Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Crafstman wont start, craftsman model, tank drain

Question
Hi,

I have a Craftsman mower with a 5.5 Tecumseh that won't start.  To bring you up to speed here and to make a long story short, I just bought a whole new carb and put it in and it still won't start.  I know it is sparking because I tested that, plus it runs for a little bit if I put gas or spray starting fluid in the carb.  So it appears that fuel still is not getting in the carb, even with the new carb.

I looked inside the air intake (with the filter off) while I was pumping the primer bulb, and I noticed that only a little bit of gas dripped in there after about 2 pumps, and thats it.  I kept pumping and nothing else went in there.  I took the gas cap off just to see what would happen, and pumped it again and some more gas went in here after a couple of pumps, and thats it.  It even almost started with that little bit of gas in there.  But can you think of why gas is not going in there?  Thank you.

Answer
Hiya Dan - ok- lets go through the numbers,
1- Remove the fuel cap and try it again (those caps can clog, creating a vacuum in the tank)
2- Pop the fuel line loose from the carb & make sure gas flows out of the tank(drain port may be clogged)
3-  Clamp off the fuel line, drop the bowl cover, manually close the float by gently lifting it, release the line and see if fuel flows into the float bowl (it has to fill for the primer bulb to draw from).
Let me know how this goes ok ?  By the way- I'm assuming your mower HAS a fuel bowl; depending on its age, and that its a craftsman model- it might not.  If thats the case, get me the model number & we'll go from there.