Carburetors are found in all kinds of internal combustion engines. A carburetor is the part of the motor where air and fuel combine at the correct ratio for combustion. Without a carburetor, your motor would be unable to run.
A snowblower carburetor is as equally important as the carburetor in a car or other vehicle, as it is essential to the motor receiving the fuel it needs, in the air-fuel ratio it requires to perform. Luckily, if your snowblower carburetor is not working properly, there is a good chance it just needs to be cleaned. Wondering how to clean a snowblower carburetor? Read on to find out more.
Dirty Carburetor Symptoms
There are many symptoms that may indicate that your snowblower has a dirty carburetor and it simply needs to be cleaned. Here are just a few possibilities that might indicate a dirty carburetor.
- Your snowblower engine turns over, but will not start.
- Your snowblower engine will eventually start but will have difficulty, most likely due to debris.
- The engine is sluggish or jerks. This could be the cause of the engine running lean, due to an imperfect air-fuel ratio. If this is the case, your snowblower engine may be receiving too much air and not enough fuel because of the dirty carburetor.
- You notice black smoke coming from the exhaust. This is a sign the engine is running rich, which means the dirty carburetor has caused the engine to receive too much fuel mixed with too little air.
- If you have noticed an increase in fuel consumption this is another sign your carburetor probably needs cleaning.
If you notice any of the above, you may have a dirty carburetor, and it may be time to clean your snowblower carburetor.
Snowblower Carburetor Cleaner
You may be surprised and pleased to find out that it is possible to clean your snowblower carburetor using snowblower carburetor cleaner, with or without removing it from the snowblower.
Before you begin, ensure you have carburetor cleaner handy, and a carburetor kit available to help complete the process as efficiently as possible.
Here’s a quick guide on how to clean your snowblower carburetor.
- Turn off the snowblower engine and leave it to cool.
- Remove the carburetor bowl, float bowl and flathead.
- Spray and clean the dirty carburetor with a carburetor cleaner, removing debris with a cloth. Let it sit to remove impurities. If you are enable to clean it sufficiently this way, remove the snowblower carburetor to fully submerge it in liquid carburetor cleaner.
- Clean the bowl, nuts and holes, removing any rust with sandpaper.
- Use compressed air to blow away any additional debris.
- Carefully reassemble every part you removed.
- If you did remove the carburetor to give it a more thorough clean, reattach the carburetor using a carburetor kit which should include and replacement parts you may need. A good carburetor kit will help simplify the process. Ensure everything is as it was before you began.
- Check the snowblower air filter before you start the engine.
Check the Snowblower Air Filter
Another common cause of snowblower issues is the snowblower air filter. Before starting up the snowblower, be sure to check the snowblower air filter is clean. This is to ensure that clean air will be entering the carburetor, so that a dirty snowblower air filter doesn’t undo the work you just did.
Ready to get started with cleaning your snowblower carburetor? Find the snowblower carburetor parts you need as well as carburetor cleaner, carburetor kits and snowblower air filters, with Repair Clinic. Simply enter your snowblower model number into our website search bar to find parts for your snowblower.