How to clean a snowblower carburetor without removing it
I was surprised to discover that most swowblower owners think that you must remove the carb to effectively clean deposits that may be hampering its performance.
Yet- like with carbs in most small engines- you can easily accomplish the task without necessarily pulling the carburetor out of the machine.
If you’ve been thinking about doing this, you have just landed on a timely article- I will show you how to clean a snowblower carburetor without removing it effortlessly right here.
It’s so easy you will wonder why you have never tried it.
How to clean a snowblower carburetor without removing it
I know what you’re thinking:
“My carburetor is too mucky and there’s no way it can get cleaned without dismantling it”.
Wrong!
As unlikely as it may seem, spraying a small amount of carb cleaner directly to the gadget is enough to get rid of grime and vastly improve its function.
Which leads us to an important question..
What is the best carb cleaner to use on snow blower?
Now, if you want to give it a stab, you’ve amazing options you can go with.
Here are my favorites..
- WD 40 Specialist Carb Cleaner– What makes this a top choice is a dual-action cleaning system that dislodges even tough, baked-on deposits.
- CRC Carb/Choke Cleaner (12oz Aerosol Can)- This too dissolves sludge, gum, and other build up pretty fast and has beautiful results.
- Gumout Carb/Choke Cleaner, 16 oz – Not a lot of people know this but Gumout is fantastic for cleaning off stuff clogging carbs in small engines.
So yeah, there are some really good products out there.
Fast forward to the steps now….
How to clean a snowblower carburetor without removing it- Steps
Unlike when forced to open up the entire device, this method cuts down the time it takes to clean a carburetor in a big way.
Follow along this blueprint to learn how to clean the mess inside the snowblower carb in a new, smarter way:
Preliminaries
There’s not much preparation to do here apart from the normal procedures.
First, turn off the snowblower.
Next, let the engine cool down (you don’t want to burn yourself).
What to have
- A carburetor cleaner of your choice
- A screwdriver
Procedure
With the engine off and completely cooled, you’ll proceed to expose the carburetor.
Make no mistake: We are not removing it but you can only work on it when it’s freely accessible.
Here is how to approach this:
- With the help of a screwdriver, remove the machine’s air filter cover (it’s on the side).
- Also, remove the air filter.
You have by now made significant progress and the carb is well on sight.
Tip: Refer to your owner’s manual for the exact steps to follow to remove everything.
The actual cleaning process
- Wait for the carb to dry and start the snowblower’s engine.
- Next, look for the open cylindrical valve (this is, in actual fact, the air-intake valve) located at the point where the snowblower’s air filter connects to the carb.
- Now point the tip of your aerosol can inside the aforementioned air-intake valve and spray a sufficient amount of the carb cleaning liquid inside there (check the instructions printed on the can for details on how much to spray).
- Because the carb is running, the cleaner penetrates inside the carb and cleans the throat thoroughly. It also removes any deposits existing in and around the throttle plate.
- Shut the engine.
- Finally, restore the previously-removed air filter (and, of course, the filter cover) to place and restart the snowblower.
Done!
How to clean a snowblower carburetor without removing it – mistakes to avoid
I want to make sure that you start things off on the right track.
Which is why I’m going to share the two rookie mistakes that most people make when trying this for the first time.
Let’s jump right in.
Mistake Number 1: Rushing the process
Lots of people are attracted to carb cleaners and the other methods because of the time-saving aspect.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
But you must avoid the temptation to skip some of the steps or take shortcuts along the way.
I was guilty of this myself with WD 40 Specialist Carb Cleaner (didn’t apply the recommended amount) and the nasty stuff didn’t come out completely.
As it turned out, this was a huge mistake and I had to repeat.
Solution?
Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to a tee to avoid suffering a similar fate.
Mistake Number 2: Ignoring the basics
This is a big one….
You see, though the products we have discussed above does a great job of breaking down gunk, some are not a friend of rubber components, plastics, and painted surfaces.
I’ll explain:
For the cleaning solutions to dissolve the muck as powerfully as they do, they’re made of strong chemicals, some that chew into plastic and other substances.
Okay, I understand that not all the cleaners attack the parts – and some have suggested spraying safer, non-chlorinated car brake cleaners instead- but overall, you have to be careful.
This again takes us back to the issue of understanding the usage instructions and observing any warnings printed on the container.
You have other general rules to keep in mind.
For example:
- Use the solutions away from any heat source(s)
- Go about the job only in well-ventilated areas.
- Avoid squirting the products on any ignition sources for obvious reasons, particularly for cleaners containing Acetone (highly combustible).
Lastly:
Wear protective clothing- carb cleaners are made for carbs and not humans so stay safe from possible dry skin/irritation by putting on protective gloves and safety glasses (to shield your eyes).
One more thing: Try not to breathe the vapor/spray at all costs (inhalation could damage your respiratory system).
Conclusion
Hard starting, rough idling, stalling, high exhaust emissions, and even worsening fuel economies all indicate that the snowblower’s carb needs cleaning .
You don’t even need to wait: Carburetors should often be cleaned as part of your routine annual maintenance schedule for better fuel efficiency and a longer machine lifespan.
Either way, these easy-to-follow steps will help you clean the carb without removing it from the snowblower.