mechanic mark
Lawn Pro
http://www.hondapartsnation.com/oemparts/l/hpe/505ce4a4f870022d24bdc6f5/hrx217-tda-parts
great prices, ship fast to your door
great prices, ship fast to your door
So that's a first-gen HRX, with a standard manual choke.
Step 1. Confirm the choke plate is fully opening and closing. Does the engine run/start smoother with the choke closed?
Step 2. Consider replacing the carb (full list price is only $16.23).
Step 3. Triple check the position and orientation of each gasket, spacer, insulator, etc. It is VERY easy to get one on upside down or backwards, and in many cases, the carb won't be able to vent.
It sounds like you have something blocking fuel. Remove fuel line from carb and blow with low pressure compressed air back to gas tank. See what comes out.