How To Clean or Change an Air Filter in a Riding Lawn Mower

Want to proceed your riding lawn mower working well all the time? Knowing when to make clean or replace a lawn mower air filter matters. Here'southward how to do information technology.

Time

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Price

Less than $twenty

Introduction

Want to proceed your riding lawn mower working well all the time? Knowing when to clean or replace a lawn mower air filter matters. Here's how to do it.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Clean shop rags
  • Replacement air filter to fit your mower
  • Warm soapy h2o

Project step-by-step (7)

Footstep i

Disconnect spark plug wire

  • Examine the engine until you find the spark plug, then disconnect the wire connected to it. This ensures the engine won't accidentally start while you're working.

1 Spark Plug Wire

Stride 2

Open filter housing and remove air filter

  • Examine the engine, looking for a removable plastic encompass on the top or possibly on either side. This is the air filter housing.
  • Remove the air filter housing cover. Almost riding lawn mower models are designed for this to exist done past hand.
  • If your filter housing is held in place with bolts, unthread and carefully place them somewhere nearby where they won't get lost or fall into the engine.
  • With the cover off, gently pull the air filter out from its housing and put it to one side. Depending on the model of mower yous're working on, the filter might be a paper cartridge style or a unproblematic piece of cream. Cleaning procedures volition vary slightly for each.

2 Remove Filter Housing

Step 3

Protect the air inlet

  • With the air filter complimentary of its housing, stuff a clean, dry shop rag into the inlet port at the dorsum of the housing. This prevents debris from getting into your carburetor during cleaning.
  • Be sure to get out enough of the shop rag sticking out of the port that you'll easily exist able to pull it out when y'all're done.

3 Protect Air Inlet

Pace iv

Clean the filter housing

  • Use your air compressor and spray nozzle to blast any clay and droppings from the within of the filter housing. Be sure the shop rag is firmly blocking the inlet port earlier doing this.

4 Clean Filter Housing

Footstep 5

Determine if the filter needs cleaning or replacement

  • Examine your air filter. If it's the newspaper cartridge type, look closely at the newspaper pleats. If they're only moderately muddied, chances are cleaning the filter will be sufficient. If they're completely caked in dirt and discolored, y'all'll need to replace the filter.
  • If your filter is the all-foam variety, it can be cleaned in warm, soapy h2o if it's non likewise dirty. Every bit with the newspaper cartridge filter, replace your foam filter if it'south completely caked in dirt and debris that won't come up off easily.

5 Examine Filter

Step half dozen

Install new filter or make clean old i

  • If your air filter is beyond saving, throw information technology out and install a new 1 of the same type. Check your mower'south manual or exercise a Google search to find filters uniform with your auto.
  • Be sure to remove the shop rag you stuffed in the air inlet before installing the new filter.
  • If your filter still looks like it has some life left, tap it gently against the nearest hard surface to knock loose as much dirt equally you can. If it's a foam filter, gently wash it in warm, soapy water, and so set it somewhere warm to dry.
  • If you've got a paper filter, stuff a make clean store rag into the middle to go on clay out, and then blow off the outside with the air compressor, getting all surfaces equally clean as possible.
  • With the outside of your paper filter make clean, remove the shop rag, and then insert your air spray nozzle inside and blow out the filter from the inside out.
  • If your newspaper cartridge filter has a removable outer wire mesh or foam sleeve, take it off and clean information technology separately. If you utilise water, be sure to let the protective comprehend dry fully before replacing it over the filter.

6 Clean Filter

Step 7

Re-install cleaned filter

  • With your filter fully cleaned, remove the store rag from the air inlet, then carefully re-install the filter.
  • Replace the filter housing cover, then reconnect the spark plug wire and you lot're done!

7 Reinstall Filter