The engine's load is always changing so they use a governor. In a car you are the governor and constantly modify rpm; Once you reach a certain speed-rpm you barely press the throttle to maintain it. At the same speed-rpm if you begin to go uphill the load increases and you have to push the throttle further to maintain the same speed. Now once you go down hill you let completely off to maintain the same speed. RPM is governed by the operator. The governor on a Briggs does all this automatically.

Thanks for posting this video. I had my mower serviced at a local small engine repair shop and the guy obviously didn't know what he was doing. The engine was over-revving when I got it back and I didn't want to take it back to him. Your video was very helpful getting the governor adjusted correctly to bring the rpm's back to normal. Boy, that adjustment is really sensitive though, isn't it? The slightest adjustment makes a big difference! Thanks a million!

Honda sets their mowers at lower rpm than most to keep the sound levels to a minimum. The engines they use are designed to run faster and can easily and safely do so. Blade tip speed is what cuts grass nice, so higher rpms is a good thing. Your governor arm could have slipped and that will lower your rpms a fair amount. I would mark the spot that it is now and adjust the arm (a tiny bit) like I show to increase your rpms.

THANK YOU .... for the comment that surging, hunting is a dirty carb. I adjusted the spring 7 times. then watched your video. I cleaned my carb and the surging / hunting turning into smooth running. THANK YOU.

Great video... By far the most straight forward explanation from the governor/ throttle relationship I’ve seen. I have a high revving Honda mower. Trying your adjustments tomorrow. Thanks

This was an excellent video - it saved me the time of taking apart my engine to see how the governor works. Thanks for posting it.

Thanks for watching. I do respectfully disagree with you though. Most mowers are set around 2900-3100 because of blade tip speeds regulations and decibel regulations. These engines are ran in numerous other applications and governed to run at 3400-3600rpm (pressure washers, log splitters, commercial applications, etc). They will actually cool very will with the built in cooling fan on all these small engines at 3600rpm. Lets agree to disagree :)

Thank you! That was a good overall explanation of governors in general.

Thank you for the informations. I've tried to adjust the governor during and hour and a half,it's really really really sensible. now it's like before i touched it or radically way higher, screaming. Without the rpm meter i don't want to touch it. The mower belongs to a grandma i'm helping i can't take a risk. At least it's starting and working now. Thank you again. : ) Greets from France.

Thanks for the response! Makes perfect sense and I agree 100%....it's just that my engine sounded like it was way over revving but I countered the idle jet back a little and it sounds a lot better. Either way I just ordered a tach/hour online and as soon as it gets here I will dial in rpms to 3400 -3600. Greatly appreciate the input!

@classicoutboards You should be able to manually operate the governor arm and decrease the engine speed to an idle. If you let it go does it over rev?

Thanks, I just fixed one really old Briggs&Stratton machine and I was wondering how governor internals work. Didn't need to disassemble the engine, but it bothered me how linkage actuation was gone. I was expecting centrifugal type actuation and seems like I imagined it almost spot on, but didn't know about that internal lever. Thanks for the video 👍

On a Kohler Courage 17HP engine, rotate the governor cross shaft (shaft) COUNTERCLOCKWISE as you view the end of the shaft to hold it against the governor pin, and tighten the governor assembly lever onto the shaft with the carburetor throttle valve wide open. Sincerely, David Parker

Hey thanks man for the reply. You are right sometimes the motor sounds like its gonna stall. The GCV160 is a very good work hourse of a motor. I did mess around with the governor today and got the rpms up to about 2600. I quickly reset it back to 1800 because the motor was louder. I think i will mess around with it a little more tomorrow. Thank you for your help!

Continued: I have tested at least a dozen others and they all have been set from the factory at around 3400-3500rpm. This is the first one that has been set this low. It made a HUGE difference in performance in cutting a lawn.

Well explained so that even I can understand a difficult concept. I cleaned my carb and put it back (Crafts. Eager 1) and just runs for 1 second and quits. Well the governor linkage spring was too stretched so the throttle was always closed. I changed the carb, cleaned the old and put back, took the bowl off again, recleaned the main jet, changed the gas, cleaned the tank, etc. What a nightmare because I didn't understand what was going on.

hi i've cleaned up the carb like you showed in the vid. the mower is working now. it's not perfect because the idle is low and it tend to die after a bit. The max rpm is quite low too and was yet, before i touch the governor. i can mow under load at least. Thank you for your help.

