Replacing the fuel filter is one of the routine steps that keep your lawn mower running smoothly. There are a bunch of problems you’ll encounter if you skip changing the filter or if you leave it too long. So, if you’re ready, grab your pliers and a new filter, and I’ll show you how to change your fuel filter.
Why You Might Need a Lawn Mower Fuel Filter Replacement
The main problem created by a dirty fuel filter is fuel starvation. This is basically the reduction of fuel flow to the engine. If you are dealing with a sputtering engine or an engine that acts like it is running out of gas, then you’re definitely looking in the right place by questioning the fuel filter.
Another reason to change your fuel filter is when you winterize your lawn mower. Replacing the fuel filter every year is a key maintenance step and can be a real lifesaver if you forget to winterize completely. After a long winter, stale fuel or bad gas will degrade and damage the fuel filter, making your lawn mower run like it’s ready to be replaced. So, let’s take a closer look at how you can replace your fuel filter.
Where is the Fuel Filter on Your Lawn Mower
Unfortunately, there isn’t one universal location for fuel filters on lawn mowers. Ride-on lawn mowers, like tractor lawn mowers, have their fuel filters under the hood. If you pop the hood, you’ll quickly find the filter near the fuel tank. If you have a zero-turn lawn mower, you’ll probably have to lift the seat and look underneath or under the fuel tank. If you have one of these large lawn mowers, you might have two fuel tanks with a tank selector valve. I’ve seen this a lot on zero-turn lawn mowers with two fuel tanks and two fuel filters—one for each tank. So, be sure to replace the lawn mower fuel filters on both tanks.
The fuel filter can be a bit harder to find on a push lawn mower. You might find it if you follow the same approach mentioned above for locating a ride-on lawn mower’s fuel filter. However, some manufacturers, like Honda, have hidden their filters inside the fuel line. These can be impossible to find unless you know where they are. So, if you’re in doubt, pull out your lawn mower manual and look up where your filter is located.
What You’ll Need to Replace Your Mower’s Fuel Filter (Equipment List)
Lawn mower fuel filter replacement is a pretty straightforward job. You will not need fancy tools or a workshop to complete the task. So, here is the list of tools and parts that you’ll need to replace the fuel filter on your lawn mower.
Tools & Parts to Replace your Lawn Mower Fuel Filter
- Fuel Line Clamp (for lawn mowers without fuel cut-off valves)
- Pliers
- Fuel Filter (lawn mower specific fuel filter)
How to Replace a Lawn Mower Fuel Filter (Step By Step)
As I mentioned, lawn mower manufacturers put fuel filters in different places. This means you’ll need to use a different approach for each type of fuel filter. So, let’s take a look at the two methods.
Replacing an Inline Lawn Mower Fuel Filter
If you have a Toro push lawn mower or a Craftsman walk-behind mower, then you’ll probably have a Briggs & Stratton engine with an in-line fuel filter. This is going to be the case with the majority of mower brands. So, if this is you, then here are the steps you’ll need to follow.
Switch Off the Lawn Mower
You don’t want the engine running on the lawn mower. Make sure that your mower is switched off and the ignition is turned off.
Turn Off the Fuel
Next, if your lawn mower has a fuel cut-off valve, make sure that you switch it off. This will prevent any additional fuel from leaking from the fuel tank.
Clamp the Fuel Line
Some of you won’t have a fuel cut-off valve. You can easily overcome this by using a fuel line clamp. This is a hand-held tool that looks like a pair of pliers. It pinches the rubber fuel line without causing any damage. If you don’t have any way to clamp the line, you’ll have to either use up all the fuel or drain the fuel tank.
Remove the Fuel Line Clamps
Now, take your pliers and remove both of the clamps from either side of the fuel filter. Then, just pinch the clamps and slide them an inch or two down the fuel lines.
Remove the Old Fuel Filter
The next step is to remove the old fuel filter. You might find the fuel lines are stuck. My trick is to give the filter a twist which breaks the seal between the lines and the filter. This makes the removal much easier.
