Change the spark plug first.If no change in running,you will need to take the carb. off and do a good cleaning,and put a carb. kit in it.Hope that helps.

Jerry

Did you hit anything hard with the blade? Sometimes the flywheel will move just enough that it will run rough, but still run.

I'll put in a new plug. I haven't run into anything solid - don't know about the previous owner. The unit has not had much use. It's a rear drive machine showing no wear on the rear wheels. thanks for the ideas. If all else fails, the carb kit will have to be done. I did that on a Honda. Was trying to avoid that again. When I got the machine I filled the carb with carb cleaner and let it set over night. Didn't do any good.

Filling carb with carb cleaner is usually not a sufficient fix. There's no substitute for removing the bowl and making sure there's no crud in any of the passanges. Carb kits are always money well spent -- at a minimum you know your problems aren't carb related, and at best, your problems go away.

If the carb is from a Tecumseh engine, there is a round disc above the spot where there was an idle air screw in the old days. It's on the outside facing you. To properly clean the carb, you need to remove that Welsh plug and clean the 3 orifices found under that plug with cleaner and possibly thin wire and compressed air.

You also need to ascertain that the small orifices in the main jet are open.

{{gwi:126850}}

{{gwi:126851}}

{{gwi:126852}}

I've followed baymee's directions for cleaning the main jet on Tecumseh engines several times. Its a simple fix to try and takes about 15 minutes. Thanks baymee - you da man.