Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Mower wont run, prime and dies

Question

Carb photo Tecumseh Model LEV 80 333001A (B). Engine family - XTPXS 1271BA.

When I press the primer bulb half a dozen times and pull the starter, the engine starts and runs for 10 - 15 seconds then stalls.

With the air filter off, when I press the primer bulb I can't see any fuel spraying inside the carb. Should fuel be visible when pressing the primer bulb?

With the filter on some fuel must be getting through when the primer is pressed.

Why would the primer get enough fuel to start the engine, but not enough fuel get through to keep the engine running?

A photo of the carb is attached. The red arrow points to the tip of a nozzle that angles outward to the hole where the filter connects. The yellow arrow points to the approximate locatation of what looks like a blue nozzle. Should fuel be seen coming out either of these?

Answer
Your carburetor needs to be rebuilt most likely.  On the bottom of the float bowl, if the screw that holds the bowl on has holes in it,then it's the main mixture jet and it must be clean for the engine to run.  The nozzle where your yellow arrow is will be the fuel nozzle which is where fuel is sucked out of the float bowl by engine vacuum.  The main jet meters the amount of gas allowed into the nozzle.

The primer will just spray a little gas into the venturi but if the fuel nozzle or main jet is clogged, then the engine won't run.

I will tell you that we replace a lot of these carburetors.  It's usually more cost-effective to replace them.  You can avoid this problem by never leaving gas in the tank or carburetor for longer than a couple of weeks.  Also, using Seafoam or a similar product in all gas that's used for small engines will greatly reduce this sort of trouble.  Thanks, PK.