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This one has me stumped. It is almost new with a new carb, new fuel, everything is spotless. It uses an air vane auto choke, with a choke thermostat for warm starts. The choke plate is fine and in place. The cover is off in the photos. I can start it easily with spray, and it runs nice. It will not start on its own. Fuel is not an issue. Spark is not an issue. Any help would be appreciated.

Try pushing the choke linkage to Fully closed, keep it there and start it. in the first pic it looks like the choke isn't being closed 100%.
My Courage 19 on the cub got to where it would not start cold, without parts cleaner sprayed in to start, i found the choke wasn't closing all the way, adjusted the linkage to where it closes fully and it fires right up

Look at picture 3, you see the plastic idle speed screw and under it you have the idle jet. Remove the idle speed speed screw, then pop out the idle jet. The idle jet has a large hole in the side and an extremely small hole in the bottom, .018”. This hole likes to plug up and will cause hard starting problems. You need something very small and tough to open it up. I use a #78 micro drill, but most people don’t have those, plus if you would break it off in the hole you’re screwed.

Rivets said:

...I use a #78 micro drill, but most people don’t have those,...

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You can get them at HarborFreight or else look up
Oxygen-Acetylene Torch Tip Cleaner Kit with 12 Stainless Steel Reamers
at Home Depot.

I would only recommend using a torch tip cleaner as a last resort any Then by a trained tech. They remove too much of the slot brass jet, which most times results in carb replacement, as you can’t buy the jet separately. Just my opinion.

I use something like this https://www.amazon.com/Carburetor-Cleaner-Cleaning-Brushes-Small/dp/B075J7M7B4

Double up on what Rivets said.
Tip cleaners are FILES and remove brass from the jet making it bigger
Don't know where the idea of using them as jet cleaners came from , seemed to get legs about 5 years ago when EVILPAY was awash with tip cleaners , rebadged as jet cleaners .
The U_BOOB videos popped up like mushrooms in meadow cakes all showing an idiot with no idea what they are doing destroying carbs .
The main reason why you nee to replace you Oxy tips is the cleaners enlarge the hole

Scrubcadet10 said:

Try pushing the choke linkage to Fully closed, keep it there and start it. in the first pic it looks like the choke isn't being closed 100%.
My Courage 19 on the cub got to where it would not start cold, without parts cleaner sprayed in to start, i found the choke wasn't closing all the way, adjusted the linkage to where it closes fully and it fires right up

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It is fully closed and it is a new carb. But looking again at the photo as you pointed out made me realize there is a possibility of too much air and not enough choke, so I bent the larger side of the plate just a touch to move it closer to the edge and placed a layer of epoxy on the other side and it starts perfectly now, so thanks!

Rivets said:

Look at picture 3, you see the plastic idle speed screw and under it you have the idle jet. Remove the idle speed speed screw, then pop out the idle jet. The idle jet has a large hole in the side and an extremely small hole in the bottom, .018”. This hole likes to plug up and will cause hard starting problems. You need something very small and tough to open it up. I use a #78 micro drill, but most people don’t have those, plus if you would break it off in the hole you’re screwed.

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It's a new carb, and runs fine with sprat as I mentioned. The idle jet is for a surging problem, plus the idle jet does not matter when starting a motor, plus to clean the idle jet... unthread a wire from a wire brush. Thanks for trying to help but it would be better if you read my post. I can start it easily with spray, and it runs nice.

ProMower said:

It is fully closed and it is a new carb. But looking again at the photo as you pointed out made me realize there is a possibility of too much air and not enough choke, so I bent the larger side of the plate just a touch to move it closer to the edge and placed a layer of epoxy on the other side and it starts perfectly now, so thanks!

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This post isn't meant to sound bull-headed, that's what i don't like about the internet, meanings and feeling behind words are harder to transmit,
anyhow, you did manually push on the choke linkage at the carb towards the closed position to be sure there was no slack in it?

Scrubcadet10 said:

This post isn't meant to sound bull-headed, that's what i don't like about the internet, meanings and feeling behind words are harder to transmit,
anyhow, you did manually push on the choke linkage at the carb towards the closed position to be sure there was no slack in it?

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Ya, I know what you mean. But I of course did that. Anyways, works perfect now!!

Hate to tell you this, but on today’s new auto choke carbs the idle jet is part of the starting circuit in the carb. It is now used to supply a little extra fuel for starting. Second, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen a new carb with a partially plugged jet. But seeing that you made DIY adjustments to the carb and probably know more than I do, I will go look for someone else to pick any argument with. Anyone want to talk oil or ethanol???

Not sure what wrong but some things that can cause hard starting. I have seen engines that needed the air cleaner assy in place or wouldn't start but ran fine once started. If the intake valve doesn't have perfect seal it can be hard to start but run fine once started. Misadjusted float level can cause hard starting. Low compression can cause hard starting.

"I will go look for someone else to pick any argument with. Anyone want to talk oil or ethanol??"

My oil is better than your oil.??

Scrub, Over the years I had choke vanes to be off center where they close on one side but not the other. On these I file the offending side to allow the vane to fully close. Sometimes it not center in the retainer part of the shaft, again vane needs moving to the correct position.

There have been even times bleed holes have to be either reduce/closed up or open up. Tecumseh engines were some the worst offenders of being too open. Several years ago I had Subaru 650 that had to close one the choke vane bleed holes to get the engine to start in below 40F weather.

I even had a leaf blower where the original carburetor choke vane wasn't restrictive enough and new replacement was over restrictive causing immediate flooding after install. I tried the old vane and then had a no start condition as there was not enough choking, What I finally was to rework the bleed hole on hte new vane to about half way between the new bleed and the old bleed. The use it several years afterward until his daughter back over it breaking the intake manifold which for some reason the blower would not start again.

Rivets said:

Hate to tell you this, but on today’s new auto choke carbs the idle jet is part of the starting circuit in the carb. It is now used to supply a little extra fuel for starting. Second, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen a new carb with a partially plugged jet. But seeing that you made DIY adjustments to the carb and probably know more than I do, I will go look for someone else to pick any argument with. Anyone want to talk oil or ethanol???

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No way I getting in one those arguments.

ProMower said:

This one has me stumped.

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I just remembered - the choke being the brass piece is in a slot in the plastic shaft. with the choke open, wiggle the choke plate a little and try choking again to see if it seats better or with the choke closed use a pick or small screwdriver and wiggle the plate to see if u can get it to seat(close) better. Point is(from personal experience) the plate if not in the perfect position, may not fully close thus not choking properly.

Contary to popular belief, you use both the idle and the main jet during starting unless there are check valves to turn them on & off.
In fact you use both jets all the time it is just at hgher revs it is 9% mainjet 5% idle jet
If you think o don't use the idle jet, next time you get a carb with an adjustable one close it off fully and see just how well it starts.