This engine apprears to start and run fine. However, from time to time it will smoke like a freight train then clear up and be find. This may occur several times in a two hour period. Any sujections on what may be the cause? Thanks for your Help!

Does it appear to lose a little power when it starts smoking? Could be your needle valve and float are allowing some intermitent flooding.

Yes... I have to stop the blade until it clears up. Do you think the carb needs cleaning and rebuilting? What are you thoughts on the crankcase breather? Thanks Again for your help!

I'd clean the carb first and partially disassemble. I tend to use Gumout as a spray carb cleaner when I can't get my hands on real carb cleaner. Remove the fuel line to the carb and spray generous amounts of cleaner into the carb with the bowl removed. Be very careful about spray back that could get you in the eyes. No ideas come to mind regarding the breather, neverran into problems yet.

Thanks ballengerb1 I take your advise and give it a try. Thanks Again!

What color smoke? Black or white/blue?

Blue/white in color

It sounds as if you are suffering from overfull of oil, possibly from a needle in the carb leaking as ballengerb1 stated. Check the float and se if it has fluid in it or sinks (let float in gas 1/2 hour) check the crankcase for fuel in the oil by smelling it and change it as well.

Hope this helps
Don

Thanks to all for everyone's help. It turns out my son did in fact overfill the crankcase will oil. Drained crankcase... oil appeared OK and had no smell of gas. Refilled to proper level problem is now corrected. Thanks Again!

Yea any time the smoke is blue/white it is oil as opposed to black which would be flooding... by the way... brake parts cleaner is the best thing I have found to remove any type of debris from the carb such as hard deposits or gummy old gasoline. Clean the carb in a well ventilated area if you use that or you might kill brain cells... it can also cause fires.