How To Clean Carburetor On Lawn Mower

If you've used it recently, the inside of your lawn mower could be scorching to the touch. To avoid any risk of burn to your body parts first turn off your lawn mower to avoid any accidents. Wait for the mower to get cool before starting the task of unscrewing.

The process to clean the carburetor for the automatic lawn mower and the manual self-pushed mower is the same. Please place it in a windy or cool area where the lawn mower can cool down properly after use. Search for the shade where you can park your lawn mower to let it cool.

Either, it can be the shade of the tree or a car parking where it is proper. Also, you can use an external cooling fan to let the lawn mower cool down instantly to save you time. 

Grip the black color plug and pull directly away from the engine. This may require a bit of force but make sure to not pull on the actual cable, just the plug, as you could damage it.

This is an extremely important safety step, as with this plug attached the engine is 'live' and could start suddenly with any movement of the blades of the engine or work on the rest of the mower. Even though you won't be working directly on the blades or parts that could cause the engine to start, it's still best practice to remove the cable.

This will make a safer environment for you to work on the lawn mower. Technical and machinery items are risky to work with. Accidents can occur at any time. So, it will be better to prevent than cure later. 

Your lawn mower’s old oil can be toxic to inhale, so open all of your doors and windows in your workspace. To increase ventilation, set up a garage fan or two as well. You can also use your car parking lot or an open area where you can work with your lawn mower for maintenance of your carburetor.

To avoid any health issues consider following the instructions. Otherwise, it will be best if you use a proper mask and gloves while cleaning the carburetor of your lawn mower.

This will keep you safe from inhaling the harmful toxic oil gas that can cause risk to your health. Also, it is recommended to get support from the elders or professionals in case you are uncomfortable with this process.

The fuel line with a vice clamp or turn the shut-off valve. Typically, the fuel line will be a black, rubber cord running from under your gas tank into your carburetor. Gas runs from the fuel line into the carburetor, so to keep from making a huge mess top the flow of glass.

If your fuel line has a shut-off valve, simply turn it. Or, use a vice grip to clamp the fuel line. Also, note that there will already be a little gas in the fuel line, so you’ll need to catch some gas drips. Lay out a rag or a bowl that you don’t mind getting dirty under the line.

This will save you from fuel wastage and fire. And, consider keeping away any sparkling objects like match sticks or lighters. Avoid smoking in the workplace as much as possible. 

First, locate your throttle cable which is typically a long, black cord attached to the carburetor. Next, using a pair of needlenose pliers, carefully wiggle this cord out of its position to remove it.

Do this safely and gently. Have patience while doing this task as this can cause damage to the throttle. Later any hurdles can increase the work time and cost. So, do it safely and slowly. 

Find your air filter near the top or side of the engine. Then, remove the outer casing, usually by unscrewing four screws and holding it in place using a screwdriver. Then, pull your air filter from its housing.

Using a rag or a vacuum cleaner, lift as much dirt and debris from the air filter as possible. Hold the air filter gently while taking out of the mowing lawn to avoid any damage. Check for the condition of the air filter if it is working condition. Replace the air filter during this cleaning time if it has some issues.

The air filter is one of the important parts of the mower engine. If there is any damage to the air filter then it needs to be repaired and replaced instantly. So, consider checking the air filter thoroughly and cleaning it properly. 

Behind your air filter, you'll see a small, metal piece with a hole in the center and a bowl attached below it. This is the carburetor. You might be able to remove it by simply sliding your carburetor off of its mounting bolts.

Otherwise, unscrew the screws holding it in place. More remaining gas may spill out at this point, so have a rag or bowl placed underneath you while you remove it. Unscrew the bolts gently and consider checking the mark of the screw as it may get damaged while performing this task.

Otherwise, it may get difficult to unscrew the bolts in the absence of the mark. Also, be sure to use the perfect size screwdriver according to the bolts. Consider using a mask and using a container to store the gas that may spill while opening the carburetor. 

Typically, just one nut will hold your bowl in place. Unscrew this and clean the bolt thoroughly with carburetor cleaner and a brush, removing all gunk and debris. It’s also extremely important to use a paper clip to clean out the hole found halfway down the side of the bolt.

If grass or dirt gets stuck here, it could cause the entire carburetor to stop working. Also, consider using air cleaner as it helps to clean all the remaining dust in the carburetor properly. Do the task gently as this is the final phase of cleaning the carburetor.

The carburetor is the main and important part engine of the lawn mower. This will be your last stage of cleaning it after all that hazy work. All your fatigue ends when then carburetor of the lawn mower gets cleaned. 

Now that you’ve unscrewed the one screw holding your bowl in place, remove it from its position. Thoroughly scrub the inside and outside of your bowl with carburetor cleaner. If the carburetor is too dirty to be cleaned by hand, consider replacing your bowl. Finally, inspect the gasket paired with your lawn mower bowl.

It might be corroded or broken in that case, replace it. If it’s a little dirty but can be cleaned, use a rag to remove debris. After all this fatigue work it will be worthy to contribute some time to the bowl. Check the condition of the bowl thoroughly and do the above-mentioned solutions if any problem arises. After all this, your lawn mower will run like a new one. 

With your carburetor now fully removed, clean out small crevices and the outside of the carburetor, removing as much grass and muck as possible. To get off stubborn dirt and debris, use a wire brush. If you notice signs of rust on your carburetor, use sandpaper to remove it.

Do it gently and thoroughly without damaging the carburetor. Check for any unusual signs during the process. After, that you can also use an air blower to clean some extra remained dust in the carburetor.

Put gloves on while using sandpaper as it has got some grips which may give grind in your hand that is undesirable for you. Also, don't forget to put on the mask during the cleaning process. After, your task is completed let your carburetor dry fully before reinstalling it in your machine.

