Video & Articles: Appliance & Equipment RepairBriggs & Stratton Lawn Mower Engine Float Assembly #398187

Briggs & Stratton Lawn Mower Engine Float Assembly #398187

06:22
This video provides step-by-step repair instructions for replacing the float assembly (which includes the float and the needle) on a Briggs and Stratton small engine (commonly found in lawn mowers, riding tractors, zero-turn radius mowers, wheeled edgers, pressure washers, and generators). The most common reasons for replacing the float assembly is when the engine is leaking gas.

All of the information for this float assembly replacement video is applicable to the following brands:
Briggs & Stratton, Toro, John Deere, Lawn Boy, Craftsman, Murray

Tools needed: Phillips-head screwdriver, 5/16th inch socket or nut driver, pliers, ¼ inch socket or nut driver, locking pliers, 3/8 inch socket or nut driver, ½ inch socket

Step By Step Instructions

1
Before you replace the float assembly in your engine’s carburetor first make sure the engine has cooled.
2
Next, you should remove the wire and boot from the spark plug to prevent the engine from accidentally starting.
3
Use a phillips-head screwdriver to unthread the mounting screws securing the engine cover.
4
Release the starter rope from the retainer and pull the cover off.
5
Use a 5/16th inch socket or nut driver to unthread the screw securing the air filter cover.
6
Remove the cover and the filter then use a phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screw securing the carburetor cover.
7
Pull the cover off and remove the three screws securing the air filter housing.
8
Detach the breather tube to release the housing.
9
Now use pliers to detach the air vane spring.
10
Use a quarter-inch socket or nut driver to unthread the shoulder bolt securing the vane to the carburetor.
11
Use locking pliers to crimp the fuel line then release the retaining clamp and pull the fuel line off of the carburetor.
12
Use a 3/8th inch socket or nut driver to remove the carburetor mounting bolts.
13
Detach the carburetor from the throttle rod
14
Now use a half-inch socket to loosen the carburetor bowl mounting nut.
15
Unthread the nut and pull off the bowl.
16
Pull out the pin securing the float assembly and lift off the float and needle.
17
You’re now ready to install the new float assembly.
18
Transfer the needle from the old float to the new one then position the needle and float on the carburetor and secure it with the new pin.
19
Replace the bowl.
20
Thread the nut and tighten to secure the bowl.
21
Reattach the carburetor to the throttle rod and secure the carburetor with the mounting bolts.
22
Replace the shoulder bolt to secure the air vane.
23
Reattach the air vane spring.
24
Reattach the fuel line to the port on the carburetor and secure it with the retaining clamp.
25
Remove the locking pliers.
26
Reattach the breather tube to the breather post and align the air filter housing.
27
Rethread the screws and torque them to three-and-a-half foot pounds.
28
Realign the carburetor cover and rethread the screw.
29
With the filter in place, reposition the filter cover and rethread the screw to secure.
30
Realign the engine cover.
31
Rethread and tighten the mounting screws.
32
Depress the bail arm, extend the starter rope and secure it in the retainer.
33
With the repair completed reattach the wire and boot to the spark plug refill the fuel tank and your engine should be ready for use.
Description
This video provides step-by-step repair instructions for replacing the float assembly (which includes the float and the needle) on a Briggs and Stratton small engine (commonly found in lawn mowers, riding tractors, zero-turn radius mowers, wheeled edgers, pressure washers, and generators). The most common reasons for replacing the float assembly is when the engine is leaking gas.

All of the information for this float assembly replacement video is applicable to the following brands:
Briggs & Stratton, Toro, John Deere, Lawn Boy, Craftsman, Murray

Tools needed: Phillips-head screwdriver, 5/16th inch socket or nut driver, pliers, ¼ inch socket or nut driver, locking pliers, 3/8 inch socket or nut driver, ½ inch socket
Step-By-Step Instructions
1
Before you replace the float assembly in your engine’s carburetor first make sure the engine has cooled.
2
Next, you should remove the wire and boot from the spark plug to prevent the engine from accidentally starting.
3
Use a phillips-head screwdriver to unthread the mounting screws securing the engine cover.
4
Release the starter rope from the retainer and pull the cover off.
5
Use a 5/16th inch socket or nut driver to unthread the screw securing the air filter cover.
6
Remove the cover and the filter then use a phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screw securing the carburetor cover.
7
Pull the cover off and remove the three screws securing the air filter housing.
8
Detach the breather tube to release the housing.
9
Now use pliers to detach the air vane spring.
10
Use a quarter-inch socket or nut driver to unthread the shoulder bolt securing the vane to the carburetor.
11
Use locking pliers to crimp the fuel line then release the retaining clamp and pull the fuel line off of the carburetor.
12
Use a 3/8th inch socket or nut driver to remove the carburetor mounting bolts.
13
Detach the carburetor from the throttle rod
14
Now use a half-inch socket to loosen the carburetor bowl mounting nut.
15
Unthread the nut and pull off the bowl.
16
Pull out the pin securing the float assembly and lift off the float and needle.
17
You’re now ready to install the new float assembly.
18
Transfer the needle from the old float to the new one then position the needle and float on the carburetor and secure it with the new pin.
19
Replace the bowl.
20
Thread the nut and tighten to secure the bowl.
21
Reattach the carburetor to the throttle rod and secure the carburetor with the mounting bolts.
22
Replace the shoulder bolt to secure the air vane.
23
Reattach the air vane spring.
24
Reattach the fuel line to the port on the carburetor and secure it with the retaining clamp.
25
Remove the locking pliers.
26
Reattach the breather tube to the breather post and align the air filter housing.
27
Rethread the screws and torque them to three-and-a-half foot pounds.
28
Realign the carburetor cover and rethread the screw.
29
With the filter in place, reposition the filter cover and rethread the screw to secure.
30
Realign the engine cover.
31
Rethread and tighten the mounting screws.
32
Depress the bail arm, extend the starter rope and secure it in the retainer.
33
With the repair completed reattach the wire and boot to the spark plug refill the fuel tank and your engine should be ready for use.

Applicable Product Model

Parts Needed
Float
Float
$11.32
Total$0.00

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