Hi. I need help... I have a honda hrx 357 from 2005. The mower can't stay at idle and die as soon as i use the "turtle mode" At "rabbit mode" it 's surging. i've changed the sparkplug and air filter because there were cracked/dirty. i've cleaned the carb (main jet was not clogged,needle and seat were ok float too. carb gaskets are ok too The tension spring of the governor is useless on mine there is zero tension,it's always floating (?) it is on the lower hole (your's is in the upper hole)

@seapeddler It is called a "Tiny Tach" and they are available online everywhere. No the governor gear is not in time with any other gears. It can be in any position when installed.

Awesome. Can't thank you enough! My brain was swimming (not that it doesn't take that much for that to happen.) I haven't used the mower since we got a rider last year. I took apart the carb, cleaned it out and hit all the jets with a copper wire. The filter was looking pretty dirty so I bought a new one. Moved the gov, it was around 4k, but ran out of time to fine tune it. I'll post my results after I get it finished.

What position was the throttle lever when you made your adjustments?

Nice... Most people when they have a hard time understanding something ask questions. But I guess criticizing someone, who is trying to teach them makes them superior. I guess you taught me.

it's surging,so i have to clean the carb again i guess. but what's the problem with the impossible idle ? Is it the air screw to adjust ? there is a screw for max rpm to limitate the butterfly opening and an other screw with only a quarter turn avaible for tuning ? It's the idle air screw ?

When i adjust the govenor and tighten the bolt, my buterfly wont return and if i loosen the nut a little ,than my buterfly returns but if i start the motor than the rp its over the roof..(btw im ajusting without a tachometer because at this moment a dont have one) and if i tighten the nut so that my buterfly stays on the correct position , then i can't control my speed ..any suggestions ?

Great Video, had I seen this before I tried screwing with my Honda Pressure Washer, it would have saved me a trip to the parts store for a spring I thought I could stretch and tighten. Thanks for your time and effort on this, also saved me a trip to the repair shop for my unit.

With the engine off the governor will move freely. With the engine running if you force it to slow down the governor arm will pull and be forcing the carb to open up and run faster. Once you let it go it will return to faster operation. What kind of engine is it?

You could probably do it by ear pretty good. Remove the chain so you can full rev the engine and hear what it sounds like. Then mark exactly where everything is so you can put it back if you run into trouble. Adjust the governor and restart the engine and rev it. You just want it to sound faster. I little adjusting goes along way. Even race engines will have a rev limiter to prevent the engine from exceeding a certain RPM and self destructing, that's all your doing.

Thanks for the video and helping me understand the operation of the governor. I have a Honda gc160 on a pressure washer. The engine runs just great except the rpm's don't increase when under a load.however when i advance the governor control manually the rpm's increase as well as the water pressure. I'm thinking it's a governor problem but I am wondering if it is an adjustment issue or a replacement issue. thanks again

ok. I've watched the two sets of vids you made. I will clean the carb tomorrow. I've messed with the governor set up but once the carb clean i will put it back like it was. The tension spring set up is weird however, completly useless on my engine. Thank you for your help : )

Thanks very much. Now I understand how the governor works, I can fix my old Honda. It's 24 years old and has never needed any attention up to now.

If you want the same style tachometer I use I put a link in the description.

Spending the time to explain you deserve all the likes and more

Done right! Others advocate bending arms. Personally I've changed spring location or spring weight to achieve differing RPM's. You did comment that the adjustments are very slight - "tiny" was the word you used. And yes, it IS a tiny change. Easy enough to get it way out of whack for someone who isn't quite as mechanically skilled. I'd advocate for changing springs. OR make adjustments with the governor arm linkages all disconnected and the arm swung to its furthest most position only limited by the internal mechanisms and loosen the shaft tensioning nut and make slight adjustments by moving the arm and not the shaft.

Thank you for this video, finally I have got some understanding of how the governor works and what it does

Saved me a few quid getting my mower repaired quick and easy after watching the instructions thank.

You are correct with the Honda service manual I have the same manuals. I am not arguing with that. If you look at the individual specs for the engines they are almost all rated at 3600 rpm max (some at 4000). Honda specs that the rpm be lower on newer mowers to reduce emissions and lower the sound. If you want the best performance/ most hp out of your engine they are safely rated to run at 3600 max(no load). This is one of the first Honda mowers that I have had to adjust.

Great video sixtyfiveford. I have a couple questions, my riding lawn mower (Murray) has a 13.5 hp engine and I watch the govenor fluctuates, which means the throttle reves up and down. How can I regulate the govenor from reving up and down? Also, I disconected the lead at the bottom of the carburator float and it runs fine once in awhile. How do I adjust the fluctuation of the reving of the govenor? Thanks again for your video. Very informative.

No I am just wondering what problem you are trying to fix. Was the engine over revving, surging, lacks power or?

Thanks!!!! You saved me alot of time and money, I was about to go buy another $300 lawnmower. Keep it up.

