How to Adjust the Governor on a Lawn Mower

Locate your engine's throttle lever. The throttle lever controls the flow of gasoline into the engine, and should be located at the side or top of the carburetor. Slide the throttle to the open position and check that the attached governor springs move accordingly. If they do, then the governor remains attached and needs only be adjusted. If they do not, the governor arm has become detached and must be reattached and tested before the adjustment process can begin.

Use your wrench to loosen the governor clamp bolt. This bolt holds the governor arm to the throttle body. With the bolt removed, pull on the throttle lever so that the throttle is in the open position. When you open the throttle, the governor arm and sleeve should rotate in one direction or the other. Record which direction they move in so that you may make the proper adjustment.

Hold the throttle completely open and use your wrench to turn the governor sleeve in the direction you noted during Step 2. Turn the governor sleeve to its limit. By doing so, you are resetting the governor so that it limits the inflow of gasoline to the engine at the maximum level. The engine will therefore not run faster than it is meant to, and will be protected from overworking itself. Continue to hold the governor arm in position, and use your wrench to tighten the governor clamp bolt.

Test the governor arm adjustment by opening and closing the throttle lever repeatedly. If the governor and throttle lever both move freely, the adjustment is successful.