Time to cut the lawn--again?! A rotary lawn mower makes the job easier, but it doesn't cut the grass without your help, so you'd better get started. Hopefully, it will start up quickly and be back resting in the shed soon. If it's reluctant to work or just plain stubborn, here's what you can do.

How Does It Work?

Components of a typical rotary lawn mower.

A rotary lawn mower is a powered machine for cutting grass. Rotary mowers come in self-propelled or push types, powered by either a gasoline engine or an electric motor. It's called a rotary motor because a long thin blade is rotated from its center to cut grass evenly. Some rotary mowers have a mulching blade designed to lift grass clippings, then cut and recut them into finer pieces that serve as mulch for the lawn. See the Riding Lawn Mower Fix-It Guide for information on larger rotary motors.

What Can Go Wrong?

The mower may cut unevenly or tear grass rather than cut it. The mower may vibrate excessively or be noisy. The engine may not start, or may run poorly. The engine may run, but the mower won't move. The electric motor may not run.