Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): gas in muffler????, mtd riding mower, white smoke

Question
I have an MTD riding mower with a 20 hp OHV I/C V- Twin motor.  It was working fine last week. I smelled gas in my garage and traced it back to my mower.  I took off all the front covers to look for a leak but was unsucessful.  The motor turns and starts (Blows out white smoke) then dies.  I tried to restart it with no success.  I tried to restart it but it seamed like my battery was week so I charged it.  I tried it again the next day and it did the same thing, the motor would try to turn but seamed to be stuck.  I took off the spark plugs and tried it again and a lot of gas flew out of the holes where the plugs mount into and turned freely.  I replaced the plugs and tried it again and it started but did not stay on.  It did the exact same thing.  Take the plugs out then replace them and then the motor will turn freely and start then die?  All the while I am leaking what seams to be gas from the muffler.  Any sugestions?  Please help.  I replaced the air filters, fuel filters, and plugs as well as changed the oil.

Answer
Gas is or has leaked passed the inlet needle in the carburetor and filled the engine.  This is caused by either dirt in the carb, a bad float or a bad inlet needle.

You need to drain the engine oil, inspect/disassemlbe the carb to find the problem, clean the muffler out, replace the spark plugs and then refill with oil.

We rarely find bad floats; most of the time a bad needle or piece of grass causes the needle to leak.

Let me know what you find.
Eric