The carburetor is a crucial component responsible for providing the correct air-fuel mixture into the combustion chamber from your craftsman lawnmower. If you have trouble controlling your mowers speed, if it will not move as fast as it should, or if it is hard to start, there may be a problem with your craftsman carburetor. In some extreme cases, the engine power is drastically reduced, and when starting, it makes a gurgling or sloshing noise. This points to a major carburetor problem, and cleaning or replacing will be needed.
How to replace a carburetor on a craftsman riding lawnmower, step by step:
- Step 1: Disconnect the battery and spark plug.
- Step 2: Remove the air filter.
- Step 3: Drain the fuel tank and disconnect the fuel lines.
- Step 4: Remove blower housing.
- Step 5: Remove the carburetor.
- Step 6: Remove the attached components
- Step 7: Install the new carburetor.
- Step 8: Restored the blower housing.
- Step 9: Reattach the fuel lines to the tank.
- Step 10: Reinstall the air filter casing.
- Step 11: Reattach the spark plug wire.
This blog post covers every aspect of the best method to replace the carburetor from a Craftsman riding lawnmower. Replacing will ensure regular and smooth working of your Craftsman machine.
Contents
- 1 Steps to replace a carburetor:
- 1.1 ● Step 1. Disconnect the battery and spark plug:
- 1.2 ● Step 2. Remove the air filter:
- 1.3 ● Step 3. Drain the fuel tank and disconnect the fuel lines:
- 1.4 ● Step 4. Remove the blower housing:
- 1.5 ● Step 5. Remove the Craftsman carburetor:
- 1.6 ● Step 6. Remove the attached components:
- 1.7 ● Step 7. Install the new Craftsman carburetor:
- 1.8 ● Step 8. Restore the blower housing:
- 1.9 ● Step 9. Attach the fuel lines to the tank:
- 1.10 ● Step 10. Reinstall the air filter casing:
- 1.11 ● Step 11. Affix the spark plug wire:
- 2 Frequently asked questions:
- 2.1 1. How do you adjust the carburetor on a Craftsman riding lawn mower?
- 2.2 2. Where is the carburetor located on a riding lawn mower?
- 2.3 3. Why does my lawnmower only run for a few seconds then dies?
- 3 Final remarks:
Steps to replace a carburetor:
We will look now into more detail for each of the earlier mentioned steps. What precautions are needed and what tools do you need for the job.
● Step 1. Disconnect the battery and spark plug:
Probably the most important safety precaution that you should do when starting with repairs or maintenance on a craftsman gas lawnmower is to disconnect the battery and spark plug wire before you start with anything else. You do not want to have the engine suddenly starting for whatever reason or have a short circuit and ignite some gas.
Turn the ignition switch off and remove the key. Remove the bolt connecting the negative cable to the battery and tuck the cable away from the battery. Make sure it can not touch the battery when you are working on it. The cables are quite thick and stiff and easily move back to their original position.
Disconnect the spark plugs by removing the thick black rubber “boot” connecting the spark plug to the wire. For further safety, you should work in a well-ventilated area and wear work gloves to protect your hands and safety goggles to protect your eyes.
- Record a video of some images during the whole disassembly procedure. Do this for each step, so when you start reassembling, you can just have a look at them and see how something needs to be reattached.
● Step 2. Remove the air filter:
Eliminate the air duct mounting screws and remove the air duct. Turn each air filter cover-retaining knob counterclockwise and take away the air filter cover. Take out the air filter. Unbolt the air filter housing screw. Besides, remove the blower housing mounting bolts’ front and back and take off the blower housing.
● Step 3. Drain the fuel tank and disconnect the fuel lines:
Next, you have to drain your Craftsman gas tank. Try to work on a location with a hard floor where you can remove any leaked gas easily. First, place a shop rag or piece of cloth under the fuel tank to catch the dribbled out fuel. Then, place a fuel-safe container under the gas line connected to the fuel tank. Farthest away, release the spring clamp and separate the fuel line from the gas tank. Let the gas drain into the container. For cleanliness during your work, it is better to wipe up any fuel drizzles.
● Step 4. Remove the blower housing:
Then, disengage the outer blower casing. The following steps will help you free the housing: First, disconnect the starter rope from your Craftsman mower’s main handle. Then, unfasten the screws from the outer blower casing, and then take off the engine’s blower housing.
