Thanks Joe, I wish I had read your post before I got started. Anyway, I have done most of what you said. It will fire up (on a bit of aerostart...yes, I know..) blows a beautiful shade of blue smoke and then stops. Methinks it is a carby problem - that is what I did'nt do in your post. Now this is a fair dinkum carby not like a plastic B&S 3.5 carby, this one is all metal with linkages and attachments everywhere. I am a little loathe to touch it too much but I can at least do the bowl thing you have spoken of. by the way, I found this great site for parts diagrams. probably there is a good list on the outdoorking too but for what it's worth have a look here
https://www.outdoordistributors.com/Use the alphabetical code at the top for the engine type and then "don't know part number" and then find your model number. At least it works for Briggs and Stratton.