Nevermind, i found the answer when i looked at the link. Thanks for a great video!

Thanks... Glad you liked the video.

Idling fast is your idle speed screw on the top of the carb. Turn it counter clockwise to lower the idle rpm.

I assume when you adjust the throttle control from the drivers seat it does nothing. You can try to adjust it like I show in the video at about 3:00. Reference where it is and rotate the shaft in the rod.

My Honda Engine is similar but behind that arm is a small lever that is the idle control for mine. Mine was initially really low and then I loosened the nut and it went crazy high. I finally figured out to slide the lever toward the front of the mower and then tighten that nut back up.

AWESOME.. Was it the inline filter?

The governor arm could have slipped on the shaft coming out of the motor. This would decrease the overall rpm. You would simply adjust it and go from there. Let me know how it goes.

This is great. Explained everything I was looking for a the way to showing inside the engine, thanks!

The engine itself is designed to run at a constant 3600 rpm safely. They use this engine on various equipment and on most 3600 is required. Honda however has their mowers set a lower rpm for several reasons: sound level and overall engine life. The engine will last longer at 3100rpm vs 3600 but you also does significantly less work at 3100 rpm. The technique mowers use in cutting grass give a better cut the faster the blade spins. The faster the blade spins the faster you can walk with the mower

I did this today and it works just fine. I kinda know how to do it. Now i know how to do it. This was a big help.

@justinml11.... All these small engine made by Briggs and Stratton, Honda, Tecumseh, Kohler, etc are 3600rpm or less. They can be made to handle higher rpms but it requires billet rods, flywheels, forged crankshafts, ect. Pretty much everything internally has to be replaced. It is 10 times cheaper to change the gear ratio if you want your go cart/mini bike to go faster. Good Luck.

Yeah, they are super sensitive. It was nice meeting you.

Shit hot mate, four years my ride on has sat in the garage (when it's at temp, it revs and idles, revs and idles) now I know whats wrong. Thanks from the UK

Thanks for the tip and for watching.

@classicoutboards .. Good. This tells us that the butterfly is working properly. You will need to adjust the governor further. It is a VERY sensitive instrument. Looking at the governor arm determine which way closes the throttle. If moving it in a counter clockwise direction closes the throttle butterfly/reduces rpm then you need the rotate the governor shaft coming out of the block clockwise in the governor arm to reduce the throttle. Let me know how you make out.

I had no time since, I'm gonna try and get it done this weekend, thanks again

Thank you! You've help me isolate my problem!

The government maximum mower blade tip speed is limited to 19,000 Feet Per Minute. That means a 21" blade is limited to about 3456 RPM. Now if you have a 20" blade, you can easily run it at 3600 for best performance. Riding Mowers where the blade is run by a belt, the gear ratio is changed to get he maximum FPM out of the blade at the engines 3600rpm. With several 18" blades they raise the gear ratio to spin them at around 4000 rpm(3400-3600 engine rpm) to keep within the 19000FPM limit.

If the engine shuts off at 1/2 or less throttle I would adjust the idle screw on the very top of the carb. It is probably set out too far. Turn it in Clockwise a turn or so at a time and run the engine. This screw is what ultimately sets your low idle speed. Once your able to get it to run at idle then you can actually back it out until it idles exactly where you want.

@classicoutboards Your carburetor butterfly could be sticking open.

Hey, thanks for you video it helps to explain the govenror but I have a question. I have a GC160 powered grok art and I wanted to remove the governed system, can I just remove the linkages that connect to the governed shaft or do I have to remove the whole system internally. I get about 35 mph with that little 5hp Honda engine and I wanted more for right now until I upgrade to a gx200. Thanks in advanced

Sorry for the late reply. It is winter here now in Australia and the grass is not growing much at all so I have not used the lawn mower lately. I checked the air filter and it was filthy, I have ordered some new filters from ebay, when they arrive I will install one and give it a try. Thanks for your advice, I will let you know how it goes when the grass starts to grow and I can test it out under load.

That's great to hear.

Great video, I have a 1979 Briggs 11 hp horizontal on a Wheel Horse tractor and the motor is overspeeding even though I have the governor adjusted to the service manual, what could be wrong?

Great video and explanation, definitely the best video I've found👍

Yeah, those are simple and work very well.

What happens if one tries to adjust the speed by changing the throttle spring tension instead of rotating the pinch bolt?

.... continued... small engines should run around 3400rpm and max at 3600. I repair engines for a living and take great pride in lawn quality. You get a better cleaner cut from a mower running closer to 3600rpm than 2900-3000.

Thanks man really did alot after my engineer increase it

Thanks for the quick reply! I cleaned it out again the other night but it was late so I couldn't run it .. I ran it last night and it seems fine. So yeah, it was the carb!

