Dave Smith wrote:
>
> Yesterday morning I decided to give it another try. I poured a little
> alcohol into the breather... to help ignition and absorb water that
> might have been in the carburator. Then I disconnect the gas line from
> the (new) filter, and trained about a half pint of gas. Put it back
> together, started it up and it is now running better than it has run in
> years.

If the problem returns, I suggest you remove the
float chamber and clean it out. The symptoms
sound like a clogged carburator jet (though water
in the carb will do the same thing). Lawnmowers
are very prone to getting dirt or bits of dried
grass in the carburator. The problem can come
and go, until the bowl is cleaned out.