Orientate the New Fuel Filter
Grab your new filter and look for the arrow depicting the direction of the fuel flow. You want to make sure that the arrow points in the direction the fuel flows to the engine and not to the fuel tank. If you have a new filter that doesn’t need specific orientation, then you can install it in any direction.
Attach the Fuel Lines
Once you have figured out the new filter’s orientation, you can attach both fuel lines—the line from the fuel tank and the fuel line to the fuel pump.
Reposition the Fuel Line Clamps
The final part of the installation is to position the fuel line clamps. So, take your pliers, give them a pinch, and slide them back down the fuel lines towards the filter. Just be sure that the clamps are positioned over the outlet pipes and gripped securely.
Switch On the Fuel
The last job for the lawn mower fuel filter replacement is to remove your clamp or switch on the cut-off valve. Once you have done this, your lawn mower is ready to use.
Replacing an In-Pipe Lawn Mower Fuel Filter
Lawn mowers with engines like the Honda GCV use a different fuel filter design that fits inside the fuel line. This means you’ll need to carry out different steps to replace your fuel filter. Here’s what you’ll need to do to swap out this type of filter.
Drain the Fuel Tank
First, to change an in-pipe fuel filter, you will have to make sure your fuel tank is empty. You can either use up all the fuel in the tank or drain the fuel from your lawn mower.
Remove the Fuel Line Clamp
Next, locate the fuel line clamp on the underside of the fuel tank and remove it with your pliers. You just need to slide it an inch or two down the fuel line.
Remove the Fuel Line
Next, remove the single fuel line coming from the fuel tank. You might need to twist the fuel line to break the seal between the lines and the filter.
Remove the Old Fuel Filter
Now that you have the fuel line removed from the tank, you can remove the in-pipe fuel filter. The filter can be a bit tricky to remove, so a pair of pliers might help.
Insert the New Fuel filter
Which way do you install the fuel filter? Well, with this type of filter, you don’t need to figure out which way it goes because it will only go in one way. One end fits in the fuel line, and the other end has a stopper. So, insert the filter and push it all the way into the fuel line until it can’t go any further.
Reattach the Fuel Line & Reposition the Fuel Line Clamp
The next step is to reattach the fuel line and the filter to the bottom of the fuel tank. So, slide the fuel line back on the tank and reposition the clamp. Make sure the clamp and fuel line are secure.
Refill the Fuel Tank
Finally, refill the fuel tank and check for any leaks.
Things to Be Careful of when Replacing Fuel Filter
Even though swapping out a fuel filter is straightforward, you should be aware of a few things. Let’s take a look at what these different situations are.
Using the Wrong Fuel Filter
The number one mistake people make is using the wrong fuel filter. Different fuel filters have varying levels of filtration. A filter with a higher micron filtration level needs additional fuel pressure and/or particular gravity pressure. The increased filtration may cause symptoms similar to that of a dirty filter as the fuel flow is reduced. The best approach is to have a look in the lawn mower’s manual and check the exact fuel filter the engine needs.
Damaging the Fuel Lines
Over time, fuel lines lose their flexibility and become brittle. It’s not uncommon for the fuel lines to break during the replacement of the fuel filter. This really isn’t something you can avoid, but make sure you check for leaks once you have finished the installation. If you see a leak or damage, then you’ll need to replace the fuel line.
Installing the New Fuel Filter the Wrong Way
Earlier, I talked about the orientation of the fuel filter. This is key when installing your new filter. Filters are designed with a specific fuel flow direction. If you install the filter the wrong way, you could affect how the fuel passes through the filter. This basically gets you back to a fuel starvation issue.
But you could find that your filter doesn’t have an arrow showing the flow direction. This means the filter can be installed either way around. So, double-check the arrow on the filter or read through the information sheet that comes with the filter. The last thing you want to do is install the filter the wrong way and have to repeat the installation.
Not Using a Fuel Filter
Now, it is possible to do away with the fuel filter completely. I’ve seen this before and nearly fainted. This is definitely a no, no. The filter prevents all the junk from getting to the carburetor and fuel pump. If you skip on the fuel filter, you’ll end up with symptoms of a bad carburetor and will find yourself having to learn how to remove and clean a carburetor. This is a sure way to a bad carb.
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