If you really want to know how to clean a snowblower carburetor without removing it, yes it is sometimes possible. However, if you’re questioning the cleanliness of the carburetor and are considering cleaning it, then the entire carburetor is suspect. That should be an indication that you need to remove it and clean the carburetor properly.
That being said, perhaps you’re in a pinch. Maybe you aren’t near your ultrasonic cleaner, and you need to get your machine running. I get it; things happen.
Tools Needed (Commissions Earned)
How to Get to Your Carb
Well, it depends on your machine. Snowblowers are generally easier to get to the carburetor because most snowblowers don’t use air cleaners since the machines are run in a cleaner environment.
That being said, in order to clean your carburetor, obviously you need to find it. If you’re unsure, follow the fuel line from the fuel tank. Refer to a parts manual for your machine if necessary.
How to Clean the Carburetor on the Machine
The bowl nut is sometimes just a nut. But sometimes it’s also the main fuel jet. So it needs to be clean. By removing the nut, we can determine two things: how dirty it is inside the carb, and the condition of the main jet.
If the main jet is on this bowl nut, ensure that it’s clean and clear. With the bowl nut off, then the carburetor float bowl will come off. Be gentle as to not tear the bowl gasket or that will have to be replaced.
Clean the bowl with carburetor cleaner if necessary.
Now you’ll want to use the little straw that comes with the carburetor spray and try to inject the carb cleaner into all of the passages and orifices on the carburetor.
This is obviously challenging since you can’t really see what you’re doing or where it’s spraying. But if you’re dead set on cleaning the carburetor on the machine, then that’s how you go about doing it.
A Better Way to Clean a Snowblower Carburetor
Just remove it. Seriously. Typically you’re looking at two bolts for the carburetor, a linkage for the choke, and a linkage for the throttle.
Once it’s off the machine, things go much easier. You can do a better job of disassembling and cleaning the carburetor because you can actually see what you’re doing.
The best part of removing the carburetor from the machine is that you can soak it in an ultrasonic cleaner to give it the best chance of cleaning out any debris or old fuel.
These machines aren’t crazy expensive, and the time that you spent removing the carburetor and cleaning it properly will pay for itself.
Otherwise, you’re just gonna spend the same amount of time spraying and praying.
Did I forget anything? Let me know in the comments below!
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