replace a bad switch
Broken recoil	A pull start mower may have a damaged or broken recoil preventing the recoil to initiate starting your engine	Check the recoil to see if it can be restrung or broken parts, like the pulley, can be replaced. Replace the recoil assembly if needed.

Loses Power or Dies While Mowing

A Craftsman lawn mower may lose power or die while in the middle of mowing because of an air or fuel restriction. A clogged fuel filter plugged air filter and a dirty carburetor are the most common reasons why your mower may encounter a loss of power.

Detailed information can be found at:
Why Your Craftsman Lawn Mower Dies & How to Fix

Cause	Reason for Problem	Solution
Bad fuel	Fuel breaks down overtime making your fuel less efficient and prone to clogging the fuel system and engine damage	Drain the fuel tank and fill it with fresh fuel. Use a fuel additive like Sea Foam to stabilize the fuel and assist with cleaning the fuel system
Plugged air filter	Dirt and grass can plug the air filter preventing airflow	Remove the filter and clean it. Replace the filter if it is in bad condition.
Dirty or broken cooling fins	Cooling fins get packed with dirt, oil, and grass not allowing air to effectively cool the engine block	Replace broken fins and clean the cooling fins.
Clogged fuel lines	Bad fuel deposits and dirt can build up and clog the fuel lines preventing the engine from getting the required fuel.	Use a carb cleaner and compressed air to clear the clog out of the fuel line
Dirty carburetor	The carburetor can become dirty and clogged due to bad fuel and ethanol deposits preventing fuel flow	Clean all of the components making up the carburetor. Replace if needed.

Mower is Smoking

A Craftsman lawn mower usually begins smoking because of oil from the engine beginning to burn.

This happens when oil is pushed into the compression cylinder or oil is leaking out of the engine onto the hot muffler. Another reason why a lawn mower may smoke is due to water in your fuel system.

Detailed information can be found at:
Why Your Craftsman Lawn Mower is Smoking

Cause	Reason for Problem	Solution
Plugged air filter	Dirt and grass can plug the air filter preventing airflow	Remove the filter and clean it. Replace the filter if it is in bad condition.
Too much oil in the crankcase	Excessive oil can cause pressure to build in the engine allowing oil to get into the cylinder through the valve train	Drain a little engine oil until it is at the manufacturer’s recommended oil level.
Low engine oil level	Lack of oil can increase friction in your engine causing extreme heat in the engine	Bring to a small engine repair shop to inspect engine damage. You can try adding oil, but it is often too late to this fix your engine problem.
Internal problems including the piston ring, valve train, or engine gasket	Internal engine problems can have a detrimental effect on your mower if they are not caught soon enough and fixed.	Bring your Craftsman to your local small engine repair shop for troubleshooting

Weak Hydrostatic Transmission

Craftsman mowers that utilize a hydrostatic transmission may experience a weak transmission when the hydraulic is old or low in capacity. It can also feel weak when the drive belt or tensioner pulley is worn or broken.

Most Craftsman zero-turn mowers utilize a sealed transmission system where the owner is unable to service the hydros. Your lawn mower must be brought to a Craftsman service center for any transmission problems.

Cause	Reason for Problem	Solution
Bad drive belt	A bad drive belt can cause your pump not to work efficiently	Replace a frayed, cracked, or worn belt
Bad tensioner pulley	When a tensioner pulley fails, it fails to keep tension on the drive belt	Replace the pulley and grease the tensioner arm
Transmission Problems	Most Craftsman zero turns have sealed transmission systems so they are unserviceable.	Bring your zero-turn to your local Craftsman service shop to be repaired.

Won’t Drive Straight or Steer Correctly

Several items can affect your Craftsman mower’s steering including incorrect tire pressures, bad dampers, and worn steering components. The tracking may be off on Craftsman zero turns causing the mower to veer off to the right or left.

