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I have a TroyBuilt push mower, Model: TB105, 159cc OHV, with very few hours on it - ~ 5-10- hours max.
It was stored for 5 years with zero prep-maintenance. The oil, filter, sparkplug are clean, everything looks as clean as new.
I have attached pictures of the engine sticker & model number data plates.
I put fresh non-ethanol (Sta-bil added) gasoline in the dry/empty fuel tank. It would pull easily and turn over. So I tried a squirt of starting fluid - would start the stop running immediately as soon as the starting fluid burned off. Did this 3 times - I suspect it's not getting fuel....
Thoughts from the group about where to start would be greatly appreciated?!! New carb?

Here is the text copied from a sticker on the mower:
EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION MTD CONSUMER GROUP INC.

EXH FAMILY: FCZHS.1591V1 ECS: EM

EVP FAMILY: FCZHPNHEQCPX, CPXP

DISP: 159CC

ECS: CP

EMISSION COMPLIANCE PERIOD = 125 HOURS

THIS ENGINE MEETS U.S. EPA AND CALIFORNIA EXH/EVP REGS

FOR SMALL OFF-ROAD ENGINES FOR 2015 DOM:12/2015

VALVE LASH(mm):0.10INT 0.15EXH: SPARK PLUG GAP:0.6-0.8mm

OIL: SAE 10W-30 NO OTHER ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED

THE AIR INDEX OF THIS ENGINE IS 3

CHECK THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR

FURTHER DETAILS

EU: e11*97/68SA*2012/46*3125*01

0 3

MOST CLEAN

10

LEAST CLEAN
8062#

give it ten minutes for the fuel to fill the carb bowl and try again.

Will do, thanks.

I looked for a fuel filter like on my riding mowers, but did not find one. I was 'thinking it might not be getting gas ....

With the style of carb used on that engine I’m betting that the float needle is stuck closed not allowing fuel to enter the carb. To find out if I’m right, remove the bolt, 10mm wrench, on the side of the carb bowl. Not the one on the bottom!! If no fuel come out you’ve found your problem. Report back and we’ll explain what to look for next.

I removed the said 10mm screw on the (left_front) side of the bowl, and fuel did flow out for a moment. I put the screw back pretty quickly - but noticed an odd smelling fuel....
It didn't smell the same as the fuel in my gas can....?

I removed the said 10mm screw on the (left_front) side of the bowl, and fuel did flow out for a moment. I put the screw back pretty quickly - but noticed an odd smelling fuel....
It didn't smell the same as the fuel in my gas can....

Rivets said:

With the style of carb used on that engine I’m betting that the float needle is stuck closed not allowing fuel to enter the carb. To find out if I’m right, remove the bolt, 10mm wrench, on the side of the carb bowl. Not the one on the bottom!! If no fuel come out you’ve found your problem. Report back and we’ll explain what to look for next.

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so old fuel is trapped in the bowl. I'd put a pan under it away from flames, water heaters etc., and let as much out as 2x what is in the bowl to clear out the fuel line and filter too. If it stops then the needle is stuck. Most likely the old fuel will be yellowish and the new fuel clear.

sgkent said:

so old fuel is trapped in the bowl. I'd put a pan under it away from flames, water heaters etc., and let as much out as 2x what is in the bowl to clear out the fuel line and filter too. If it stops then the needle is stuck. Most likely the old fuel will be yellowish and the new fuel clear.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I will give that a try....

i would remove and clean the carburetor.

Alright guys, I removed the float bowl, and sprayed down the inside and bottom of the carb with carb cleaner. There was a significant amount of yellowish buildup all over the inside of the bowl and the covering the float & its components.
After several minutes of this and nearly a whole can of cleaner, there began to be a "flow" of fuel from the gas tank, which I had not emptied of its "NEW" gas nor had I disconnected it from the carb. With it draining/flushing foe a couple minutes, I put it back together and tried cranking - to my surprise it started and ran. Seemed a tad rough, but nonetheless was running.
I let it run for 20 minutes and shut it off for the night. I intend to mow with it this afternoon and burn through a full tank of fuel.

My question is, if I were to remove the carb and clean it; what should I use to soak/clean it with, how much should I disassemble it. I do not have much experience with carbs and always seem to 'mess' something up with them when I do.... should I replace the gaskets outside-small one and inside-large (looks like it also provides heat shielding for the carb). Where do I get the gaskets, if i should replace them??

Thanks a bunch, for all of the assistance so far!!

Sounds like Rivets was right, float was stuck shut.

Wrong Scrub, you know I’m never right, ask Star. Just got lucky pointing him in a direction which helped him. Going by his last post, I would try the following before pulling the carb. Get a can of good carb cleaner (SeaFoam, GumOut etc) and on the day before I was going to cut add about 6 ounces to the tank. Run the unit for about 5 minutes and let it stand for 24 hours. Then go out and cut the lawn. When the old farts around me come for cheap help, I’ve had fairly good luck doing this after they’ve let their units sit over the winter. If it doesn’t help, then pull and rebuild the carb. Disclaimer; many techs on this site will say I’m nuts and throwing $$$ away doing this, so read my signature before attempting.

if it runs right now, leave it alone. Every time someone works on something that is not broken they run the risk of damaging it. On another forum there is a guy who about now would be saying rebuild the engine because the old fuel caused a varnish build up. Just don't leave fuel to sit for a long time without using it. Drain it at the end of the season and burn it in the car or something that can use it before it goes bad.