1998 Murray 14.5 HP BS won't start

In March, I used it for the first time this spring to mow about a 1 acre patch and noticed I had to keep the throttle all the way to choke for it to run. I let the mower sit for a week and tried to start it, but it would not. I looked in the gas tank and their appeared to be a little water in the tank, so I drained the tank and filled it with new gas. I tried cranking it, but no luck. Checked the oil and that was fine.

I had not replaced the air breather since I got the mower, so I replaced both the breather and the fuel filter since their was water in it. Still no luck.

I pulled the spark plug pretty gunked up with carbon, so I went and got a new plug. This time the mower cranked right up, but I still had to keep the throttle to choke. I mowed about a 20' strip of grass and the mower died and has not run since. I immediately pulled the plug and there appeared to be small water beads on the tip. I thought that maybe some of the water in the tank may have fouled out the plug so I got another one, but that did not help, the mower will just turn over and over, but will not start. I've sprayed WD-40 in the cylinder as well as starting fluid. I've sprayed carb cleaner in and around the carb without success. The only thing that I could think of was that the mower was not getting any spark, since it worked with the new plug right off, but not after about 2 minutes or run-time. My father-in-law was down for Mother's Day and he took a look at the mower and said that it was in fact getting spark, but not very much.

I'm stumped as to what to try next (other than the obvious and take it to a repair shop).

Thanks for your help.

Thanks again to all who responed.

################################################

the fuel bowl probably has water in it,the plug that you see at the bottom of the carb is a solenoid for the carb,it threads into the bottom of the carb,remove it and remove the fuel bowl,clean the bowl out,remove needle valve from carb,thenremove fuel line from carb,now use WD40 with nozzle and spray where fuel line was,it should run out at float needle(do not blow air thru here,or needle seat will pop out),next use WD40 in needle valve hole and this will clean out this area, use WD40 at bottom of carb where solenoid threads into and clean out (air would be good in here to clean out)reassemble and make sure fuel tank and lines are clean and be sure to adjust needle valve(thread in all the way,then back out one and a half turns,this should set your high speed setting and test

The vacuum leak would be between the carb flange and engine. You can try to tighten the bolts. Another trick is to smear some heavy grease around the flange to get the engine to start. If it does, the gasket is shot and must be replaced.

In the future, buy some B12 Chemtool liquid (not spray, they sell both), pour about 1/2 cup into the tank, top the tank off with fresh gas, let the engine run 10 minutes or so, then shut it off. Do this as the last thing you do when you park it for the winter. In the spring the engine will start immediately. I've been using this trick for many years and it works without fail.

Thanks again.