Cause	Reason for Problem	Solution
Incorrect tire pressure	Unequal tire pressure can cause your mower to pull to one side.	Check tire pressures and keep them filled to the manufacturer’s spec. Tires on each side of your mower require equal pressure.
Bad dampers on zero turn	Bad dampers will cause your mower to jerk to one side when moving forward	Replace with a new damper
Tracking adjustment needed on zero turn	When one tire is moving faster than the other, your mower can pull to one side	Adjust the speed adjustment bolt to change the rotation speed of the tire. Refer to your owner’s manual.
Worn or loose steering components in riding mower	Worn bushings, washers, and gears can cause your mower to not steer one way or the other	Inspect and replace the parts that failed on your steering system

Won’t Move

A Craftsman mower may not move due to a bad or missing drive belt, worn tensioner pulley, or missing idler spring. The key may also be missing in the axle of a Craftsman riding mower and the drive release lever in the wrong position on a Craftsman zero turn.

Detailed information can be found at:
9 Reasons Your Mower Won’t Move or Go Forward

Cause	Reason for Problem	Solution
Drive release lever in the wrong position	The drive release lever allows hydrostatic mowers to roll freely	The drive release lever must be in the operating position.
Missing key in the axle	Your riding mower may have a small key in the axle that may have fallen out of place	Replace the key in the axle
Drive pump belt is worn	The mower won’t move if your drive belt has fallen off. It could also not move if the belt is worn.	Replace a worn or cracked belt. Make sure the belt is securely around the pulleys.
Bad tensioner pulley	The bearing in the tensioner pulley can fail	Replace the tensioner pulley
Missing idler arm spring	If the idler arm spring breaks or goes missing, it can no longer place tension on the drive belt	Replace the broken or missing spring
Transmission Problems	Most Craftsman zero turns have sealed transmission systems so they are unserviceable.	Bring your zero-turn to your local Craftsman service shop to be repaired.
Hot hydraulic fluid	Hot hydraulic fluid can be a sign of damage to your hydrostatic transmission system	Let your hydraulic oil cool. If you find your mower runs fine when it is cold, but becomes weak when the hydraulic system gets hot, have your mower checked at your local Craftsman dealership.

Mower and Engine is Vibrating

A Craftsman lawn mower may begin vibrating from loose, failing, or damaged parts and components including bearings and mower blades. Debris lodged under the pulleys in your mower deck can also send a vibration through your mower.

Detailed information can be found at:
Craftsman Lawn Mower Vibration

Cause	Reason for Problem	Solution
Loose or missing engine mounting bolts	Engine bolts are used to reduce the vibration of the mower when the engine is running	Secure engine bolts and replace any missing bolts
Failing clutch	When there is bearing failure and it falls out of the clutch it can cause vibration. A manual engagement clutch can have a bushing and linkages that can fail.	Replace the clutch
Unbalanced or damaged mower blades	Blades must be balanced before installing them on the mower. Vibration can be caused by unbalanced or damaged blades.	Replace any damaged blades and make sure they are balanced.
Foreign material wrapped around the blade shaft	Foreign materials like string or long weeds can get wrapped around your blade shaft causing vibration	Remove all debris and items wrapped around the blade shaft. Check for spindle damage.
Bad spindle housing bearings	Confirm vibration is not coming from bad bearings in the spindle housing	Replace the bearing in the spindle housing or replace the whole spindle housing assembly
Bad deck belt or pulleys	Check deck belt and pulleys for wear and bearing failure	Replace any damaged or worn belts and pulleys
Debris lodged in mower	Stones, acorns, woodchips, and other small items can get lodged in the mower under the pulleys or other items on your mower. Sometimes this causes your mower to shake.	Check over your mower deck and mower for any place small items can be stuck in your mower. Remove these foreign materials.

Bad or Uneven Cut

Your Craftsman mower deck can give you an uneven cut when the deck shell, blades, and spindle shafts are damaged. Not running your mower at full throttle or moving your mower too fast can also affect your lawn mower cut.

Detailed information can be found at:
Why Your Craftsman Lawn Mower Cuts Uneven

Dull or worn mower blade	Tire pressures uneven	Engine speed is too low
Bent mower blade	Mower deck is not level	Ground speed is too fast
Blade installed wrong	Blade spindle is bent	Deck is damaged
Deck is plugged with dirt	Bade mower deck belt or pulleys	Operator error

In Summary

While these are many of the most common problems for Craftsman lawn mowers and most other lawn mowers, there are additional problems that can occur such as a fuel leak or a belt breaking.

With so many items that can wear or become damaged. It’s important you perform periodic checks before each mowing and regular service maintenance once or twice a year.