Why it matters: A carburetor mixes air and fuel for combustion, and when dirty or misadjusted, it can cause hard starts, poor performance, or engine damage. When to act: Symptoms like sputtering, ...

Confirm that the fuel valve is on, there’s gas in the tank and the spark plug is in good shape. Shoot a one-second burst of aerosol lubricant or carburetor cleaner down the throat of the carburetor.