Is my Craftsman Mulcher lawnmower a 4 stroke or 2 stroke engine??

If this is a hand held machine. It doesn't require engine oil changing.!

Although its a 4 cycle engine. its basically a 2 stroke engine with valves. It runs on the same fuel/ oil mix as a normal 2stroke engine. 50:1

does the engine take oil? if it does then it is a 4 stroke and does not require mixed gas. if it doesn't have its own oil then it is a 2 stroke and requires mixed

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Black smoke looks like it's burning too much oil. If it is a 2 stroke engine try a lower ratio of 2 stroke oil to gasoline mixture. Make sure you are using 2 stroke oil!
If it's a 4 stroke engine find out why and or how the oil is getting burned.

No No No No!!! If your mower is definitely a 4 stroke then do NOT put 2 cycle engine oil in it (and I hope they didn't either). Drain out whatever's in there completely and put standard 30 wt. oil in there. Not 10W30, but straight 30 weight. Use synthetic even if you want longer engine life.

If it has a 4 stroke engine, as most lawnmowers do, then you just car engine oil. Very occasionally you come across 2 stroke mowers.

The way to know if it's a 4 stroke or 2 stroke engine is, if it has an oil tank it's a 4 stroke engine. If there's only the one tank, i.e. you mix the oil with the petrol then it's a 2 stroke engine.

If it's a 2 stroke engine you mix petrol and 2 stroke oil at a ratio of 40:1

HELLO,
You can fix these yourself, all you have to do is to follow the instructions below,
1 Remove the spark plug lead from the spark plug and move away from cylinder head. Always do this before attempting any repairs to a lawnmower.
2 If your lawnmower is a "four stroke" mower (separate gasoline and oil), tip the mower so that the spark plug is pointing skyward. Never tip it on its side with the spark plug to the ground.
3 If your lawnmower is "2 stroke" (oil and gasoline mixed) turn off fuel tap. You can tip a two stroke mower any way that is suitable to you.
4 To change a blade, or blade disc, it is often easier to remove the spark plug and feed a length of string into the cylinder head to 'lock' the piston while trying to un-do the blade bolt(s).
5 Check the motor's "air filter" while doing this sort of maintenance as a dirty or clogged air filter will affect engine performance and increase fuel consumption of your mower. Symptoms of a clogged air filter include inability to start, starting and quickly stopping after several sputters, or a weak idle. You may also see oily or smoky exhaust.
6 If your mower is a "four stroke" model, change the oil at least once a year. When it is tipped over with the spark plug in the air, is a good time to remove the "oil fill" plug and drain oil into an old ice-cream container for recycling.


I hope this will help to solve the problem.....

two stroke mowers will have a picture of a oil can on the fuel cap,if it doesn't it is most likely a four stroke.
four stroke mowers will have a fuel cap and a oil cap as well.

They make a mulch cover for the discharge chute and a good set of mulcher blades. You need the 9 digit model number from the label under the seat and you can get them from sears

I cleaned the carburetor with a brush and took off the bowl and cleaned the bolt holes. Then sprayed it down with starting fluid.

Your carburetor jet is probably clogged with oil. Try an additive in the gasoline -- something for cleaning injectors -- it will only require a small amount -- use the same ratio as described on the label.

You'll have to keep starting the engine to get the cleaner into the carburetor. After you've done this several dozen times, let it sit for a day.

If this doesn't clean it out, you'll need to take the carburetor apart and clean it.