Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - honda 6.5 lawn mower will not start

honda 6.5 lawn mower , 5 years old . Mower has never gave me any trouble untill this year. started in the spring and ran fine . in june i got a rideing mower and did'int use the honda for 3 weeks . after the the last time used it i shut the gas off and let it run out. must have some thing to do with it .when i try to start with choke on it will start and stall and then it will not start again . after 10 pulls gas starts to spit out of the exhaust :wall:

Gas spitting out the exhaust... how much? I think I'd suspect trash or something interfering with the needle in the carb by that description. What about if you leave it alone until the next day, will it do the same (start then die)? If so, then I retract that and I'd suspect trash in the carb bowl or possibly even a bad spark plug.

how much gas spiting? not much, just a lite spray about 3" past muffler. yes, if i try next day same thing starts on full choke and starts to sputter with dark smoke coming out muffler then stalls and dose not start again. i replaced spark plug last year in the spring. thank for your helpBeer 4U2

Try to start it with the air filter removed... These Honda's like their air & even if the filter looks pretty good,, it may run with it removed for testing.... Roger

thanks hop! took filter off and started rate up . filter looks cleane but seems wet with gas or something oily, but not water , i'll get new one tommrow.