Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Murray 17hp Lawn Tractor - Tecumseh Engine, fuel line filter, clean as a whistle

Question
I just got a Murray 17hp 42" model # 42504x99A. Tecumseh OHV17 engine. It has had gas and oil etc sitting in it for ages. I have replaced fuel line, filter, spark plug solenoid and battery. It won't turn over - so I took off the carburetor (non-adjustable Series 7) to clean it, it was clean as a whistle. I put it all back on and the engine started after 10 seconds  or so it died, I started it up again with the same result. Next time it appeared the flywheel would not rotate completely. I left it alone for a hour or so and again it started then died. It looks as if fuel is spitting out of the exhaust. Can you help?

Answer
Gavin,

    Are you getting adequate fire from the plug try resetting your  magento gaps to .025" sometimes with bad gas cleaning the system you just need a hotter fire to burn the residues out of the combustion chamber.
Doing this should get it to start and run