>> >>> Sod's Law - I'd bought an electric mower, partly to try it (cuts long grass
>>> far better than the Honda does) and partly for when a friend's old one
>>> finally snuffs it.
>>> Was going to use the electric but wanted to do the verge as well so went for
>>> petrol. No go. Fuel there so asked the chap next door to pull the starter
>>> while I looked at the plug. Tried a new plug. No spark.
>>>
>>> Any ideas as to the cause and also where to find some sort of
>>> instructions/diagrams - the 'manual' doesn't get as far as using words? >>
>> Is this any use?
>>formatting link
> Useful site, thanks. Looks as if I'll have to start removing bits. >>
>> I'm assuming that you're holding the dead man's handle in the run
>> position? Failure to do that causes the ignition to be shorted out. >>
> Yes, it's almost automatic to do that. I didn't know that the ignition was
> shorted, but I'll still remove the plug's cap when working underneath.
> Pretty certain thought that the valve and ignition timing of an OHC engine
> wouldn't allow starting by gently turning the blade.
>
>> On my non-Honda mower, I use a metal clip to hold the handle in the on
>> position, and slide it off when I want to stop the engine.
>
> I use a toe strap but a clip would be quicker to apply.
>
>
When I said 'clip' I actually meant a piece of stiff wire bent into a sort of @ shape - with the middle permanently round the main handle and the outer bit able to be hooked - and unhooked - round the 'dead man's handle' bar.