● Step 5. Remove the Craftsman carburetor:
Pull out the mounting nuts from the air intake. Disconnect the breather tube and extract the air intake. Detach the wire from the fuel solenoid. Please take a picture of the carburetor linkage connections to document their position for reassembly. Separate the carburetor-mounting studs and cut off the throttle rod and throttle spring as well. Detach the choke rod and then separate the carburetor. Lastly, please put it on the unpolluted work surface in a well-ventilated area.
● Step 6. Remove the attached components:
Unthread the solenoid valve and separate it. Extract the float bowl, draining fuel from the float bowl in the fuel-safe container. Punch out or clock out the float hinge pin. And detach the float and needle valve. Then, disconnect the float bowl gasket, engine intake gasket, and air intake O-ring.
● Step 7. Install the new Craftsman carburetor:
You can reinstall the new carburetor and fix it back like the previous one using the photos or recorded video you took at each step on your cell phone when you are uninstalling it.
Use the following steps to reinstall the carburetor:
Initially, push the O-ring into the outlet port of the new carburetor. Then, install the retainer on top of the O-ring. Now, Connect the fuel line to the new carburetor and secure it with the spring clamp. You have to hold the carburetor over the mounting brackets, connect the governor, and choke linkage rods. Later, push the carburetor into the bracket arms and fully press the outlet port onto the carburetor adapter. In the end, press the air cleaner gasket into the channel on the carburetor inlet.
● Step 8. Restore the blower housing:
Reconnect the blower housing of your craftsman lawnmower by following these steps:
First, set the blower housing on the top of the engine and line up the mounting holes. The blower housing mounting bolts and screws must fit tightly to maintain the balance of the whole assembly. Then, re-join the starter rope to the handle of the mower.
● Step 9. Attach the fuel lines to the tank:
Now, carefully reattach the fuel lines and adjust the component to the main assembly. Then, push the fuel line onto the tank fitting and secure it with the spring clamp. Ensure that you connect the fuel lines correctly so that no fuel leakage occurs.
● Step 10. Reinstall the air filter casing:
The following steps will help you to reconnect the casing of the air filter:
First, position the air filter base on the carburetor’s front and reconnect the breather tube. Secure the air filter base with the mounting screws. Reinstall the air filter and position the air filter cover on the front of the base. In the end, snap it into place, engaging the locking tab.
● Step 11. Affix the spark plug wire:
Now, push the spark plug wire back onto the spark plug, and the whole assembly is back in its original position. It is then time to run your craftsman lawnmower to check whether the system functions up to the mark.
Frequently asked questions:
1. How do you adjust the carburetor on a Craftsman riding lawn mower?
Turn or fit the centraladjustmentscrew below thecarburetor’sfloat bowl. If yourcarburetorhas one, it will be a large round bowl on the carburetor’s lowest. Turn clockwise until it starts or stays turning. Back the screw off counterclockwise one-and-one-half turns.
2. Where is the carburetor located on a riding lawn mower?
Discover thecarburetorby classifying the air intake and filter. Look for a round or square-shaped filter housingplacedon the engine’s top or side; it has spores, holes, or slits in the upper. The accommodation is mounted to thecarburetorby latches or screws and comprises a paper or foam filter.
3. Why does my lawnmower only run for a few seconds then dies?
Ifthe lawnmowerstartsruns or works properly,then dies or stalls, thefour most frequent reasons: dirty carburetor, clogged or smudged carburetor bowl. Also, old or remote gasoline, dirty or faulty spark plugs cause stalling issues.
Final remarks:
The carburetor is a vital component of every engine, as it assists the flow of air that goes into the machine. But carburetors are often the cause of technical and mechanical problems. Luckily most of these issues are simple and can be addressed at home, and there is no need to go to a mechanic. Regular maintenance should include checking and cleaning the carburetor. This will ensure a long and smooth working of your craftsman lawnmower. If you see that the carburetor is in terrible condition, you should replace it. It is easy to purchase one from an online retailer or a Craftsman manufacturer. Like any other machinery, your mowers’ proper care will boost their life and evade any undesired problems.
