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Sound Advise About Governors...

...don't mess with it unless you * know exactly * what you're doing!

After having been asked numerous times, I was finally compelled to add a section covering governor controls. As you can see, this section is quite different from the rest of the troubleshooting guide and the reason for the hesitancy (complete with warnings) is simply an attempt at saving a lot of trouble for a lot of folks.

What they are and how they work

All small engines (regardless of size, type or manufacturer) are designed to run at a certain speed range in order to reach maximum power output. Any engine speed above or below the recommend specification can and usually will result in a lack of power or possibly severe engine damage! In a nutshell, the governor is designed to adjust engine speed (RPM) according to a given workload. When the engine is running at idle or working under a very light load, it protects the engine by keeping it from over speeding. When the engine is put under a heavier load, it allows the engine RPM to adjust accordingly, keeping within the *peak* RPM range for *maximum* power output. Mechanical Governors For most small engines, mechanical style governors are usually located inside the crankcase and driven from a gear located on either the crankshaft or camshaft. There will be an external link arm that controls the throttle valve on the carb by means of additional wire links and or specially calibrated springs. Air Vane Governors For the smaller variety of engines, the governor is often located underneath the engine shroud close to the flywheel. As indicated, these types of governors use the air movement produced by the fins on the flywheel to control engine speed. Also like the mechanical style governor, control to the throttle valve on the carb is accomplished by means of additional wire links and or specially calibrated springs. Although it's not recommended, if you *do* choose to make your own adjustments, here's what you will need at a minimum:   Factory Engine RPM Specifications.     A tachometer for measuring engine RPM.     A repair manual with the exact adjustment procedures.   Anything less than the above and you could easily end up with a loss in performance or even worse.