Clean a lawn mower carburetor (float bowl and main jet)
Fuel left in a mower over the winter goes stale and leaves varnish in the carburetor. Cleaning the float bowl and main jet fixes most cases without taking the carburetor off.
Step by step
Clean the float bowl
Safety Do fuel work outdoors on a cold engine, away from sparks, pilot lights and cigarettes. Wipe up spills before starting.
| 01 | Run the tank dry or drain it. Pull the plug wire. | |
| 02 | Take off the air filter cover and filter. | Photograph the carburetor, linkage and springs before you touch them. |
| 03 | Put a rag under the carburetor. Remove the bowl screw (or bolt) and lower the float bowl. | Some fuel will come out. |
| 04 | Clean the bowl and spray carburetor cleaner through the main jet and the passages you can reach. | Don't push wire or a drill bit through the jet. |
| 05 | Check that the float swings freely and the needle seat is clean. | Hard or torn gasket, sticking needle: fit the overhaul kit for your engine. |
| 06 | Refit the bowl on a good gasket, then the air filter. | |
| 07 | Refill with fresh fuel and start it. Give it a minute to settle. |
Safety Do not bend the governor linkage or move the governor spring to make the engine run faster. Briggs & Stratton tells owners not to adjust them, and an overspeeding engine can break a blade. Honda lists carburetor repair as a dealer or shop-manual job beyond the float bowl.
Carburetor kits by engine
Open the engine or model page for the full parts list.
| Engine | Overhaul kit | Bowl gasket |
|---|---|---|
| Briggs 500E / 550E (09P6, 09P7, 09P8) | 594636 | See your parts list |
| Briggs 625EXi (093J) | 594636 | See your parts list |
| Briggs 725EXi (104M) | 594636 (code after 15030800) or 590589 (before 15030900) | 594633 or 593235 |
| ECHO PB-580T | P033000080 | Part of the kit |
| ECHO SRM-225 | P005004980 | Part of the kit |
Engine not listed?
Send us the model number and we will look at adding it.