Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Motor only cranks with gas in Carb., briggs stratton, hp briggs

Question
I have a Craftsman LT-1000 17.5 hp Briggs & Stratton lawn tractor and it will only start after a little gas has been put in the carburator. I made sure gas is getting to the carb, and no problems was found there. The mower quits after running out of the gas poured into the carb. The mower has new spark plugs, air filter, and fuel filter.

Answer
It sounds like the fuel that sat in the carb over the winter has varnished inside of the carb.  You will need to remove the carb, disassemble it and clean all the holes and tubes you see inside of it.  If its not fuel that has varnished the carb it is simply dirt, but it still needs to be disassembled and cleaned.

What is happening is when you pour fuel into the carb, the engine runs until it burns that fuel.  There is an obstruction in the carb that wont let the fuel continue to flow.

hope this helps..