Most homeowners face difficulty when trying to start their lawn mowers, this is the main cause when you don’t properly care for lawn mowers. Do you know How To Clean Lawn Mower Carburetor? If not, then don’t worry because here we cover all the details through which you can easily maintain your lawn mower.
After a long winter season, a few homeowners claim that their lawn mowers won’t start and they don’t know what to do next. Keep in mind that in this situation you don’t need to be overwhelmed. Furthermore, it is a sign of gummed up or even corroded in the mower carburetor. To enjoy the usage of a lawn mower every time, you just need to perform an annual inspection of your lawn mower maintenance.
Contents
- 1 When to Clean And Inspect A Lawnmower Carburetor?
- 2 What Tools Will Be Used For Cleaning The Lawnmower Carburetor?
- 3 8 Best Steps To Clean The Lawnmower Carburetor
- 3.1 Step 1 – Clean the outside area of the lawn mower engine
- 3.2 Step 2 – To access easily the lawn mower carburetor, you must remove the air filter
- 3.3 Step 3 – Remove the carburetor
- 3.4 Step 4 – Disassemble the carburetor carefully
- 3.5 Step 5 – Replace worn parts if any
- 3.6 Step 6 – Clean carburetor and its parts
- 3.7 Step 7 – Its time to reassemble the carburetor
- 3.8 Step 8 – Finally, test the lawn mower
- 4 Conclusion
When to Clean And Inspect A Lawnmower Carburetor?
Keep in mind that regular inspection of the lawn mower parts is necessary if you want to use the mower for a longer period. Otherwise, it also depends on the model of the lawn mower, because almost every lawn mower models require maintenance inspection once a year.
Cleaning the carburetor of lawn mowers a few times a year is important and this process will give you more durability for long period. The reason behind cleaning the lawn mower carburetor is simple, which is that when you use a lawn mower in your yard, then grass twigs and it may kick up into the small engine.
So, a few of the debris winds up directly inside of the carburetor, which can reduce the lawn mower’s performance by air passages and clogging fuel.
What Tools Will Be Used For Cleaning The Lawnmower Carburetor?
It doesn’t require any expensive or heavy tools, as it only needs basic tools through which you can easily clean your lawnmower carburetor within a lesser time.
Tools & Materials |
|
Screwdriver | Needle-Nose pliers |
Bucket | Compressed Air |
Nut Driver | Socket Set |
Gloves | Carburetor Cleaner |
8 Best Steps To Clean The Lawnmower Carburetor
If you face difficulty in the starting process of your lawn mower or you think your lawn mower consumes more fuel, then with the following steps, you can easily clean the lawn mower carburetor.
Step 1 – Clean the outside area of the lawn mower engine
The core purpose of learning how to clean a lawnmower carburetor is to only remove the debris and dirt that could cause the mower engine to run rough and consume more fuel. So, it is great to clean the lawn mower from the outside of the engine and make sure that the mower engine is turned off.
After this, you can easily clean the internal parts of the carburetor by disassembling the lawn mower. Moreover, you also need to clean the area where you disassemble the lawn mower because the various parts of the carburetor will not get dirt, even in disassemble position.
Step 2 – To access easily the lawn mower carburetor, you must remove the air filter
To easily access the internal parts of the lawn mower such as the carburetor, you just need to remove the air filter housing from it. Keep in mind that the air filter is placed over the top of the lawn mower carburetor. You can use the screwdriver to disassemble the air filter if it is attached to screws or clips.
Also, place the screws or clips in a safe place because they will use again for the re-installation of the air filter. After opening the screws or clips, carefully remove the air filter. After complete inspect the air filter, it’s great either you need to replace or clean the air filter according to your needs.
Moreover, if you face difficulty while removing the screws or clips from the air filter, then you can check or read the lawn mower manual which guides you on how to access this part easily.
Step 3 – Remove the carburetor
Make sure to wear protective gloves before disassembling the lawn mower carburetor. The gloves will cover your skin and give the best protection, then you need to use high-class carburetor spray to clean its outer or internal parts as well. If you want to clean or inspect the internal parts of the lawn mower carburetor, then you must need to remove the carburetor from the engine.
