I have an MTD (Mastercut) 42" cut tractor with a 13.0 Tecumseh engine. It will start and run for a few seconds if I pour a little gas down the throat of the carb. I have tried to clean the carb by removing the bowl and blowing it out with compressed air. I also have blown compressed air up through the holes or ports in the bowl face. Any advice wood be appreciated.

Tom O'Neill, December 2005

Tom
You need to rebuild that carb. Your engine may also have a fuel pump that needs rebuilding or replacing. It would be a whole lot easier to do with a service manual. You can download one in PDF format at: http://www2.unstable.org:8080/tehcumseh/
You want the "4-Cycle Overhead Valve Engines" manual.
Good Luck

Rick, December 2005