Anybody know how to start a Older (5-10 yrs) craftsman 5hp leaf blower/chipper?
It has a primer, but not sure where to put throttle and how many times to push primer. Or what to do first.
I can usually start it, but that's after I flood it and walk away pissed off. Then come back and sometimes get lucky. Any help would be appreciated.

Make sure plug is good and air filter is clean

I'd prime 4 or 5 times.
Throttle, full on.
Choke full on.

If it doesn't start by the 4th pull, take the choke off.

Ok. There is no choke. The guy at True Value said to make sure the choke is on and I told him the same thing - no choke. I 've looked this thing up and down, especially by the carb - and again there is no choke. I tried the 4-5 time priming and pulled about 5 times - no start. Also - brand new filter. I'll probably have to take it in and see if the guys at
the hardware store can figure it out. Thanks for your help - it was worth a try.

You usually have one or the other but not both, choke or primer. Current primer models call for 10X on the primer. Start with known fresh gas in addition to what KISS advised.

Interesting. I have a 4 cycle tecumseh engine that has both a primer and choke. My 2 cycle Stihl leaf blower has a primer and a choke. Which is the odd one?

That is weird, my Sears blower has only a primer and my Stihl weed wacker only a primer too. Maybe I have over generalized but he should insure fresh gas.

I have a sears blower too, that I don't know it's status. Maybe I should check that too after it quits raining. I had to replace an electric Toro vac because the snout kept falling off. I replaced it with an Echo ES230 blower Vac and blew it up twice. Got a full refund from mfr and purchased a Stihl blower/vac. Stihl has an additude, but other than that,it works well.

As Mowerman can attest I have had some bad luck lately with my own equipment. I am sick of hearing about small Asian carbs that can't be reseated or repaired. If it's a Bic disposible lighter I can understand but carbs?

Try rebuilding an 82 Toyota carb. 120 pieces. Yipes! I had a piece of the accelerator pump diaphram stuck in an internal passage. The Tecumseh carb I just rebuilt had what? 10 parts?