How To Fix A Surging Engine on a Lawn Mower, Generator, Pressure Washer & More

How To Fix A Surging Engine on a Lawn Mower, Generator, Pressure Washer & More!
Is your small engine equipment revving up and down, hunting, pulsing and surging?

If you want to get rid of this annoying sound just watch this video and I will show you how to fix it for next to no cost!

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Easy to follow and thorough step by step tutorials do it yourself (DIY) to help you with your broken lawn and garden equipment including snowblowers.

I do my best to teach you how to easily diagnose problems the fastest, quickest and most efficient way with real repairs beyond just replacing a spark plug. These tips are for both the homeowner and shop owner.

Whether it be a handheld, two stroke, two cycle engine like a chainsaw, weed eater, weed wacker, string trimmer, grass trimmer, line trimmer, hedge trimmer, strimmer, brush cutter, leaf blower, or four stroke, four cycle units like a lawnmower, wood splitter, lawn tractor, snowblower, pressure washer, generator or a ride on mower that needs parts installed or replaced, I’m your go-to guy.

My favorite brands of spark plugs are NGK and Champion and are the ones I recommend.

I’ve been a small engine mechanic for many decades and also run my own repair shop so my videos are loaded with tips and tricks that I have learned and want to share with you. You will also find many tool and product reviews from top brands on my channel as well.
I have the largest Small Engine Repair Video Library on Youtube and the entire internet with over 1200 videos, just GOOGLE "DONYBOY73"!

I want "DON THE SMALL ENGINE DOCTOR" on Youtube to save you time, frustration and most importantly, MONEY with my HOW-TO videos!

Due to factors beyond the control of DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor”, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor” assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor” recommends safe practices when working with power tools, hand tools, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor”, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor".

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[thenewman]

Annoying yes. Not as annoying as someone mowing a yard, hitting something that stalls the engine, restarting, then repeat, over and over, and over again.

[PeachBeef]

Dude! I’ve never EVER done anything like this and with your instructions, about 20 minutes and my mower is like new! Excellent!

[leehansen]

Had a surging problem and found a video that said to check that the fuel cap vent wasn't plugged. Checked my cap and found dirt in the cap, cleaned it, and problem was gone!
Easiest fix I ever had! It's not always the carburetor!

[donabele]

"We're not working on the Space Shuttle...use common sense." LOVE IT!!!

[dave]

Thanks! PEOPLE EMPHASIZE ON THE TOP JET! Had my carb apart 10 times cause of surging! This jet was the culprit. Donny nailed it. Not many people FOCUS ON THIS JET! Saved my mower!

[Peter-.H]

Don, You’re the best. Very informative and straight to the point tutorials. Awesome 👍👍👍

[tonylenge]

I know this is two years old but I had this issue and found your video. Thanks to you I was able to resolve it. Thank you, much appreciated.

[wolflahti]

Clear and thorough without being overly long. Good job.

[vetterfellow]

Attaboy DB73; I ran my snow blower for 2 years with it surging and hopping it would keep running and make it back to the House, It's to heavy for one person to manage it, till I found your channel. I fixed the carb in a similar way and its been running smooth for about 3 years now. Thanks Bud !!. You are the best.🙂

[timb]

Very helpful video, after thoroughly cleaning the pilot jets my 2 pressure washer engines work perfectly now. I recently picked up 2 craftsman pressure washers at Lowes for only $25 each, they were customer returns being sold as parts only. I'm guessing the people couldn't get them started so returned them. Turns out both carbs just needed to be cleaned really good. The 1st time I failed to remove and clean the pilot jets and both machines surged with the choke off, so after watching this video I located the pilot jets and unblocked them with a bread tie wire, they were completely blocked.

[edithfreeman]

Don, sitting here in Tasmania and just discovered your tutorial, like sitting in a class room with a good teacher, very professional, thanks.

[dominoez]

This repair 100% worked for me. I had this surging issue on a Honda gcv190 engine mounted to a pressure washer. The second jet with the screw you had to remove (5:26) seemed to be my main issue. It was difficult to find a micro drill bit around my area. Finally found one and it took some time and patience to drill it out but eventually I got it. No more surging. Thank you so much!

[Exit]

Thanks Don for making the video. My mower wasn't surging near as bad as yours, but it was still surging up and down. After doing your suggestions, its running smoother than ever.

[garyanello]

Well explained and systematic approach with a steady and calm explanation which is greatly appreciated!

[ocafebabe]

Thanks a lot bro! My 2 year old Husqvarna LC 151 wouldn't start but after following your instructions it's alive again 🙂 I sent 25$ as a thank you!

[ChrisCromwellHP]

Great video! I watched this video several or more times to study it.
I have a new Honda mower that’s only a few months old, it didn’t take long to start reving up and down all the time; also hard to start. My wife really didn’t like it at all. I tried several different things, but still raced up and down.
I bought some new replacement gaskets and mini drill bits.
I did everything you described, except that you never mentioned the size drill bit for the bottom Jet; where the mulsion tube goes. But I figured it out, process of elimination.
I got the jets drilled out best I could, cleaned everything out, put new gaskets on got the carb put together and back on the mower.
I cleaned the spark plug, and the mower started right up!
I let it run for quite awhile, and tried to see if I could make it race up and down again; but couldn’t.
It always ran nice and smooth!
Thanks for your help!
I hope my wife will be happy with it. 🙂👍

[MatthewCuba]

"I don't have the torque specs, we're not working on the space shuttle here." - similar to my standard saying when working on projects on the farm: "We're not building fine furniture."
Excellent as always.

[JimFixIt]

Reassembling those Honda Carbs is crazy. PITA. Thanks Don for another great video!

[alanmccaugherty]

Thanks for the video. Appreciated. One GCV-160-AS3A Honda engine carburetor cleaned up and running great. Symptoms were it would only run on choke. When I took the choke off to a high speed it would start to surge. Took the carb off and totally cleaned it right out and put it back together. It started on the first pull and now idles at all speed settings. Thanks again from a DIY'er. Cheers

[tazwowe]

Excellent video!!
No jibber jabber, straight to the point, step by step. Thanks!