It sounds like you need a cable. You can take a small nail, brad etc and manually move the brake control at the engine. Once the control is open enough- slip the brad in the locator hole. If it starts and runs- you are a step closer.

Sorry, I forgot to mention, I did replace the cable, same thing,

If I clamp the brak control at the engine it will start fine

At times the control itself will bend away from the engine and cause this. looking from the front, it should be parallel with the block.

Thanks, this was the problem, I bent it back and now it starts

Cool. Thanks for letting us know.