Lawn Mower Carb Location (Filter and Spark Plug Too)

Properly troubleshooting or maintaining the small engine on a lawn mower requires knowing the lawn mower carb location, air filter, and spark plug are.

If you don’t know where the carburetor, air filter or spark plug is located on your lawn mower, don’t worry, these location diagrams may help you find them.

The first step in locating a specific part on a small engine is identifying the engine manufacturer. Honda, Briggs and Stratton and Koehler (the big 3) make the vast majority of 2-7 horsepower small engines.

Engine manufacturer data can be found in the owner’s manual for your power equipment and, alternatively, on the small engine itself. Check to see if your small engine has model data on a tag or sticker prominently attached to it.

Briggs and Stratton Part Locations (new)

This diagram shows the location of the carburetor, spark plug, air filter and oil cap on newer Briggs and Stratton small engines (2-7 HP). The newer engines have more plastic components, making them look different from older Briggs and Stratton engines.

lawn mower carb location

The carburetor on a new Briggs and Stratton small engine is located behind the air filter housing. You can access the carburetor adjustment screw by removing the bolts which hold the air filter cover and housing in place.

Briggs and Stratton Part Locations (old)

This diagram shows the location of the carburetor, spark plug and air filter on older Briggs and Stratton small engines. Older Briggs engines have little to no plastic components and look different from new Briggs engines.

The carburetor on older Briggs and Stratton small engine is located below the air filter housing. You can access the carburetor adjustment screw without removing the air filter.

Honda Small Engine Part Locations

This diagram shows the location of the carburetor, spark plug and air filter on a Honda small engine.

The carburetor on Honda small engines is located below the air filter housing. You can access the carburetor adjustment screw without removing the air filter housing.

Koehler Small Engine Part Locations

This diagram shows the location of the carburetor, spark plug and air filter on a Koehler small engine.

The carburetor on Koehler small engines is also located below the air filter housing, and you can access the carburetor adjustment screw without removing the air filter, though it is slightly more difficult.

Tips for finding and identifying parts on other small engines

There have been many other brands of small engines manufactured over the years but, thankfully, some common traits can help you find the carburetor, spark plug and air filter locations on all of them.

Most engines have the exhaust and oil cap on one side of the engine while the air filter and carburetor are on the other, but there are exceptions. An exception can be found in older Tecumseh small engines that have all four on the same side of the engine. So what should you do? Look for common traits.

All spark plugs will have a spark plug wire and boot attached to it. Find the spark plug wire, and it will lead you to the spark plug on all small engines.

All carburetors will have a fuel line attached to it coming from the gas tank. Find the fuel line, and it will lead you to the carburetor on all small engines.

A fuel primer bulb, if present, is always going to be connected to the carburetor so if you see a fuel primer bulb you know that’s where the carburetor is.

The air filter on all small engines is going to be in an air filter housing directly connected to the carburetor. This is because the carburetor’s main function is to mix air and fuel together before combustion. Find the carburetor and the air filter will be next to it.

The presence of an oil cap anywhere on a small engine will confirm that the engine is a 4-stroke (4-cycle) engine and requires regular oil changes.