How to Reset the Governor on a Toro Snow Blower

Snowblowers must have their engine ignitions tuned for the best performance.

Many regions of the United States receive large amounts of snowfall each winter. As a result, many people must lead their daily lives with a level of snow constantly surrounding them during the season. Luckily, Toro offers many different snowblower types for small or large snow removal processes, clearing pathways for people to drive to work or school. However, Toro snowblowers must have a properly set engine governor, or ignition timing, for a long lasting machine life.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Gap Gauge
• Micrometer

Instructions

1. Open the snowblower's engine cover and locate the carburetor.

2. Detach the cooling shroud from the carburetor with a screwdriver.

3. Slightly loosen the governor's mounting screws with a screwdriver. Do not remove the screws from the governor module.

4. Place a gap gauge, measuring between 0.008 and 0.012 inches thick, behind one of the governor's module legs. The gap between the leg and the adjacent flywheel magnet should match the gap gauge. Adjust the leg's height, if the gap is too small or large, by turning the adjustment screw with a screwdriver.

5. Repeat the above step for each governor module leg. Each Toro snowblower model differs in the leg quantity. Verify the quantity of legs by consulting the specific owner's manual.

6. Verify the gap gauge's accuracy with a micrometer for each leg. Make sure that the gap falls within the acceptable size for the best governor performance.

7. Reassemble the parts by reversing Steps One through Three, and test the Toro snowblower's performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Accessing the Toro's governor requires removing a number of different size screws. Use an egg carton to hold the loose screws while servicing the governor. Each egg carton space can hold a group of screws for one piece of the engine, such as the cooling shroud. Reassembly will be easier if all the screws are organized efficiently, preventing lost or mixed up screw types.

References

• Small Engine Suppliers: Understanding and Adjusting Your Governor
• Toro: Single Stage Snowthrower Service Manual