Any help or suggestions appreciated. Motor always ran GREAT. this summer developed a "flat" spot coming out of the hole -- a short hesitation then it would go and run great like always. Since fuel pump was 15 years old I changed it, and that problem went away. But now --- starting is very hard. I've done all the obvious -- plugs are new / good, no water in fuel, cleaned jets in carb, motor runs fantastic all day once it starts, and restarts easily unless it sits. Before new fuel pump, it took several squeezes of the bulb for it to get hard and then only a few seconds on the key to start in summer, maybe 15-30 seconds in the winter. Always started cold with choke on, and idle up at least half way. NOW: 1 or 2 squeezes and the bulb is rock hard. On 1st squeeze I can hear gas "squirting" but can't tell if noise in in the line, fuel pump or at carb. But then it takes several minutes of cranking over and over to start. I try choke on / off, idle up/ down, but always takes a while, and it it sputters a little a time or two and then starts for good and all is ok after that. I don't believe I am flooding, because I never smell gas, and never seen a sheen on the water as though a flooded carb is dripping fuel. Seems like the prime really isn't happening even though bulb gets hard. If I disconnect output side of bulb, it squitrsa out gas likes it is working properly, and I extend the hose to a low point into an external can, it siphons right through the bulb so all that seems OK. I suspect something in new fuel pump wont let prime through, but that if I crank it long enough the fuel pump itself creates the prime, pumping air until a little at a time the fuel makes its way through the pump and to the carb. Does that makes sense? Its is baffling because for 15 years this engine has been near trouble free and always very easy to start. Any ideas? Help and tips appreciated.
