Pos: Start with the KISS approach ! Check for a Fuel Filter and ensure it has no restriction . If you can blow through it then drain your fuel and replace the filter and add fresh fuel with 2-3 ounces of concentrated fuel cleaner. Let the Fuel mixture sit for 20-30 minutes to begin to work on reducing the restriction within the carb circuits. Then restart your engine and let it idle for a few minutes and then slowly attempt to increase the throttle until you can operate the engine at full throttle without it stalling out without any choke usage . Also check your air filter and spark plug would be a good time for replacement should they look suspect . Good Luck let know how you make out .

Post the model and type numbers from the engine before buying a bunch of parts for random replacement.
Certain engines have known issues and behavior from same.
Knowing which engine is at hand will help in deciding what it might be.

OK, I'll guess it needs a good carb. cleaning and fuel system clean up? Which this costs you nothing but time. First I would remove the carb. disassemble it Clean it using carb. cleaner in the spray can. Use the red nozzle provided on the side of the can for the small passages. Blow them let them set and them blow them out, hopefully after the first blow the carb. cleaner will loosen any hard particles and the second (or third) blowing will clean out the passage.

Then I would remove the gas tank, Clean it out by either scrubing with a bottle brush or something on that line, or using a pressure washer and rinsing out with fresh gas. Next I would inspect and blow out the fuel lines from the tank to the filter ( I would replace it while I had it off) and from the filter to the carb. (if it has fuel pump you need to inspect the vacuum line on briggs, Most kohlers have a mechancial vacuum pump)

Now assemble every thing fill the gas tank pull the fuel line off at the filter hold it down till all the air is removed and you get a solid stream of fuel connect it and install the clamps.

Now you have to prime the carb. till gas is pulled up through the fuel pump (if you have one) to the carb., fills the carb. up. After the engine is running you may have to make some carb. idle adjustments if you tampered with the adjustment screws and didn't count the turns and get them back in the same spot.

Along with fuel system clean up I also check the air filter, oil level, and remove the plugs, clean, regap, and install them.

If that don't fix it your carb. maybe still dirty (plugged up, carb. adjustments are off, or you have ignition problems. But usually fuel system clean will fix it and minimum cost and maintenance time providing you have the skills to do it? If not time to pay the piper.

Thanks for all the help. I finally had a free weekend to go through the steps recommended and everything works fine now. I flushed the system, put in a fuel treatment and ran things through. Then I ended up disassembling the carb and performed a complete cleaning. It turned out that there was quite a bit of gunk built up in the bowl along with some water in the bottom of the bowl.

I polished off the surface rust as well and found rust on the solenoid shaft as well. In short it was cleaning, a bit of scrubbing, a bit of polishing and some lubrication and reassembly. After I was complete the tractor fired right up and ran like a champ. In fact it runs better than it has in a couple of years!

Again thanks for all the help and steps !!!

paul o's