How to Replace the Carburetor on a Southland Earth Auger

The carburetor brings fuel and air together in the perfect ration for combustion. The carburetor has many tiny passages that route fuel through it. If dirt or corrosion plugs these passages, the engine will run poorly (or not start at all). Leaving fuel sitting in the carburetor for a month (or more) at a time, can cause corrosion or varnish to form inside, restricting or stopping the flow of fuel. A carburetor can be cleaned and rebuilt, but often, it is faster and less expensive to simply replace it.

Let's get started.

REMOVING THE CARBURETOR   1. Remove the air cleaner assembly.

a. Loosen the thumbscrew and remove the air filter cover.
b. Remove the air filter.
c. Loosen the two bolts securing the air cleaner base (and the carburetor) to the engine.
d. Pull the air cleaner base (and carburetor) away from the engine slightly and remove the two bolts (along with the metal bracket) from the air cleaner base. (The carburetor is now accessible.)
2. Remove the carburetor.

a. Rotate the throttle body (on the carburetor) to the open position and disconnect the throttle cable (end-linkage) from the top of the carburetor.
b. Use long-nosed pliers to disconnect the two fuel lines from the carburetor.
c. Unthread and remove the carburetor assembly from the throttle cable.

INSTALLING THE NEW CARBURETOR

  3. Install the carburetor.

a. Thread the new carburetor assembly onto the throttle cable.
b. Use a wrench to tighten the throttle cable retaining nut.
c. Rotate the throttle body (on the carburetor) to the open position and connect the throttle cable (end-linkage) to the top of the carburetor.
d. Connect the fuel lines to the new carburetor.

REASSEMBLING THE UNIT

  4. Reinstall the air cleaner assembly (and carburetor).

a. Thread the two mounting screws through the metal air filter bracket.
b. Install the mounting screws (along with the metal bracket) onto the air cleaner base.
c. Install the air filter base (via the exposed mounting screws) onto the carburetor assembly.
d. Install the carburetor gasket onto the carburetor (using the screws to hold the gasket in place).
e. Install the entire assembly (air cleaner bracket, air cleaner base, carburetor, and gasket) onto the engine (using the mounting screws to keep everything aligned).
f. Use a hex wrench to tighten the mounting screws and secure the air cleaner assembly and carburetor to the engine.
5. Reinstall the air filter cover.

a. Install the air filter.
b. Install the air filter cover.
c. Tighten the thumbscrew to secure the air filter cover.