Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Kholer wont start or stay running, starter fluid, key switch

Question
I have a 20 horse twin cylinder kohler motor. It had not been started for about a year in a half. I tried starting it and it started up ran for about a minute and then quit running. I changed the fuel filter. When I changed it I noticed it looked like the filter and fuel lines were dry. I put more gas in the tank, I sprayed some starter fluid in it and it started right up ran for a minute, then it seemed like it was getting too much gas and it quit running. I took the air filter off and I could see gas just spitting out of the front of the carburator. I thought the float my be stuck, I tried tapping on the outside of the bowl and it started up then quit. This time it did not spit fuel out of the carburetor. I sprayed a little bit of starter fluid in the carburetor it started up again and then died quickly. I continued to try to start it and now the carburetor seems like it is not getting any fuel. It seems completely dry on the inside. Could the fuel pump not be working right or do you think it is the fuel solenoid at the bottom of the bowl. It is weird that it went to drowning the carburetor in gas to not putting any gas into it. Help please.

Answer
You are correct in your analysis of no fuel getting to the carburetor.  We need to determine why.  Pull the line off between the carb and the fuel pump and crank the engine over, is fuel being pumped through the line when you crank the engine over?  If so, we can rule out the fuel pump.

Is your fuel fresh?  Make sure you have fresh fuel from the pump.  Stale fuel causes strange things to happen and makes engines not start.

If you have fresh fuel, and the fuel pump is pumping okay then we must assume its the carb.  When you turn the key switch on can you hear the fuel solenoid click?  This means its working...

Have you removed the carb and cleaned it completely?

Do you have fuel in the tank?   

Is there a fuel line shut off inline perhaps?

I would personally be focusing on the carb itself since you had flooding problems at first and now nothing.   AFTER i made sure i had fresh fuel in the tank.

Hope this helps