Explained 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.
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For more information, you can watch the video below!
What are the Choke Symbols? What Do They Mean?
Now you know the purpose of the choke on the engine, but how will you be able to understand which symbol refers to the “On” or “Off” position?
Well, it’s an easy process. To understand it, please look at the image 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.
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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.
