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I am new here so hello and thank you for your help. I mow a lady's yard and she had 2 old mowers parked and collecting rain, leaves, whatever else. I asked if they still ran and she said she wasn't sure and I could have both of them.

So I start taking apart this 10515 and quickly realize the throttle connection plastics piece where it connects the cable to the side of the engine is broken. I poured out the who knows how old gas/water mix and filled with new. I cleaned the air filter off and left off for the moment. I oiled the levers and cables and tried to fire it up.

Nothing happened. I then tried starter fluid and it came alive for a few seconds then died. Now is it safe to assume a carb cleaning is my next step? Is there anything I need to order for that for whenever I put it back together? Also, can you still order things like that throttle tab that is broken?

Thanks to anyone that can shed some advice to a new guy. After reading how great these mowers are, I would really like to get this thing running!

Sounds like the tab that is broken off is a molded part of the throttle/ choke cable. Available only as part of the cable assy. If you get this cable replaced , you may find that with a working choke and throttle it may run fine without cleaning the carb.

LB8210 said:

Sounds like the tab that is broken off is a molded part of the throttle/ choke cable. Available only as part of the cable assy. If you get this cable replaced , you may find that with a working choke and throttle it may run fine without cleaning the carb.

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Thanks for the reply. Yes it is that molded part, I don't know if a picture would help or not. I physically moved that throttle/choke back and forth with no change in the mower. Can I reasonably say that even though the piece is broke, if it still doesn't respond when I move it back and forth by hand, it has to be a different problem? Like fueling.

These lawn-boy carbs are easy to remove and clean. Why be hesitant? I don't know your model, but if it has a Primer, and not a choke on the carb, you actually don't even need the throttle speed control cable for the mower to run fine.

Phototone said:

These lawn-boy carbs are easy to remove and clean. Why be hesitant? I don't know your model, but if it has a Primer, and not a choke on the carb, you actually don't even need the throttle speed control cable for the mower to run fine.

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Mine is the gold series commercial or something like that. I believe it did have a primer.

Took the carb apart and found it to be free of gunk/build up but the gas looked heavily watered down. I sprayed it out, put it back together, primed it up and it started! Since the throttle is stuck fully open, I disconnected the ground wire as a way to turn the mower off instead of pulling the spark plug. It was a little smokey for the lap around the yard I made; this is to be expected correct?

Also, not much grass seems to be shooting out even though I can see it's cutting. Do I need to change to a different blade that has less mulching characteristics or what?

modded said:

Took the carb apart and found it to be free of gunk/build up but the gas looked heavily watered down. I sprayed it out, put it back together, primed it up and it started! Since the throttle is stuck fully open, I disconnected the ground wire as a way to turn the mower off instead of pulling the spark plug. It was a little smokey for the lap around the yard I made; this is to be expected correct?

Also, not much grass seems to be shooting out even though I can see it's cutting. Do I need to change to a different blade that has less mulching characteristics or what?

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It's normal for a long-disused Lawnboy mower to have some smoke when you first fire it up for a while. It should go away, or it would indicate a rich mixture. The throttle lever on top the carb that normally would connect with the throttle cable up to the handlebar, can be moved from slow to fast without the cable.

modded said:

Mine is the gold series commercial or something like that. I believe it did have a primer.

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My 10515 has a choke, and you have to push the throttle all the way forward to activate the choke. Close throttle about 25% for run.