Every lawn mower has its flaws and the Cub Cadet is no exception. The article below focuses on the Cub Cadet Carburetor problems and how you can solve them.
Table of Contents
What Is A Carburetor?
A carburetor is a device that helps to regulate the correct ratio of air to fuel mixture allowed in the cylinder for combustion to take place. The carburetor is made up of elements like the choke, storage chambers for liquid fuel, a venture-shaped air flow restriction and a pump accelerator just to mention a few.
Cub Cadet Carburetor Problems
A damaged carburetor will cause problems to a lawn mower. If you want to know whether your Cub Cadet carburetor is damaged then here are some of the problems that a damaged carburetor causes in a Cub Cadet lawn mower;
- The Cub Cadet starts and then dies immediately.
- The Cub Cadet will not start at all.
- The Cub Cadet consumes fuel excessively.
- The Cub Cadet engine backfires or overheats.
- Engine runs poorly.
- Engine runs roughly and sputters.
- The Cub Cadet releases black smoke out of the muffler.
Causes Of Cub Cadet Carburetor Problems
Bad Or Stale Fuel In The Tank
One of the main causes of the Cub Cadet Carburetor problems is bad or stale fuel in the tank. Ethanol is known for releasing gummy deposits especially if it is left in the tank for more than 30 days. When this happens the carburetor becomes clogged with dirt thus, causing the lawn mower to face any or all of the challenges discussed above. Therefore, in order to solve this you should make sure that you regularly change the fuel in your Cub Cadet. Moreover, make sure you use quality fuel and not substandard stuff as it will most likely clog your carburetor.
Too much air
The carburetor is responsible for rationing the amount of air and fuel needed to start the combustion process. However, if the carburetor receives more air as compared to fuel it will start malfunction thus, causing the lawn mower as a whole to face problems. Therefore, you should always ensure that the carburetor is not damaged so that it can be able to receive equal amounts of air and fuel as needed by the engine.
Dirt
Another common cause of Cub Cadet problems is dirt which can get clogged inside the carburetor. In order to solve this problem it is imperative to take out the carburetor and clean it so as to remove any dirt. You can even replace the filters if they are damaged.
How To Clean A Carburetor
In order to avoid facing carburetor problems it’s imperative that you regularly clean your carburetor using the following steps.
Use Carburetor Cleaner
The first thing you need to do if you are going to be cleaning the carburetor by yourself is to buy carburetor cleaner. Spray the carburetor cleaner into the air intake of the carburetor. The next thing is to start the engine of your Cub Cadet and see if it will fire up. If the lawn mower fires up but then shuts down you will have to disassemble the carburetor in order to clean it.
Shut Off Fuel Supply
If you are going to be disassembling the carburetor you need to shut off the fuel supply. In order to do this you have to turn off the fuel shut-off valve using a pliers and then disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor.
Disengage Throttle Cable And Choke Cable
Once you have removed the fuel line the next step is to remove the throttle and choke cables. Make sure you do this carefully without breaking anything.
Remove Filter Housing
The next step is to remove the filter housing but, in order to do this you have to remove the screws and nuts that attach the carburetor to the filter housing.
Remove Springs
Take your time when removing the springs as you should avoid stretching them out. In order to do this you have to twist the carburetor a little bit so that the springs can come off easily. Avoid tearing the gasket which is located between the engine and the carburetor.
Disengage Float Bowl
Remove the float bowl which is located at the bottom of the carburetor but before removing it just make sure you clean off any dirt.
Inspect The Stem
Once you have removed the float bowl you should inspect the stem which is located at the center of the carburetor for any holes that might be clogged. You can use a flashlight in order to identify the holes. Use a thick wire to remove the dirt from the stem.
Inspect Carburetor For White Crusty Buildup
Once you have cleaned the stem you should inspect the carburetor for any white crusty buildup. The white crusty buildup is usually caused by ethanol so try and remove as much white crusty material as possible.
Reassemble Carburetor
Once you have finished cleaning the carburetor you need to reassemble it to its original state. This means you need to reassemble it in the reverse order that you took it apart.
How Do You Unclog A Carburetor Without Taking It Apart?
The best way to unclog a carburetor without taking it apart is to use a carburetor cleaner. Spray it into the air intake and the start your engine. If your engine fires up and doesn’t stop then that means it’s now clean, but if it fires up and then stops it means you will have to remove the carburetor and clean it manually.
What Happens If The Fuel Mixture Is Too Rich?
If the fuel mixture is too rich the carburetor will get clogged which may cause your engine not to start or to run poorly. In order to solve this problem you need to ensure that the fuel you place into your fuel tank is not too rich.
Conclusion
The are many ways of avoiding and solving Cub Cadet carburetor problems as indicated in the above article. It is worth mentioning that the Cub Cadet is still a good lawn mower even though it faces challenges with its carburetor overtime.