You can use a nut driver or socket set to especially remove the bolts which tightly hold the carburetor to the area of the engine. After this step, you need to only disconnect the throttle and check the choke linkage cables if necessary from the carburetor.
Moreover, you need to prepare a bucket or any hard bowl which only use to carry the fuel from the nipples of the lawn mower carburetor which is housed with needle-nose pliers.
Once the lawn mower carburetor is successfully disconnected, then you must need to pull it off, especially the mounting studs, and also take care of the gasket which is between the engine and carburetor. Finally, you can also place the carburetor in a bucket because it will allow the carburetor any fuel to drain.
Step 4 – Disassemble the carburetor carefully
It is necessary for you to note down the parts during the process of disassembly of the carburetor because those pieces also needed to place back in the same position. So, prepare a clean and flat place where you can gather all the disassembled parts of the carburetor and can take pictures before disassembling the carburetor parts.
While wearing protective gloves, start cleaning the bowl area of the carburetor and then start the disassembly process. In the next step, unbolt the fuel bowl and then you smoothly need to remove the float, which is tightly attached with a hinge pin.
Step 5 – Replace worn parts if any
Keep in mind that even the best carb cleaner cannot completely repair the worn parts. Few carburetor parts such as gaskets can wear out faster than any other parts. Moreover, when you prepare yourself for an annual carburetor cleaning, then you must have additional spare parts with you.
Step 6 – Clean carburetor and its parts
While wearing protective gloves and the carburetor is completely disassembled, then you need to use carburetor cleaner on the various internal parts and carburetor housing area. Is it necessary to buy expensive cleaner cans to clean the lawn mower carburetor parts?
Keep in mind that you can buy carb cleaner which especially comes in aerosol cans for quick and efficient cleaning. Furthermore, you can buy also carburetor cleaner which comes in a jug or bottle, which means a quality material is enough to clean the carburetor.
Moreover, if you only prefer to use liquid carburetor cleaner over a carburetor spray cleaner, then it is necessary to pour the cleaner into an empty basket. Make sure to wire all the larger parts of the carburetor together, and then try carefully to lower the parts into a filled carb cleaner.
You can also use the aluminum screen to easily wrap the small pieces of the carburetor. However, you need to give a one-hour minimum to soak the carburetor parts.
Step 7 – Its time to reassemble the carburetor
To remove the residual carburetor cleaner, you need to completely rinse the carburetor parts while using water. If necessary, then you can also use a blower to dry the carburetor parts instantly. Make sure that all the carburetor parts are completely dry and clean before starting the reassembly process.
When you feel that all the carburetor parts are completely dry, then it’s time to put the carburetor parts back together. You can use any picture you took during the disassembly process. With these pictures, you can easily assemble the carburetor parts correctly.
Moreover, when the carburetor is completely reassembled, then you need to mount it on the lawn mower and choke the linkage cables and then reinstall the fuel lines as well. In the last step, now you can reattach the air filter and tighten the bolts on the carburetor.
Step 8 – Finally, test the lawn mower
After successfully reinstalling the air filter and carburetor and also make sure to add fewer quantities of fuel to the gas tank and check the lawn mower by starting it. When the lawn mower starts successfully, then the maintenance process was a success.
Furthermore, the engine of the lawn mower will start without any problem after cleaning the carburetor. If you face a problem to start the lawn mower, then you must need to take it to the engine repair shop for further diagnosis.
Conclusion
To get the longest life of your lawn mower engine, it is necessary for you to perform a regular maintenance few times a year. Maintaining the lawn mower includes multiple steps such as cleaning the carburetor, tightening all the external and internal bolts, changing oil, replacing the spark plugs if necessary, and sharpening blades.
Without proper information that how to clean the lawnmower carburetor, you don’t need to perform any maintenance tasks. Otherwise, you may harm your lawn mower without knowing any part of its engine or carburetor.
Moreover, by neglecting the proper lawn mower maintenance, the life of the mower could be shorter and it can cost you expensive repair as well.