It is 3 years old and seems to be vapor locking. After sitting
for a while it will start, but die a few minutes later. Then it
will not start again and smells like gas. We have changed the
spark plug and inspected the fuel filter and fuel line. They
seem okay. The owners manual says it might be a plugged
fuel tank vent or plugged cooling fins. We would check those
if we knew where to locate them??? Any suggestions. Thanks

Steve Winter, May 2008

It sounds like the carburetor is flooding. Either the choke is stuck (the cable may move but has broken off leaving the choke in the "ON" position), or the carb is flooding that is why you smell gas. It evaporates then is able to start again then floods again and stops, then evaporates and starts again etc. The fuel vent is in the cap, grass or mud plugs it and stalls the engine. Check the fuel cap vent (small hole in cap). A paperclip or staple or small wire poking it through will clear it. Take off the air cleaner and look into the carburetor. There is a "butterfly valve in the top of the carb intake (hole) make sure the butterfly is not stuck shut it should be straight up and down to let air flow by. Check the sarkplug after it stalls and smells of gas. If the sparkplug is wet with gas and You have checked everything else I recommended You probably have a diaphragm leak, needle valve seat or seal leak or a gasket or seal leak in the carb. It is a process of elimination to fix this problem ckeck the simple things first. Hope this helps.

Clark, May 2008