OEM Kawasaki carb or Chinese Ebay Kenny Rogers Gambler series?
I'd get a tiny tach and cut the revs in half LOL. Idle speed is 1850rpm and full zip either 3400 or 3600rpm. I have one of those engines. That little guy drinks some gas for a small 145cc engine. Funny how my larger 190cc engines suck less fuel per mowing.
I would adjust the valves too. I hope this hasn't been ran its entire life in NASCAR mode.
Check to see if the blade is out of balance. And if the bevel is not straight like someone used a grinder to sharpen the blade. If so it most likely is out of balance. Scrape the under deck area.
Remove the top engine cover. Clean the ENTIRE cylinder block cooling fins. Check for grass, oil, dirt, grease, grime and grit in the fins. Check the bottom side with a mirror.
Clean plug or replace with OEM NGK.
I would say the fuel filter is not the issue. You get some nice revs out of her. Probably a bad carb. There is a pilot screw on that carb. Course at those revs it's definitely on the main jet most of the time.
slomo