I removed the air filter stuff and the choke is working fine. The manual choke knob opens and closes the choke on the carb with ease.
The rider starts up very quick. I drove it around the two lots a few times and it feels and smells like it is getting too much fuel. After the initial startup it takes around ten seconds or so for it to start running ruff with a dark smoke coming from the exhaust.
If I let it sit for fifteen minutes or so it is back to the same thing. The initial startup is smooth. Give it a short amount of time it runs noticeably rougher and the dark smoke is visible. It is not a heavy smoke. However, it is visible and smells like the choke is engaged and stuck, which it is not.
Another thing worth mentioning, last fall this mower quit running while cutting the grass. I tried several things to get it going again and eventually put it away for the season. When I got it out last week I charged up the battery, dumped fuel directly down the carb throat and, after doing this a few times it finally kept running. I verified fuel is easily passing thru the fuel line from the tank, the new fuel filter and to the carb, which it is. I also put new Champion spark plugs in it.
