I'm not sure what clear plastic ture you are refering too ? If it's the gas line to carb, maybe you have rust in tank and some of it is holding the needle in carb from seting correctly ? Word of caution> don't let the oil thin out from a flooding carb it will ruin the engine. take the air filter off and see if you can see gas leaking out, if you do, repair that first. Those are good long lasting engines, but the carb's can and do give problems with age. Good luck

From thr Tecumseh Servie manual-
"For the fuel to flow, the carburetor bowl must be either
vented externally or internally. Some internally vented float
style carburetors use a tygon tube and a vent within the
air intake. This tube must be present for the carburetor to
operate properly."
If the engine is flooding, piston rings would be a totally unrelated issue.
It sounds like the needle & seat in the carb isn't sealing.
Clean the carb and put in a kit.
Also check to make sure the float is bouyant.

So, I probably made a bad choice of words when I said flooding. I checked it again and here's what is happening.The plastic tube I'm referring to is a good 1/2" or so diameter and goes from a plate on the side of the engine to the housing that holds the air filter. After running for a few seconds,what I first thought was gas but may just be oil starts filling up in the tube. It is definitely flowing From the crankcase toward the air filter.

Yep thats different, could be a broke ring,but compression is getting in the crankcase and pushing the oil into the vent tube. Probably worth paying to have it fixed (properly)I hung a new 6.5 hp ohv briggs on one for less than $150 and it pulls fine, probably won't last near as long as the techumsey(sp)?

If the engine seems to be "making" oil-that is--it looks like the oil in the engine gets higher than the full mark-you have a problem with a malfunctioning carburetor. A sticking or leaking float is probably your problem, or a dirty float needle and seat. This means: Clean the carburetor thoroughly! Maybe replace the float needle and seat.
And then--buy a gasoline shut-off valve, about 4 dollars, and much cheaper than a new short block (read engine)!
Aaahh, yes, the old "broken rings" trick! A crooked dealer would charge you for ring replacement, but only clean and rebuild the carb! Been done!

You either have excessive crankcase pressure building up from a worn out engine, broken rings etc.
OR
a defective crankcase breather.

So taking the simple possibilities first, I'll check to see if oil level rises. Is there a test to see if breather is defective, or is replacing the best option. I have a compression gauge. Does anyone have specs to test for?

Breather is a "check valve".
Basically if you suck and blow on the outlet tube, you should feel the valve open close.
You may want to use a piece of clean tubing if you're "dainty". :-)

Off the top of my head 110-140 would be fine, anything below 90 I would be concerned. You had it running, so I ruled out comp. Change the oil start the engine and run till it stalls, then remove the breather, if you see raw fuel it's a flooding problem.

Thanks to everyone, It may be next week before I get a chance to work on it more. (Bees come first) I will definitely keep you all posted on progress. I Appreciate all the help.

I have a ton of oil in my ergine. The those to the air box is strange. I tipped my engine to clean the deck, it all flooded in. Don't know exactly why or if it should not happen. I think it may be an air in for cooling or and over flow. Added gas with the spark out multiple times . Add gas in into the air box , pulled it til it empties, this seems to be making it better and closer to start, it does try to fire if I put the plug back in. It acts like the pressure get to be to much. The pull start snaps back hard. And again while the plug is out the piston moves freely and fine. As it should. Yes I spray gas in to lubricant and thin the oil whole while pulling over and over. Can the muffler get clogged with the oil. I believe if I get it started and I don't fix this right I may put to much compression and crack the casing. Ideas please get at me and thanks is this hydro freeze?