Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): cold start, fuel air mixture, mixture problem

Question
 Hi Eric!  I have the right weight oil in the lawn tractor, and it won't start still.  Is it a fuel/air mixture problem?
Thanks,
      Seth

Answer
Do you have spark?  Will the engine start if you prime it with some fuel?  I use an old diner style ketchup bottle, the ones with the long pointy tip, as a primer bottle.  It only takes a small squirt of fuel sprayed directly into the carburetor to start an engine.

If it starts with priming then the spark, ignition, compression is working leaving only the fuel system to troubleshoot.

Let me know if this helps.

Eric