as it is a 14sb, it has a kawasaki engine on it. when you push the throttle lever all the way forward, check to make sure the choke linkage is closing all the way on the carb. if not, pull the lever back to the fast position and see if 2 holes line up on the plate the cable hooks to. this is the throttle plate. if the holes don't line up, loosen the cable retaining screw and move the cable to align the holes. like tomplum says, fresh fuel helps. also, don't forget to check spark.

What about Snapper, they have 2 different walk behind mower lines now. Their top of the line seems nearly identical to mowers they were making decades ago. Everything seems old time heavy duty. Which leads to a few big positives. Reliable proven design, dependable, and when yo do need a part chances are it will be available. (A problem I had with a 10 yr old Murray, sure those generic parts are available at big retailers, as well as some parts for more recent models, but they like to keep you buying new equipment every few years.) Plus they are mostly sold at dealers who are also service shops. When you need your mower serviced, the big retailer wont be the one you bring it to. Look at many of the mowers they have discounted in their discount area. Usually the ones returned for one reason or another often with the sticker of the local repair shop that serviced the machine. Snappers other line is new and designed and priced to compete with mowers sold at the big retailers. Im not sure about the dependability, but if you are using them with different teen operators and on Camp sized property with hills and such with enough area needed mow that two mowers would be needed to cut it quickly then it may be wise to purchase from an authorized service / dealer like Snapper. And the prices online at Snapper are suggested list only. When I got my new Snapper I had moved from a flat 7000 sq ft lawn to a sloped 20,000 sq ft lawn. Considering I had 3 times the amount of lawn, I definetly wanted self propelled, mulching, and a high quality motor. So I picked the old style Snapper mulching deck with the 6hp Kawasaki engine that is used on many commercial models for $599 , $100 under list without bargaining. If I had gone with the standard B&S engine it probably would have been closer to the price of the Deere yout mentioning since the mulch only B&S Snapper is listed at $499 and your planning to get two so you could probably get a nice deal. Ariens also makes a nice mower I was considering, but the Ariens dealer wasnt as close as my local Snapper dealer. Also considering the other equpiment you have it would be even more of a reason for me to buy from a Dealer / Service shop as opposed to a big retailer.

Hello: I'm thinking about buying a John Deere JS-45, could you share some more info? I'm comparing it to the Cub Cadet with the Kawasaki engine and caster wheels very similar to the John Deere. Thanks.

I don't have three acres but a 3 year old home on 3/4 acres. I have an older JD-LT155 with a 38" mower deck. It has no problems with the slopes, in fact it surprised me when it was able to climb out of the ditch in the front yard. While there are many solutions to the mowing problem, there are other uses for a tractor. I would recommend a tractor either one like the LT-155, or one of the heavier ones. With three acres and your desire to make additional planting, you will appreciated the tractor with a trailer to move all of the tools, plants, seeds, mulch, fertilizer, and things yet to be discovered that those flower beds and new trees will need. Right now I am looking at putting a water tank in the trailer to water those new remote plantings. If you can afford two I would get a tractor and the zero turn.