Hi mine was the same after the bubble you pump the petrol through when starting perished and developed cracks which it was sucking air through. As it a 2 stroke it will foul the plug and stop running when you use the choke when its hot.
The bubble and the thin petrol pipe from the tank hardened and cracked after only 2 years very light use, I would have expected them to last a lot longer.
Regards. P.B.
P.B., May 2005