Is the air filter base secured to the carb? See and clean the extra small hole in the bowl nut? Is the float sitting a tad below level when the carb is inverted?

It's an old Tecumseh engine. Maybe the primer bulb itself is dry rotted.

sounds like a leak in the primer bulb(or nearby) and when your finger is on it, u plug the hole. if its not that it could certainly be bad gas! get new gas and try that if u haven't

sounds like a leak in the primer bulb(or nearby) and when your finger is on it, u plug the hole. if its not that it could certainly be bad gas! get new gas and try that if u haven't

Your engine is an LV148EA built by Tecumseh for Electrolux/Sears. Built in the early to mid 2000's, so one of the later Tecumseh before they went out of business.

Although you could have primer bulb problems as mentioned above, probable cause is blocked passages behind one or the other welch plugs. Unfortunately carb cleaner by itself won't help. (if gas can't get through, neither can carb cleaner).

You need to disassemble carb, pry out the plugs, and then clean out the passages with a fine wire or welding tip cleaners. Then soak in carb cleaner, press in new welch plugs, and then reassemble.

The rebuild kit is about $15, and new 640339 carburetor is about $50. The rebuild kit and dealing with the welch plugs takes some technical skill. The complete carb is expensive, but almost foolproof.