How To Repair Small Engines: Cleaning The Carburetor

Time

A full day

Complexity

Intermediate

Cost

$51–100

Introduction

Solve most lawnmower or other small engine starting problems with a simple diagnosis and a carburetor cleaning or rebuilding. It will only take a few hours, and you'll avoid the minimum $80-plus-parts repair bill.

If you can’t get a small engine started, it takes too many pulls to get it going, or it runs poorly, ask yourself this: Did it sit for a long time with gas in it? Like over the winter? If so, your problem is most likely a corroded or gummed-up carburetor. Small engine repair shops earn about 50 percent of their revenue by cleaning or replacing carburetors sidelined by old gas. Look at your lawnmower carburetor next time you sharpen the blades or complete a lawn mower tune-up.

Before you start taking things apart, take a minute to confirm the carburetor is the problem. We’ll show you how to do that, as well as how to clean, rebuild or replace a lawnmower carburetor. Either way, you’ll save about an hour of shop labor (about $80). You can complete the carburetor rebuild project in a single morning, including the time scouting for parts.

How to Find Lawn Mower Carburetor Parts and Prices

Whether you buy parts from a local small engine repair shop or online, you may need all this information:

• Machine brand (Toro, Snapper, Honda, etc.), model and serial number.
• Engine brand and serial number (Tecumseh, Briggs & Stratton, Honda, etc.). The engine model and serial number are usually located on a plate above the spark plug.
• You may also need numbers from the old carburetor itself, usually stamped onto the carb body or its mounting flange.
• You can buy locally, or try smallenginepartswarehouse.com or psep.biz.

Where is the Carburetor on a Lawn Mower?

The carburetor is usually located towards the top of the engine and is connected to the gas tank.

Tools Required

• 4-in-1 screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Clamps
• Needle-nose pliers
• Nut driver
• Organic vapor respirator
• Socket/ratchet set

Materials Required

• Carburetor cleaner
• Carburetor rebuild kit
• Plastic gloves
• Stiff wire