Now that you’ve deep-cleaned your carburetor, resituate all of your pieces in their correct position. First, slide the carburetor back on its mounting bolts. Position the bowl and fasten the bolt that holds it in place.

After doing that place the air filter and screw on its outer cover. Then reattach the throttle cable. Now, turn the fuel line’s shut-off valve or remove its clamp. When all the checklist is done then plug the spark plug the cable back into the spark plug.

Then check your lawn mower if it is working properly. Use it on your lawn for better identification of the performance. If your lawn mower is working fine and doing its work then your task to clean the carburetor of your lawn has been accomplished. Otherwise, call the professionals if any issue arises. 

Turn off your mower

Before you begin working, double-check that your lawn mower is turned off. If you have just used your lawn mower recently then let it cool down first to avoid any burn to your body parts while unscrewing it.

It doesn't matter whether you have an automatic or manual lawn mower as the cleaning process of the carburetor is the same.

Remove the spark plug

Grip the black-colored plug and pull directly away from the engine. This may require a bit of force but make sure to not pull on the actual cable, just the plug, as you could damage it.

This is an extremely important safety step, as with this plug attached the engine is 'live' and could start suddenly with any movement of the blades of the engine or work on the rest of the mower.

Unscrew Your Air filter

First, find your air filters that are usually near the top or side of the engine. Next, take off the air filter’s outer case by removing the snaps or unscrewing the screws holding it in place.

Then, if your air filter itself is removable, pull it from its housing. Using a rag or a vacuum cleaner, remove the dust and debris from your air filter.

Turn the Engine on

Once you’ve turned on your mower, spray the aerosol liquid in the middle of the carburetor for 10-15 pulses. Then, stop spraying and let the mower sit, still turned on, for a minute. Finally, identify the carburetor’s throat and now, spray the aerosol onto this part of the machine as well.

Clean the Remaining Dirt

Next, inspect your carburetor. If you habit of cleaning the leftover grass, moss, or grime then Scrub these bits away using a damp rag. Take care not to use a dripping rag as this could cause your mower to rust.

Attach the Airfilter

Typically, this will mean sliding the air filter back into its housing. Then, screw on the bolt or bolts that hold it in position. Plug the spark plug cable back to its position for using it. 

The carburetor of both automatic and manual mowers is located data the same position as the machine. It is at the side or top of the engine that is underneath the air filter. Look for the filter housing, then remove it. That should expose the carburetor and air filter.

The carburetor of the ride-on mower is located below or behind the air filter of the engine. Accessing the carburetor on a ride-on mower is more difficult than on other types of lawnmowers. If you find any kind of dirt on your ride-on model then is is recommended to take it to the repair shop or call professionals for better results. 

How Often to Clean a Lawn Mower Carburetor?

You should always check and clean the carburetor of your lawn mower after the winter when you use it first. This will help you to make sure that there isn't any problem with your lawn mower or any kind of dirt that is built during the season.

Also, don't forget to check all the parts like the fuel line, fuel tank, oil reservoir, and air filter of your lawn mower. Otherwise, maintain your lawn mower regularly. Just clean your mower’s carburetor after every use. You can clean the mower’s air filter alongside it.

When an engine is running properly it is igniting a steady stream of a gasoline-air mixture. As long as that mixture is provided to the spark plugs chamber, the engine should continue to run and rotate the crankshaft.

The job of the carburetor is to mix air and gasoline and provide that correct mixture. The fuel from the fuel tank flows through a hose into the carburetor which, usually, allows gas to drip into the carburetor's bowl. The engine creates a suction on the carburetor which will mix that gasoline with air at a specific ratio.

You should always check and maintain your lawn mower carburetor after every use. This will help to improve the condition of the machine. Also, it will make sure that there isn't damage or dirt in the mower after the season is over.

Check all parts of your lawn mower that it is functioning properly. Some of the crucial parts of the lawn mower are the fuel line, fuel tank, oil reservoir, and air filter. Otherwise, you can also do regular maintenance of the lawn mower carburetor including cleaning of the filter.

Certain things need to be considered before cleaning the lawn mower. Check the mower and make sure that there isn't any problem. Sometimes the spark plug may get dirty which can cause stalling of the engine. You can clean the mower spark plug easily if any.

In the alternative, you may also have a dirty fuel filter, poor engine oil, or also could have a clogged air filter. Before you unscrew anything make sure to clean the mower and engine at first to avoid any mistakes or hurdles. Remove debris and dirt if any and wipe up the surface to clear the dust.

Signs of a Dirty Carburetor

There is a sign that helps you to indicate that your carburetor of a lawn mower is dirty. Your lawn mower won't start easily when you try to operate it after the winter. Also, if your lawn mower shows signs of difficulty in starting and stops after starting then it is a sign that your engine is not getting a proper fuel supply to the combustion chamber.

Other signs that can be observed to know that your lawn mower carburetor needs to be cleaned include, black smoke coming from the muffler, the consumption of fuel also starting to increase, the performance of your lawn mower starting to degrade like a stuttering engine, or even movement of the blade and at last your lawn mower starts overheating.

There are many reasons behind getting the carburetor of your lawn mower dirty. One of the reasons is the problem of stale fuel for a long time. If you leave fuel in your lawn mower without using it for a long period then the liquid gets turned into a gummy or gunky state.

This gummy liquid gets stuck into the different parts of the engine of your lawn mower.  Also, excess exposure to moisture either by getting wet or placing it in high humidity can corral the carburetor and other parts of your lawn mower.

A broken or malfunctioning air filter also lets the dirt and debris get into the internal systems and carburetor of your lawn mower engine. In the alternative, high vibration of the mower also causes the parts of the lawn mower.