How to Clean the Carburetor on a Homelite Trimmer

These deposits will choke the cylinder of air and fuel, which will lead to sluggish acceleration, poor idling and no power under load. To get the trimmer running well again, the carburetor must be removed, disassembled and cleaned.

1. Unhook the air filter housing cover. Take the air filter out of the box. Undo the two hex nuts with a socket wrench and 3/8-inch socket. Take the air filter-housing box off the carburetor’s two mounting studs.

2. Unplug the two gas lines from the carburetor’s elbow connectors using your fingers. Unscrew the two mounting screws holding the carburetor to the intake manifold. Pull the carburetor and gasket off the manifold.

3. Disassemble the carburetor carefully. Draw a diagram of all parts as you remove them to help with their reassembly. Unscrew all the outer screws holding the gaskets and diaphragms to the carburetor. Unscrew the needle valve retaining screw and remove the needle valve assembly from the carburetor. Undo the carburetor adjusting screws and remove them.

4. Soak all parts in a carburetor cleaner bath overnight. Scrub off all deposits still left with a brush. Blow out the two jets with compressed air. Don’t clean the diaphragms and gaskets if you don’t have a replacement carb kit with new diaphragms and gaskets.

5. Reassemble the parts in reverse order. Pay close attention to replacing the needle valve assembly. Insert the small spring into the hole. Place the needle valve with the valve lever on top of the spring. Replace any parts with the carburetor kit as needed. Reinstall the carburetor in the engine following the reverse of disassembly.