How to Fix Electric Lawn Mower Power Lever Not Working

To get most electric lawnmowers mowing, all you have to do is pull the lever on the handlebars. That’s the general idea, anyway. But a few elements could be at fault if your power lever doesn’t respond. So, you will need to inspect your mower and see if any parts need repairing or replacing. Here are 2 common reasons your electric lawn mower power lever is not working.

electric lawn mower power switch not working

Why Your Electric Lawn Mower Lever is Not Working (Overview)

There are two main reasons the power lever on your electric lawn mower is not working: a faulty electrical switch or a worn-down lever. The power switch could be internally damaged or have a poor electrical connection. Also, the lever could have a worn-down contact point that is no longer able to press the power switch when the lever is pulled.

How to Check An Electric Lawn Mower Power Switch & Lever

To figure out why your lawn mower won’t start, you’ll need to inspect the power engagement mechanism. This includes testing the power switch, the switch connections, and the lever itself. Here are the three separate tests you can follow to diagnose the problem.

How to Test an Electric Lawn Mower Power Lever

The first test I like to do is to check whether or not the power level is engaging the power switch. So, remove the main cover from your mower lever mechanism to expose both the lever and the switch. Then, pull the lever and check for good contact between the lever and the switch. You should see that the lever extends and pushes the switch, causing it to turn on.

To confirm the lever is at fault, connect the power supply to the lawn mower and press the switch using an insulated screwdriver. If your lawn mower starts when manually pressing the switch and not with the lever, then you know the lever is to blame. If your lawn mower doesn’t work by manually pressing the switch, the problem is with either the switch or its connections.

How to Test Electric Lawn Mower Power Switch Connections

It’s common for the connections on a lawn mower power switch to become loose or corroded, resulting in a poor connection. This means you likely get a voltage drop at the switch, and your lawn mower won’t have enough power to start. To test the switch connections, place a multimeter between the connections and check for a voltage drop. For example, the voltage should be the same going into the switch as it is coming out. Also, there should be an equal voltage between the connector and the post.

How to Test an Electric Lawn Mower Power Switch

You can do two tests to check if your lawnmower’s power switch is faulty. First, test if the circuit is completed as designed. Second, check if there is a short within the switch. You’ll want to remove the switch from your lawn mower to begin these tests. Before removing the wires, write down or label the wires so you know which goes where. This makes putting things back together much easier. Now, let’s take go over both of these tests in more detail.

Test if the Power Switch Completes the Circuit

Set your multimeter to continuity.
Connect one multimeter probe to one of the negative posts and the second probe to the other negative posts.
Once the probes are connected, press the switch and test it.
When done, repeat the same test on the positive side of the switch.

If your switch works correctly, your multimeter should only show continuity when the switch is pressed between negative to negative and positive to positive. If these are not your results, the switch is faulty and should be replaced.

Test the Power Switch for a Short

To test for a short, you will need to test for continuity between negative and positive.

Set your multimeter to continuity.
Connect one probe to one of the negative posts, then the second probe to one of the positive posts, and press the switch.
When finished, move the second probe to the second positive post and repeat the test.
Next, move the first probe onto the second negative post and repeat the two tests, switching between the two positive posts and pressing the switch each time.

Okay, this might sound a bit confusing. The goal is to check for continuity between negative to positive posts by making different connections between them when the switch is on and off. So, if your multimeter shows continuity between negative to positive at any point, you’ll have discovered a short. If your lawn mower power switch has a short, you need to replace it immediately.

How to Fix an Electric Lawn Mower Power Switch & Lever

Now, let’s go over the different repairs you can do to fix your lawn mower’s power switch and lever.

How To Repair Electric Lawn Mower Power Switch Connections.
How to Replace an Electric Lawn Mower Switch.
How to Replace an Electric Lawn Mower Power Lever.

How To Repair Electric Lawn Mower Power Switch Connections

You can do some things to restore the connection between your power switch and the attached wires. For corroded connections, you’ll want to clean everything with an electrical contact cleaner and some fine grit sandpaper. For any loose connections, you’ll want to pinch the connector with a pair of pliers until the connections are firm. Once you are done, you can give everything a good spray with the contact cleaner, as the contact cleaner acts as a protective coating to prevent rust and repel water.

Tools & Materials For Power Switch Connections Repair (Example Products)

How to Replace an Electric Lawn Mower Switch

Normally, the electric power switch is simply resting inside the power lever housing. This means you can lift it out of place without any tools. So once you have the switch out of the housing, it’s time to remove the cables.

Before you begin, I recommend that you take note of the wire positions or take a quick photo. Now, it’s time to remove the wires. Your power switch may have push or spade connectors attaching the wire to the switch. In either case, I recommend using a pair of pliers to pull the wires free.

Next, attach the wires to your new switch, ensuring they are attached to the appropriate points. Finally, install the switch into the housing, and that’s pretty much it. All that is left to do is reattach the mechanism back on your lawn mower, and you are done.

Tools & Materials For Power Switch Replacement (Example Products)

Pliers
Power Switch (Lawn Mower Specific)

How to Replace an Electric Lawn Mower Power Lever

Electric lawn mower power levers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and they are attached in various ways. The key to the repair is to remove the old lever and install the replacement. However, you’ll want to be careful as most levers are kept in the off position using a spring. So before you remove the old lever, take note of the spring position and remove it if needed. Then, once you have the replacement attached, reposition the spring and make sure the lever springs into the off position when released.

Tools & Materials For Power Switch Lever Replacement (Example Products)

Pliers
Screwdriver
Power Switch Lever (Lawn Mower Specific)

How to Protect a Lawn Mower Power Lever & Switch

You’ll want to store your lawn mower in a dry place away from the rain to protect the switch from corrosion and rust. Also, be careful when washing your lawn mower so as not to get water inside the power switch mechanism. When it comes to the lever, you just need to be gentle and avoid stopping and starting your mower too much. This can cause premature wear to the power switch mechanism and have you doing avoidable repairs.

Lawn Mower Power Lever is Not Faulty (What Else Could It Be?)

What should you do if you test both the lever mechanism and the switch and everything seems okay? Well, why your electric lawn mower won’t start hasn’t got anything to do with the power switch. Something else is causing the problem.

Below is a list of 7 common issues electric lawnmowers face that can result in the motor not working.