I have a Briggs 15hp engine it starting blowing white smoke and flooded everything. I figured it was a blown head gasket but started with the inlet needle valve and seat in the carb. I wound up putting the whole carb kit in it and still had flooding. I replaced the head gasket but adjusted the valve with the cylinder at TDC. I see in the forum that it should have been 1/4in below TDC. Could this account for the fact that it won't start? I tried spraying starting fluid with no results. With everything reassembled it will not start. It does not seem to be getting gas as the spark plug is dry. There is fuel in the carb bowl could it be the fuel solenoid? HELP!. Thanks for any time you may have...

Could be a combo of both,
Reset your valves correctly
If the intake isn't opening enough no gas will get to the cylinder.
Does it crank over hard ?
But also check for power at the fuel solenoid.

Thank-you so much I will do these things, it does not seem to crank over hard.