Things You'll Need
Hand siphon
Gasoline container
Pliers
Slot screwdriver
Fuel bowls on Briggs and Stratton engines hold the gasoline before it enters the carburetor. Inside the fuel bowl is a metal float that is mechanically attached to a fuel-regulating float valve. When the fuel bowl is full of gasoline, the float rises to close the float valve against a rubber seal. There are two types of fuel bowls on Briggs and Stratton engines, the one-piece "Flo-jet" and the two-piece "Flo-jet." The round fuel bowl sits under the carburetor itself. Not all Briggs and Stratton engines use a fuel bowl.
One-Piece “Flo-jet”
Step 1
Remove the gasoline from the engine's gas tank. Insert the short end of the hand siphon into the fuel tank. Place the long end of the hand siphon into the gasoline container. Squeeze the hand siphon several times. Siphon all gasoline from the fuel tank.
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Step 2
Locate the fuel bowl under the carburetor. The one-piece "Flo-jet" bowl will have either a large brass nut or a brass needle valve in the bottom-center of the bowl.
Step 3
Fit the jaws of the pliers over the large brass nut or the large brass ferrule of the needle valve. Turn the nut in a counterclockwise direction to loosen. Remove the pliers. Finish turning the nut or ferrule with your fingers. Some gas will drip when removing either fastener. Both the nut and ferrule will have a small-diameter gasket between them and the bottom of the bowl.
Step 4
Set the nut or ferrule to the side. Grasp the sides of the round fuel bowl with one hand. Gently rock the bowl back and forth while applying downward pressure. The bowl will come loose.
Step 5
Exercise caution when pulling the bowl free from the carburetor mounting ring. There is a thin, rubber O-ring the same diameter as the metal bowl. Do not damage the O-ring when removing the bowl.
Two-Piece "Flo-jet”
Step 1
Remove the gasoline from the fuel tank with the hand siphon. Locate the needle valve on the lower side of the fuel bowl. The needle valve will have a ferrule nut holding the needle valve in place. Remove the needle valve and ferrule.
Step 2
Insert a slotted screwdriver of small width--less than 1/4-inch wide--inside the needle-valve orifice. Inside the orifice is a brass venturi nozzle tube. The venturi tube is screwed inside to the bowl area. Carefully fit the slot of the screwdriver inside the slot of the venturi tube. You cannot see this operation. Turn the screwdriver in a counterclockwise direction. Withdraw the venturi tube from the orifice. Set it to the side.
Step 3
Remove the air breather from the air intake on the front side of the carburetor. A single thumbscrew holds the entire assembly to the carburetor. Locate the three screws that hold the fuel bowl to the carburetor assembly. These screws are located on the top side of the carburetor and protrude into the fuel bowl. Remove the three screws, one at a time.
Step 4
Hold the lower portion of the fuel bowl in one hand. Gently rock the metal bowl back and forth while applying downward pressure. The bowl must be pulled straight down.
Step 5
Exercise caution when removing the bowl, as a cork-type gasket resides near the top rim of the bowl.
Tip
Both types of “Flo-jet” bowls use a brass float. The float will dangle down when the bowl is removed. Do not disturb the brass float, as the fuel-regulating float valve is still attached to the hinged side of the brass float. Heavy disturbance to the brass float will cause the float valve to detach.
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