Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - Briggs engine fuel problem??

I have a 4.0 HP Briggs and Stratton Quattro engine on a 4-year old MTD lawn mower. I cannot start the engine. When I push the primer bulb, I do not hear fuel going into the carburetor. However, when I pour a bit of starting fluid in the carburetor, the lawn mower starts up and then runs about 10 seconds and dies. Last year I hit something while mowing. Oil appeared on the deck. I cleaned the oil up and since have had this problem. The oil level is fine now. I think I may have a fuel line or fuel pump problem. And if I do, can a novist fix it? Would appreciate any ideas. Thanks.

It sounds like you may need to clean the carb install a new diaphragm for the carb...at the least. The impact from hitting something could have done a number of things, from a sheared flywheel key (probably not the case since you said it runs for 10 seconds) to a broken intake tube or bent crankshaft.