How To Take The Governor Off A Lawn Mower

If your lawn mower has trouble cutting through thick grass, or does not seem to have the power to cut tall grass on a regular basis, you can remove the governor. The governor is a plastic arm or flap that restricts the carburetor and throttle from speeding up the motor. Once you remove the governor, the engine will run at higher "Revolutions Per Minute," or R.P.M.s.

Step 1

Turn the mower off and allow it to cool if it was recently used. Push it onto a level, sturdy surface.

Step 2

Look for the retaining bolts that hold the hood or engine housing in place. There will be between six to ten bolts, depending on the make and model.

Step 3

Unfasten each bolt with a wrench or matching-sized socket. Place each bolt in a sandwich bag so they will not roll away.

Step 4

Pull the hood or engine housing off the mower and look for a plastic arm or flap with two springs: one spring attached to the throttle, the other spring attached to the carburetor. This is the governor connect to the carburetor and throttle.

Step 5

Unfasten both springs with pliers, then remove the plastic arm or flap by unfastening the mounting bolt with a wrench or socket.

Step 6

Place the hood or engine housing back into place and refasten the bolts. Your lawn mower will now run at higher R.P.M.s and be able to cut more efficiently.