Lawn mower fuel lines are issues that can get damaged or just need to be replaced due to age. Replacing them isn’t as difficult as you may think.

How to Change Your Lawnmower’s Fuel Line

In this article, we will look into the process of changing damaged or old fuel lines so that your lawn mower functions optimally.

How to Change Your Lawnmower’s Fuel Line

To change your lawn mower’s fuel line you must prepare your tools, switch off the fuel, and remove the engine’s cover, and try to release the spring clips. Then, take off the fuel line and remove the spring clipping, measure and cut the old fuel line, reinstall and attach it.

If you’ve ever had your mower go into a bush or several, there’s a high probability that the fuel line got damaged. When this happens, you’ll need to replace them unless you want to run the risk of damaging your lawn mowers even more.

– Step 1: Prepare the Tools You Need

You should prepare the tools you need for this task: a new fuel line, handheld snips, socket wrench, pliers, a flathead screwdriver, and a marker pen. These tools are the ones you need to prepare in order to have them in front of you, so you accomplish the task with all success.

Prepare the Tools You Need

Replacing the fuel line for your mower’s small engine requires at least many tools to keep everything easier to manage. Aside from the fuel line, the tools you’ll need are most likely in your tool kit. If not, you’ll need to look for similar tools or purchase the ones that you don’t have.

You’ll likely need these tools for other activities around the house too, and if you don’t have them, you can always buy them.

– Step 2: Switch off the Fuel

After preparing all the necessary tools and items, you’ll need to switch off the fuel before removing the fuel line. This will cause the gasoline to flow out of the line; however, if you have a cut-off valve for your fuel, simply turn the valve off.

Otherwise, draining the gas tank before replacing the line is important, because you don’t want to waste the fuel that is present in the tank.

– Step 3: Remove the Engine Cover

To access the fuel line more conveniently, take off the engine cover. Using a socket wrench, turn the fixing bolts that hold the engine cover in place. Continue turning and removing each bolt until all bolts have been taken off.

Place the bolts in a safe area to keep them from moving around and getting lost, and turn your attention back to the engine cover, lift it off, and set it aside.

– Step 4: Release the Spring Clips

Use your pliers to remove the spring clips. Hold your pliers to pinch the clip’s prongs. This will open the clip up. This allows the clip to slide to the middle of the fuel line, and when it does so, it will help things move quicker, use a flathead screwdriver to move the clip along the line.

Once you have moved the first clip to the middle of the fuel line, do the same thing with the other clip.

Release the Spring Clips

Perform the same actions until the clips at both ends of the line are right in the center of the fuel line, and make sure to release them.

– Step 5: Take off the Fuel Line

Taking off the fuel line is a step that needs to be done with utmost caution. Old lines tend to stick to the parts of the lawn mower, such as fuel filters, really well. This can make it slightly more challenging to remove.

To loosen the line, gingerly twist it in order to break its adhesion to the mower’s parts. Once it has loosened, pull the fuel line from the parts it has attached.

Usually, the fuel line is stuck to the gas tank. If the line is still a bit difficult to remove, get your flathead screwdriver to help you pry it off. Slowly pull out the line as you pry it out and it should come off, and remember that you must always exercise caution to avoid damaging the parts that you’re working with.

– Step 6: Remove the Spring Clips

Now that the fuel line has been removed, you can take off the spring clips cautiously and know that these clips can be used later on. To fully remove the spring clips, take your pliers to remove both clips off the fuel line.

– Step 7: Measure the Old Fuel Line Against the New Fuel Line

Now that you have the old fuel line, you line it up with the new one. Using your marker pen, mark the length of the old fuel line on the new one. This will help you figure out a more exact length for the replacement fuel line.

The inside diameter of the fuel line pipe must be the correct measurement so that no issue would tackle it in the long run, when you cut it incorrectly. If the diameter is too small, it will be difficult to install it. When the inside diameter is too big, it can cause leaks, so one must accurately measure the old to the new.

