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

Want to go along 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 it.

Time

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $20

Introduction

Desire to keep your riding lawn mower working well all the fourth dimension? Knowing when to clean or replace a lawn mower air filter matters. Hither'south how to do it.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Make clean shop rags
  • Replacement air filter to fit your mower
  • Warm soapy water

Project step-by-pace (seven)

Pace 1

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 beginning while you're working.

1 Spark Plug Wire

Footstep two

Open filter housing and remove air filter

  • Examine the engine, looking for a removable plastic cover on the top or possibly on either side. This is the air filter housing.
  • Remove the air filter housing encompass. About riding lawn mower models are designed for this to be done by paw.
  • 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 encompass off, gently pull the air filter out from its housing and put it to one side. Depending on the model of mower you're working on, the filter might be a paper cartridge style or a simple slice of foam. Cleaning procedures will vary slightly for each.

2 Remove Filter Housing

Step 3

Protect the air inlet

  • With the air filter free of its housing, stuff a clean, dry shop rag into the inlet port at the back of the housing. This prevents droppings from getting into your carburetor during cleaning.
  • Be sure to leave plenty 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

Step 4

Clean the filter housing

  • Use your air compressor and spray nozzle to blast whatsoever dirt and debris from the inside of the filter housing. Be certain the shop rag is firmly blocking the inlet port before doing this.

4 Clean Filter Housing

Pace 5

Make up one's mind if the filter needs cleaning or replacement

  • Examine your air filter. If it's the paper cartridge type, look closely at the paper pleats. If they're only moderately dirty, chances are cleaning the filter volition exist sufficient. If they're completely caked in dirt and discolored, you'll need to supplant the filter.
  • If your filter is the all-cream diverseness, it can exist cleaned in warm, soapy water if it's not also dirty. As with the paper cartridge filter, replace your foam filter if information technology's completely caked in dirt and debris that won't come up off easily.

5 Examine Filter

Stride 6

Install new filter or clean old one

  • If your air filter is beyond saving, throw information technology out and install a new one of the aforementioned type. Check your mower's manual or exercise a Google search to find filters compatible with your machine.
  • Be sure to remove the shop rag you blimp in the air inlet earlier installing the new filter.
  • If your filter all the same looks like information technology has some life left, tap it gently against the nearest hard surface to knock loose equally much dirt equally you can. If it'south a foam filter, gently wash it in warm, soapy water, then set it somewhere warm to dry.
  • If you've got a paper filter, stuff a clean shop rag into the center to keep clay out, so accident off the outside with the air compressor, getting all surfaces equally make clean as possible.
  • With the outside of your paper filter make clean, remove the shop rag, then insert your air spray nozzle inside and blow out the filter from the inside out.
  • If your paper cartridge filter has a removable outer wire mesh or foam sleeve, accept information technology off and clean it separately. If you lot use h2o, exist sure to let the protective cover dry fully earlier replacing it over the filter.

6 Clean Filter

Footstep vii

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, and so reconnect the spark plug wire and y'all're done!

7 Reinstall Filter

Originally Published: June 23, 2021