Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): cub cadet running rich, riding lawnmower, cub cadet

Question
I have a Cub Cadet Model 2165 riding lawnmower with a Model 303447 type 0447-01 engine that I assume is a Briggs engine. (It has a briggs oil filter on it but doesn't have any tags that I can see what manufacturer the engine is. It runs good without the air cleaner which is clean, but if I install it, it chokes out the engine and runs rich (black smoke) I took off the top of the carb and cleaned the passages with carb cleaner and compressed air and the solenoid moves when I turn on the ignition. The carb looked fairly clean. The mower has been sitting without gas for a year plus and I put fresh gas in it. Any ideas?

Answer
It's a Briggs.  I would remove the carb, dis-assemble, and blow compressed air from an air compressor through all the carb orifices.  Then I would spray carb cleaner through each orifice and see if carb clean comes out the exit point.  Followed by compressed air again.  Sounds like an air passage may be dirty.

Let me know if cleaning the carb solves the problem.

Eric