How to Take a Restrictor Off a Lawn Mower

The restrictor on a lawn mower limits the ability of the motor to propel the mower past a pre-set top speed. The engine's restrictor is also known as a governor. You can remove the lawn mower's restrictor and allow your mower to run faster than its engine's top theoretical speed, even if you have no experience with restrictor troubleshooting.

Socket wrench

Instructions

- 1
  Ensure the lawn mower is turned off. Open the front hood over the mower's engine.
- 2
  Check the carburetor midway up the left side of the mower's motor. The top of the carburetor features an eyelet with an inserted rod. This is the rod extending from the governor. Use your hands to remove the governor rod from the carburetor eyelet.
- 3
  Remove the iron shroud from the flywheel on the top of the mower's engine block. The shroud acts as a protective cover. Loosen and pull out the shroud's bolts using your socket wrench, then pull the cover off with your hands.
- 4
  Disconnect the governor flap. The governor flap is found on the right side of the exposed flywheel, beside the magneto. The flap is connected to a bolt directly beneath it. Loosen the governor's bolt by turning your socket wrench counterclockwise. Pull the flap off the loose bolt, then tighten the bolt back into place. The restrictor has been disabled and removed.
- 5
  Set the flywheel shroud back into place over the flywheel, and secure it using its removed bolts and your socket wrench.

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