I recently (thru barter system) ended up with a 7 year old Craftsman rider w/ B&S 14.5HP I/P motor. The gas tank had been drained and it had been sitting for about three years. I changed the oil, cleaned the carb, filled it with gas, and tried to start. DUH!!! Dead battery!! I hooked up the charger, waited a few hours, and when I returned to try and start it, gas was leaking from the carb. I pulled the air filter and gas ran out of it. Gas was also leaking from the exhaust!! I pulled the needle valve, cleaned it, and replaced. Pulled the plug, turned it over, and blew the gas out of the jug. CHANGED THE OIL AGAIN!!!!

Engine started, but it is surging, and will only run with the throttle in the start (choke full on) position. After messing with it for a few hours, I went in for lunch. SAME THING AGAIN! Repeated all the above steps, but ended up with same results. HELP!!!!

This motor has the Walbro carb. Any suggestions?

Yep! Carb mostly all gummed up, happens regularly when engines set a log time. You may have to soak the whole carb in card cleaner for a couple days.

nope its not the carb per say its cleanliness. check your float!!! take the bowl off, take the float off and either shake it or feel for it to be heavy, most likely its sinking, i've seen the very same thing happen lots of times, its not gum in the carb, that has nothing to do with the gas running in, the float is what shuts fuel off when its too high and lets fuel in when its low, IE if it sinks from being full of fuel it'll run everwhere, out the carb, the exhaust and all. oh and when you get the carb done, change the oil then run it a while and change it again, it is most likely full of fuel now.