What Should I do when my lawn and garden engine runs rough or has poor idle?

Dirty or Clogged Air Filter

The job of the air filter is to remove dirt and debris from the air before it enters your engine. If the filter is doing its job, it may become clogged and not allow a sufficient amount of air into the engine for it to run smoothly, If the filter is dirty, it should be replaced.

Old Gas

When did you last fill up the gas tank? Old gasoline can affect the performance of the engine. Gas can go stale in as little as 30 days. If the fuel is old, it should be dumped into a container for proper disposal and fresh fuel should be added. Other options include adding a fuel stabilizer to your tank or using canned fuel that contains no ethanol.

Obstructed Gas Tank Vent 

After adding new fuel, check the gas cap. In many small engines, the gas cap also has a vent that serves as the fuel tank ventilation. In order to work properly and supply a sufficient amount of fuel to the carburetor, the vent must be open and free of any debris.

Dirty or clogged fuel filter 

A fuel filter that is dirty or clogged with debris can restrict the amount of fuel getting to the carburetor. 

Change air filter if it’s clogged or dirty.

Unclog or replace gas cap if air vent is blocked.

Replace dirty or clogged fuel filter.

Replace old gas with fresh gas (properly dispose of old gas).