A couple things to correct on my original post. It's a 20hp B&S engine. I also replaced the fuel filter and changed the oil and oil filter before the 2012 season, so not everything is original! Put it in storage Fall of 2012, and this past weekend is the first time I've gotten back to it. Put 1 gallon of gas I had just purchased in the empty tank before attempting to start and finding battery was dead.

All help welcome, thanks again.

This post was edited by Craftsman_man on Thu, Mar 20, 14 at 16:15

Is this a 917.276813?

Is the carb fuel solenoid clicking when you turn the key ON/OFF?

Ditch the ether. it's too easy to overload it and break things on a relatively small engine.
Use carb cleaner.

Sounds like it isn't getting gas, Check the carb and make sure it's getting gas thru it.

Bill-will check model number this weekend and report back. Not sure about the clicking. I will listen. The engine is turning and is pretty loud, so I have not noticed any clicking on its own.

Jimmy. Makes sense that it isn't getting gas. How do I check the carb? As I said I'm not all that mechanically inclined, but have tools and can do if it is pretty simple.

when you first turn the ignition key to the "on" position,, you should hear a sharp click from the engine carb area - that is the fuel valve solenoid opening up.

Purchase a rattlecan of carb cleaner from an autoparts store (NOT Ether !!) - remove carb air cleaner - spray a shot or two directly down carb throat - immediately try to start engine normally.
If engine tries to run, you have a fuel delivery problem, If not, you have an ignition or mechanical problem.

Question: Where was machine stored? Could mice or rodents gain access to machine?

Since you said it was running when you sprayed it with starting fluid that I'm assuming it is related to fuel problem not mechanical, I would take the carb off and clean all parts with carb cleaner or brake cleaner, Make sure you count the number of turns as you remove the screws so you can reinstall them, Make sure the float on the bottom of the carb doesn't have a hole in it, shake it and if you hear fluid rattling in it then it is bad, Make sure none of the holes are clogged in the carb, I use a piece of thin wire from my steel wire brush.

Jimmy56 you the man. I took off the carb bulb after disconnecting the wire to it (note for next time, I need to drain gas first!). Then I sprayed some carb cleaner in there. I sprayed the rest of the carb while still on the machine. Was afraid to try and unscrew everything as I really have no mechanical experience.

Replaced the bulb and reconnected the wire, put the choke all the way up and got it started. Engine is pretty rough with choke pushed back down to full throttle(picture of rabbit), but after running for about 10 mins it's pretty close to normal. Going to get some fuel treatment and put that through, hopefully it solves the remaining roughness. Thanks for helping out a true novice.