Cleaning & Rebuilding Small Engine Carburetors

\Cleaning and rebuilding small engine carburetors requires knowledge of how your engine works. Since there are so many different engines out there, your engine manual will ensure that you are taking care of the specifics of your small engine carburetor. Please read your owner's manual before doing any work on your engine.

Cleaning and rebuilding small engine carburetors begins by knowing which type of engine you have. Small engines are either 2-stroke or 4-stroke. 2-stroke engines are used in smaller, hand-held machines, like a weed whacker or chainsaw. 4-stroke engines are most commonly used in machines that are too heavy to pick up, such as a lawn mower.

Work on small engine carburetors should only be done if the engine is giving you trouble and you suspect the carburetor. There are many things that could cause engine trouble that share the following signs. However, if you've checked the gas, oil, filters, and other basic maintenance issues, the following could be signs that the carburetor is the reason for the trouble you’re experiencing:

• The machine won't start.
• The machine will start, but the engine dies after a few seconds.
• It will start and run, but will die when idling.
• The machine will not rev up properly.
• It runs too slow or too fast.
• The machine is giving you poor throttle response.

There are a few things you should check before moving on to cleaning and rebuilding small engine carburetors. The small engine carburetor could be flooding, which means you have a much larger problem. The emollition tube could be stuck, in which case the carburetor will need to be replaced entirely. The aluminum body of the small engine carburetor may be corroded inside. If that is the case, once corrosion has started it can not be stopped. Any rebuilding of this small engine carburetor would only be a temporary fix. If you are certain that it is the carburetor, and then follow along with your car's manual with the next steps in cleaning small engine carburetors.

Small engine carburetors all have similar working parts, with some differences. The following is an in depth look at Tecumseh small engine carburetors.
Cleaning Tecumseh small engine carburetors:

• Remove the welch plug on the side of the carburetor.
• Use a screw driver or other small, sharp tools to push through and pop off the welch plug.
• Be extra careful not to damage the two jets casts located under the welch plug. If the jets casts are damaged, they will have to be replaced.
• Remove the main jet, located in the bowl nut.
• The three visible holes should be cleaned using a soft tag wire.
• Clean the rest of the carburetor using carburetor cleaner.

Rebuilding Tecumseh small engine carburetors:

• Reassemble the Tecumseh small engine carburetor following the owner's manual.
• Be sure that the needle valve of the Tecumseh small engine carburetor is right in place. Make sure that the needle valve is completely down into its support.
• The new welch plug should be well sealed. Finger-nail polish works really well for sealing the welch plug.
• Double check with your Tecumseh small engine carburetor manual; you should use a #4 twist drill to adjust the float height of the carburetor.

Cleaning small engine carburetors does not stop there, there are a few things to do that will ensure that your small engine will be up and running again with no further carburetor problems. It is a good idea to replace the gasket between the carburetor and the engine. Also, replace the gasket between the carburetor and the air cleaner. To be sure that your cleaning job will not be a lost cause, it is a good idea to clean, or better yet replace the fuel line between the carburetor and the fuel filter tank. Since the carburetor was dirty so is the fuel line. Also, small fragments from the fuel line hose may have broken off when the carburetor was removed. If you attach the same hose, it will defeat the cleaning job you just did.

Check the manual to make sure the carburetor is adjusted correctly when remounted to the engine.  With a Tecumseh small engine carburetor, the idle circuit should be adjusted first, then the main jet.

With all small engine carburetors, there are many other things that could be wrong with the engine. Rebuilding and cleaning small engine carburetors may only be part of the problem. Small engine carburetors require the same attention as say a car. Proper maintenance is key to keeping any machine in proper running condition.



"How to Rebuild a Tecumseh Carburetor." Jacks Small Engines. 2006. Jacks Small Engines and Generator Service, LLC. 26 Oct. 2006.

"Our Home Page." Precise Engine Repair. 2006. Precise Engine Repair, Inc. 26 Oct. 2006.

Richards, Michelle. "Small Engine Maintenance for Woman." Backwoods Home Magazine. 1998. 26 Oct. 2006.

"Online Troubleshooting Guides." Small Engine Advisor. 2001. 26 Oct. 2006.