Thank u very much it finally works that was super helpful

Very good, he knows his stuff, thanks.

This is the most complete video I saw on this topic, thanks a lot, this does help me. (very kind remark to help: your video would be easier to see if you avoid to have high level of light in the back, as this makes a lot of shades on the interesting parts of your tuto)

Will thanks for your help.I go tthis mower running.I'm not to sure what RPM's this 17.5 horse engine runs at, but on low it sounds pertty high.But i'm use to a 12.5 hr engine.any way i did get it running

Very informative video. I was lost before watching. Thanks for the info

Awesome... Thanks for watching.

Yes, there was also air vane governors used on old Briggs and Stratton. I have never seen one of those go off or go bad. Air Vane Governors: The flywheel is also a fan and creates air flow. The air flow pushes on a tab (air vane) and it in turns pushes on the throttle. A spring holds it back. The faster the engine moves the more air flow and the harder it pushes on the air vane(closes the throttle). When the engine slows the spring pulls harder (opens the throttle). Delicate balance.

You're welcome. I'm glad you liked the video.

It's your idle circuit in the carb that is causing the surging. Ebay has new carbs for around 20 bucks or you can attack it again. The carb can't maintain a set rpm because there is no or too little gas flowing through the idle circuit and it has to keep opening the main butterfly to get more gas. The engine then revs to the rpm it should be and the governor closes the carb butterfly and the cycle repeats.

Is there supposed to be play in the governor arm? On my lawnmower the shaft moves in and out about a half an inch. Idk if that’s supposed to happen

@justinml11 They are built to handle higher engine rpm's. These small engines are only manufactured to handle 3600 rpms. If you want to go faster you need to change the gear ratio. A larger sprocket on the engine or a smaller sprocket on the axle will raise the gear ratio and give the machine a higher speed.

thanks buddy, I have been a mechanic since I was a kid... now I got a paper that says I know what I am doing! I never knew how the governor worked on a lawnmower, I knew it controlled rpm, I just wasnt sure how. I will be sure to check my rpm because it does seem to rev pretty low.... I wanna get me one of those sweet gauges you got there, then I could tell how long I have to perform different services.

Thanks for responding, I'll try and get that device you have, to check the rpm then adjust it a little higher than stock. Thanks again

Hi...thanks for the video.... Just a minor problem...I cleaned the carb and it runs fine with the exception that it does idle too fast. Followed your instructions, but.....the little shaft which is turned to regulate rpms only turns one way from the reference point. I cannot get it to move in a counter clock wise manner. I am afraid to run it with the rpms so high. I think I will ruin the motor... Suggestions?

Great explanation! Thanks for posting

Is there a reason why you are looking at the governor? What is the engine doing that concerns you?

THANKS YOU'RE VIDEO WAS A GREAT HELP.

I have 20219 TORO Self Propelled Lawn Mower. I tried to fix throttle cable as it was springing back in chock position and so I loosened the screw and tried to fix the cable but I noticed that it's "end" should push the arm to close the choke which was too small and it was scrubbing the arm but not pushing it. so I bend the arm a little so that the end of the throttle pushes the arm and so it closes the choke. But something has happened now when I bring the throttle handle to fast from the choke position it runs at the slow RPM and then if I pull the throttle handle to slow nothing happens and it continues to run at the slow RPM. I do not see any mechanical movement happening when I bring the throttle handle from choke to run. What should happen? But if I touch the throttle a little it raves up the RPM a lot with loud noise. I mean it works. So what did I mess up and how should I fix it?

This was very well explained. Good job.

Great explanation 👍

i like the video and the way you explain things, just got yourself a subscriber :)

Awesome.... glad I could help.

My GCV160 runs well, but when it comes to longer grass the revs drop a bit, then the governor seems to cut in and it puffs black smoke before the revs increase. I have had the carb off and cleaned it in the past and cleaned it (thanks again for the vidz) I am wondering if its an adjustment problem, as in the spring is in the in wrong hole.

In video you e plained how to adjust max speed. Could you please tell how I adjust idle speed?

what does it mean when the governor chef coming out of the block is seized doesn't want to budge back and forth is the question of prying it loose so there's something inside screwed up

This was very informative. Are those little tach testers available where, you said? Does it matter how the governor gears mesh with the cam gear?

What engine is this in the video? I have the same, and need some new carb gaskets for it, but I can't find an engine number anywhere.

Thanks for info...ITS amazing really...still trying to figure it out...this helps alot

Great video. Now I know how the governor works on my mower.

also what was the instrument that you used called

@Pianobuggy ........Around the spark plug wire