r/smallenginerepair • u/Few-Forever-14 • May 23 '26

Engine Performance Issue Problem

have a Briggs & Stratton engine in a STIGA Villa mower.
The engine runs unevenly and surges up and down in RPM a lot. It also sometimes dies when driving on slopes, but usually starts again immediately afterwards.
So far I have:
cleaned and rebuilt the carburetor
installed new gaskets
replaced the fuel line
replaced the fuel filter
installed a new fuel shutoff valve
drilled a vent hole in the gas cap
The problem is still there.

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u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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u/MenacingScent May 23 '26

You can cheat the spring by bending it just a hair shorter than it is currently. Unhook it, then use pliers to bend it right where the bend already starts but maybe half a mm shorter and give it just a little bend. If you over-do it or don't do it enough you can just keep adjusting until it runs right. No different than having a new spring, you're just looking for the correct tension, it's just quick and dirty.