What causes a small engine to surge up and down?

A dirty or gummed up carburetor causes an engine to surge. If you feel comfortable working on carburetors, unbolt the bowl and clean it thoroughly. Check whether the float moves up and down without sticking, and clean the tiny ports on the bowl hold-down bolt.

What causes a carbureted engine to surge?

Incorrect fuel mixture adjustments and engine idling capabilities can be upset by fuel mixture adjustments and fuel vapor recovery system malfunction. The fuel system cleaner added to the fuel tank can open blocked passages in the fuel system that could be causing the surge.

How do you fix a surging governor?

Over time the spring can stretch out, causing the same engine surging. Often surging caused by the governor can be fixed by simply adjusting the governor spring. It usually only takes a small adjustment to correct the surging. If the spring has stretched out it will need to be replaced.

Can spark plugs cause surging?

3. Surging and Lagging. Another good indication that your spark plugs are dirty or worn is if your vehicle experiences surges of speed, resulting in a jerking acceleration. These surges occur because your spark plugs are not igniting the fuel in your engine at the proper rate, resulting in an uneven speed.

Why is my mower revving up and down?

If the air that the engine requires to run is blocked, especially sporadically, it can cause the engine to slow down. When the blockage moves or clears, the engine may suddenly rev up in response. To fix this type of problem, check the air filter to ensure that it’s not clogged with dirt and debris.

Can bad spark plugs cause engine surging?

What causes engine surging at idle?

Idle Speed Control Issues On some models, a faulty or fouled idle speed control (ISC) motor [or idle air control (IAC) motor] may cause the engine to surge at idle or at low speeds. A common problem is carbon buildup. It prevents air to bypass the throttle plate as commanded by the car’s computer.