This tractor has not ran in a few years but is in good condition. I can get it started just fine but have to spray gas directly into the carb air intake to keep it running. It will run as long as I do this.

Any suggestions on what to check first? There is gas in the fuel filter. Should I check the actual filter? Is there a fuel pump and should I check that? How would I do that and where is it located? Anything else it could be?

I have attached a photo of the fuel line. If I put gas into the red circle, it will continue to run. Are the two blue circles the only things to check?

Thanks,

The middle circle is your fuel pump so check to see if gas is being pumped out of it when the engine is running. Most engines will act up if left idle for a few years. Fresh gas in tank and bowl, new fuel filter are always a good start. I'd dump the bowl and clean it with SeaFoam or any good carb cleaner. Check the float to be sure it dispenses fuel when lowered.

I have drained and blown out the old gas from the entire fuel system and filled the tank with clean gas. If I remove the fuel line from the carburetor and start the engine, gas will flow from the line so it appears fuel is getting to the carb.
It will continue to run as long as I spray the gas into the top intake but still will not run on it's own.
Any more suggestions this far?

Thanks,

Check the float to be sure it dispenses fuel when the float is lowered.

Ok, I'm looking at the float now but what process should I take to check it? Do I have to get the tractor running or is this just something I can check now?

Thanks,

Carb looks a bit dirty. Top picture is the choke and air intake. Bowl is the bowl shaped thing directly below it. Remove it and dump that fuel. When the float drops fuel should continue to trickle out and stop when you raise the float back up. Pcik that little piece of junk out of the air intake before you do anything else.

I had the bowl removed and then took the fuel line off at the fuel pump so air could get in the back of the line. I then moved the float and it seems to work fine. The fuel leaked out the bottom when it was down and stopped when it was up. I put everything back together but I'm still in the same position I was when I started. It only runs when spraying directly into the carb.

Any more suggestions?

Thanks,

Clarke will be here later today and knows more about carbs. I think your jets may be clogged if fuel reaches the carb but not into the engine

I removed and cleaned the entire carb. It now runs on it's own perfect when the throttle is turned down. When I turn it up, it will stay running but bogs down about every 3 seconds and then revs back up.

Any suggestions on that one?
Thanks,

While we wait for Clarke try adding about 4 oz of Seafoam or any other good carb cleaner to the fuel tank. Let it run through a tankful of gas and see if it has opened it up better

I ran it up and down the street a few times and we are now in business.
Thanks,

Did it run better on its own or did you add SeaFoam?

On it's own. It kept bogging down but after a while it must have cleaned itself out.

Add a bit of SeaFoam for insurance, just the first tank