Hi Norm,.

Are you actually having trouble getting it to even fire? Let alone run? Never had that.

The spindle bearings aren't tight are they? Sticky belt? Contaminated fuel?

Reminds me of an occasion where I replaced an engine in a ute twice before I discovered that the owner had filled the tank with diesel not petrol.

I'm sure with your experience you have checked all this but what else could it be. They are slightly harder to start but not that bad.

Jeff