How to Rebuild Vacu-Jet Carburetors

Vacu-jet carburetors tend to be found on Briggs & Stratton equipment, such as lawnmowers. Designed to provide carburetion for small engines, vacu-jet carburetors frequently get installed as an integrated piece with the gas tank. As a result, they don't disassemble easily for cleaning and repair. However, knowing that the unit is locked into the tank helps with removal, reducing frustration and time when rebuilding one of these carburetors.

Instructions

Locate the gas tank on the lawnmower. Examine how the tank is secured to the machine. Use a screwdriver or crescent wrench to remove the secure bolts. Pull these parts out and place them in a cup.

Pull the tank off with the vacu-jet carburetor attached. Carefully disconnect activation cables attached to the carburetor from the lawnmower throttle. Wiggle the tank if you find some resistance after removing the securing screws.

Drain any fuel still in the gas tank into a gas container. Place the tank with the carburetor still attached on a work table. Locate the securing screws attaching the carburetor to the tank. Loosen these with the crescent wrench or screwdriver, depending on the type of bolt involved. Pull the carburetor off the tank.

Place any of the carburetor external springs into the same cup as the other loose parts. Turn the carburetor and look inside the intake tube. Clean it out with solvent spray and a toothbrush.

Use a screwdriver to disconnect the carburetor parts. Wash them out with solvent spray. Replace the carburetor gaskets with new ones from a rebuild kit. Re-install the removed springs into the carburetor to prepare them for reconnection.

Turn the carburetor so that it is pointing downward. Position it onto the bottom of the fuel tank again. Insert the securing screws originally removed but don't tighten them yet. Reconnect the choke assembly. Keep the choke in the open position while positioning the carburetor. Use the screwdriver or crescent wrench to tighten the securing bolts.

Re-position the carburetor and tank now attached to each other again back onto the lawnmower. Secure the assembly to the lawnmower engine, attaching all the securing bolts again. Connect the throttle cable. Put fuel in the tank and start the lawnmower to test the repair.