Spark Plug Wire: Remove When Cleaning ?

[Robert1]

Hello,

Would like you experts thoughts on this, please:

For the typical home gas powered lawnmower, when tipping it over to
clean out the underside, or chute, is it necessary, or a good idea, to remove
the spark plug wire ?

Was wondering if even when off, moving the blade a little can/might, re-start it ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[gsim]

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS remove spark plug lead before doing ANYTHING beneath the deck. Some guys have nickname of 'stumpy' or 'lefty' because they did not do so!!!

 

[Rivets]

If you have an older unit with no flywheel brake I would agree with gsim. On today’s models with the brake I am 99.9999% sure that you wouldn’t be able to get an engine to fire while it is tipped on its side for cleaning. Myself, I don’t worry about it, but still say for many of the people coming here and asking questions, I would recommend pulling the plug wire.

 

[bertsmobile1]

I go one further & pull the plug right out.
Too many times I have seen a compression kick back.
Not goint to chop off & hand, arm or even finger , just give me an annoyng bruise or little cut which makes woring on dirty mowers a PIA.

 

[128MB]

I have never removed the wire. So far ive always thrusted the killswitch.

 

[ILENGINE]

I don't worry about the spark plug wire. the older briggs engines required 600 rpm to fire the plug, the new ones 250-300 rpm so the newer engines would be easier to start that way then the old engines. I have never heard of it actually starting while somebody was working under the deck.