How to Adjust the Governor on a Poulan Lawn Tractor

Your Poulan lawn tractor is a riding lawn mower that features a Briggs and Stratton engine. This mower's engine is not unique in that it houses a governor that is used to control the maximum speed of the tractor for safety purposes. You can adjust the governor on the Poulan lawn tractor so as to disable the limiting speeds on your mower and allow it to run unrestricted. No previous experience with operating on the engine or governor is required for this operation.

Socket wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Open the front engine cover over your Poulan lawn tractor's engine.
- 2
  Look near the rear of the Briggs & Stratton engine for the flywheel piece. This completely circular part sits atop the engine and features an iron cover with numerous visible bolts. Remove each bolt with a socket wrench and pull off the cover.
- 3
  Find the Poulan lawn tractor's magneto. The magneto can only be seen after removing the flywheel cover. It sits just to the side of the actual flywheel, and the plastic flap of the governor lies on it. This flap is held in place by one bolt on the engine assembly. Remove this bolt with the socket wrench.
- 4
  Find the Poulan lawn tractor's carburetor. The carburetor can be identified thanks to the distinctive carburetor bowl. This bowl is along the left side of the Briggs & Stratton engine. There is a single eyelet on the carburetor here that the rod from the governor connects to. Pull out the governor's rod from this eyelet to finish adjusting the governor. You can pull the rod out by simply using your hands. This will disable the speed restrictor and allow your Poulan lawn tractor to run faster.

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