– Step 8: Cut the New Fuel Line

The length should always be just right. This means that it should not be too long or too short. If it’s too long, it can cause kinks in the line that can stop the flow of fuel. It will have poor contact with the engine parts if the length is too short.

Cut the New Fuel Line

Use your handheld snips to cut the new fuel line at the marked length. As much as possible, cut at a flat line to get the maximum contact between the engine fuel parts and the new fuel line. Doing so will ensure the fuel line fits better with all parts of the gas tank, and won’t cause any problems.

Now, after you have cut it, make sure that you use silicon-based spray lubricants to prevent the fuel line from splitting or cracking. This condition is known as dry rot. Once the fuel line is applied with these spray lubricants, then the fuel line gets protected from harsh sunlight, heat, and water.

– Step 9: Reinstall the Spring Clips to the New Fuel Line

Install the spring clips on the newly cut fuel line, just in the right place where it was. Once the spring clips are installed, use your pliers to open the slips. This allows you to slide the clips to the center of the line, where they are supposed to be.

Most homeowners tend to forget this part, so ensure that you do it whenever you replace new lines. Otherwise, you may end up removing the fuel line just to install the spring clips.

– Step 10: Attach the New Fuel Line

This also requires an extra amount of caution. The fuel line and its surrounding parts, such as the fuel filter, are delicate and may be prone to damage if excessive force is used. To install the new fuel line, slowly twist and push it at the same time, so they would fit in the right place.

Before doing so, you will be able to figure out the hardest angle and start from there. Don’t rush this part so that the new fuel line gets installed correctly. Confirm that it’s pushed on the parts completely so that the new fuel line is unable to go any further.

If you find that there are slight difficulties getting the line on far enough, you might be tempted to stop right then and there. If you stop short here, it could lead to future leaks. As a result, you must continue installing the fuel line until everything fits as perfectly as possible.

– Step 11: Reposition the Spring Clips

Now that you have the fuel line correctly in place, you can at present begin repositioning the spring clips. To do this, grab your pliers and reinstall the spring clips as they were prior to removal. Remember that you should aim to double-check their positions, and use the old fuel line as a reference, as the old fuel line will most likely have imprints of where the spring clips used to be.

– Step 12: Reinstall the Engine Cover

If you check, everything should be right in its place; as a result, it’s time to return the small engine cover to its original setting. Reinstall the cover and place the bolts where they should be. Using your socket wrench, fasten the cover with the bolts.

At this point, you should also ensure that the bolts are tightly screwed to avoid the possibility of them being shaken loose when the lawn mower is in operation.

– Step 13: Test the New Fuel Line

You’ll need to refill the gas tank to test the newly replaced fuel line. If you have a cut-off valve, switch it back so that the valve is open. While the fuel fills the tank, you can start checking for leaks. Remember to do so carefully to avoid damaging sensitive parts, such as the fuel filter.

Test the New Fuel Line

Once the lawn mower fuel tank is adequately filled, turn on your mower. Allow the lawnmower to stay idle for several minutes. After some time has passed, check for leaks. If the fuel line and clips were correctly installed, there should not be any evidence of leaks.

Conclusion

With all that we’ve covered, you’re in a better place to start replacing your riding lawn mower fuel line. To recap everything, here are some reminders:

  • Ensure that you have the proper items and tools handy.
  • Measure correctly so that you end up with precise cutting; make sure it isn’t too big or too small.
  • Remove and replace items as efficiently as possible to make the entire activity quick and smooth.
  • You need to take care of some considerations before and during fuel line replacement in small engines. While they seem to be trivial, they can actually help you lessen errors in the long run.

We bet you’re excited to start changing your mower’s fuel line. Now, you have the perfect knowledge about how to replace the fuel lines in the most efficient way. If during this fuel line repair, your mower’s gas cap gets damaged, you can temporarily fix it, but we highly suggest replacing it with a proper gas cap!

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