How to Clean a Husqvarna Mower Carburetor: Step-By-Step
Your Husqvarna mower begins to run sluggish or doesn’t start. This can be a result of a dirty carburetor gumming up from running old fuel. When experiencing issues that are caused by a lack or air or a lack of fuel, one of many items on your mower you should look at is the carburetor.
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Symptoms of a Bad Husqvarna Mower Carburetor
When your carburetor is acting up, it is no longer able to correctly regulate the fuel to air mixture required by your Husqvarna’s engine. You could experience these symptoms:
- Husqvarna mower won’t start
- Husqvarna backfires from running lean
- Husqvarna mower engine sputters and runs rough
- Husqvarna mower engine surges
- Husqvarna mower consumes too much fuel
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Follow all safety instructions provided in your equipment operator’s manual prior to diagnosing, repairing, or operating.Consult a professional if you don’t have the skills, or knowledge or are not in the condition to perform the repair safely.
10 Steps to Clean a Husqvarna Lawn Mower Carburetor
If you have a fuel system problem and have confirmed you are getting fuel to the carburetor, perform one more step to confirm you need to disassemble and clean your carburetor.
Spray carburetor cleaner into the air intake and start your Husqvarna mower. If your mower starts, runs and then dies, you must disassemble your carburetor and clean it.
Gather Items Needed to Clean Your Husqvarna Carburetor
- Pliers
- Screwdriver
- Socket/ratchet set
- Carburetor Cleaner
- Thick wire
- Needle nose pliers
Take Photos of Your Husqvarna Mower Carburetor
Most people have a cell phone available nearby. It probably has a camera on it making photo-taking a quick easy process. If you have one of these, you should use it to document steps.
Even if you have a great memory, I highly recommend you take multiple photos of your carburetor before and during the tear-down process.
You will be working with many small parts. It will be good to have photos to reference to make sure you put your carburetor back together the correct way. You’re better off taking these photos and not needing them over not having photos at all.
Shut off Your Husqvarna’s Fuel Supply
Stop the fuel flow on your Husqvarna lawn mower. Use the fuel shut-off valve located on the bottom of your fuel tank. If you don’t have a valve on your mower, crimp the fuel line.
Remove Your Husqvarna Mower Throttle & Choke Cable
Detach the throttle and choke cables from your carburetor.
Remove your Husqvarna’s Air Filter Housing
Remove the hardware that attaches the carburetor to the air filter housing so it is detached.
Remove the Springs from Your Husqvarna Mower Carburetor
Slowly remove the springs from the carburetor. Do not stretch the springs or you’ll have to replace them. You may have to twist the carburetor a bit to get the springs to come off the carb.
Be careful not to rip the gasket between the engine block and the carburetor or you will have to replace it with a new gasket.
Remove the Bowl from Your Husqvarna Mower Carburetor
Now locate the bowl on the bottom of your carburetor. This is the place a small amount of fuel is collected once it leaves the fuel tank. Have a rag available to soak up any remaining fuel in the bowl.
Remove the screw located at the bottom of the bowl and lower the bowl to remove it from the carburetor. You will find a gasket located around the bowl. It looks like a rubber band.
Do not get any carburetor cleaner or other substance on the gasket as it will ruin it. If you do, the gasket must be replaced before the bowl is reattached.
Check Your Husqvarna Carburetor of Clogged Holes in the Stem
You will find a stem that hangs down in the center of your Husqvarna’s carburetor. The holes in the stem can become clogged with the gumming of old fuel. With a flashlight to better see the holes, use a thick wire to unclog them.
Remove White Crusty Buildup and Gumming in Your Husqvarna Mower Carburetor
Check the other component in your carburetor along with the carburetor itself for additional gumming and a white crusty buildup.
Remove the gummy deposits along with as much of the crusty material as possible using a carburetor cleaner. Note: It is almost impossible to remove all the crusty material.
Reassembly Your Husqvarna Mower Carburetor
Once you have finished cleaning the carburetor in your Husqvarna lawn mower and ensured all the components are in good working order including your float needle and float, go ahead and reassemble the carburetor.
Reverse the steps you went through when you removed your carburetor. Use the photos you took earlier for reference.
Replace or Rebuild Your Husqvarna Carburetor When Cleaning is Unsuccessful
Sometimes cleaning your carburetor doesn’t make it carburetor function correctly. You may have small components in your carburetor that must be replaced or old fuel has caused so much damage you need to replace the carburetor.
Rebuild or replace your carburetor. You will need to have your engine model and spec available to ensure you order the correct part(s). Husqvarna uses other manufacturers’ small engines in their mowers.
You can order a replacement carburetor or rebuild kit online, at your local Husqvarna dealership, or at an authorized engine dealership.
Fill Your Husqvarna Fuel Tank with Fresh Gas and a Fuel Additive
Run a good supply of fresh gasoline through your gas-powered Husqvarna lawn mower. Don’t let it sit in your mower for long periods of time.
Use a fuel additive to stabilize your fuel system to minimize future fuel issues. Read more about using Sea Foam Motor Treatment as a fuel stabilizer and why it is what I use in my lawn mower.
Cleaning Your Husqvarna Carburetor Didn’t Solve Your Problem
If cleaning your carburetor didn’t solve your problem and you still have problems in your fuel system. Check out my article Why Your Husqvarna Lawn Mower Isn’t Getting Fuel.
If you aren’t sure it is a fuel system problem, I have put together a list of common Husqvarna problems and solutions where I address starting, fuel system, smoking, overheating, cutting problems, and more. You can find it at Common Husqvarna Lawn Mower Problems & Solutions.
