It sounds like a carb problem, but to help, we need to
know what engine you have. Post some model numbers.

Fish

Clean the idle circuit and jets. Under no load, even at full throttle, 90% of fuel passes through only the idle circuit. The prime is shot up the main circuit.

It's a 6.5 B&S. The mower model # is 917.388740. I have taken it off and cleaned it three or four times.

You might have to remove the welch plug at the former air adjustment screw. There are 3 holes the size of a human hair that can be blocked.

There are no adjustments of any kind on this particular carb. That is why I am stumped. All of the ports and holes are open and free of debris.

Engine should be B&S 123K02-0181-E1.
Remove the little brass nut holding the carb bowl on and clean out the tiny hole(s). The wire tie from a loaf of bread works good.

Yep, did that too. And that is the correct model #. I sprayed the crap out of it with WD-40 and it runs like a charm?! I have no idea, but it worked. Thanks for all of your help!

WD-40 is mainly Stoddard solvent which is great at cleaning gum and carbon deposits out of tiny holes & passages.

Wow. I took off the bowl and did the same thing. It ran for 30 secounds and then wiould't start again.
I let it set for 5 min, sprayed starter fluid in the carb and it started. I then mowed the whole yard with no problen. I tried to start it again and it wouldn't start without starter fluid. I think I need to spray the wd40 into the upper part of the carb and let it set overnight. Also I probably need something to add to the gas for lubing and cleaning the carb......any thoughts?

I know this is WAYYY out of date but I just wanted to say thank you. Maybe replying to this post will bring it to the forefront for other inexperienced small engine people.

I was having the same exact problem. Prime it and the mower would run for a few seconds; then shut off. I tried everything obvious: new air filter, changed the oil, changed the plug, double checked the gap, checked the wire, drained the gas, put in fresh gas, changed the fuel line.

After that it seemed obvious it was a fuel flow problem somewhere, but my small engine knowledge is very limited. I took off the carb far enough to change the gaskets and clean out the gunk build up and verify that the choke(?)/flute/valve, whatever, was moving.

Then I started looking on-line because I was stumped. This is the only post, anywhere that I could find, that mentioned that stupid bowl. Maybe it's a given to more experienced people but I didn't have a clue; you can't see the nut on the bottom unless you already know to look.

I removed the bowl, cleaned the gasket, cleaned the multiple holes going through the screw/nut/threads and most importantly (in my case) cleaned out all the crap that had somehow accumulated in the bowl.

Voila! Problem solved. Thanks for the original post. Thanks for the follow ups. Hope my updating helps other small engine newbs. Later.

J P
Gloucester, VA