I have a very similar problem with a Briggs & Stratton 17 HP engine. I have put in a new carb overhaul kit. (The float was gunked up pretty bad, but now looks new, checked for leak or holes in it, found no indication that float is damaged.) Put carb back on engine. Engine runs, but poorly. It sounds likes it chugging, noticing black smoke out of exhaust especially at Idle. One thing I didn't notice in all the above posts. Is the adjustment needle on the carb an IDLE adjustment needle or a main needle? What is the initial setting? The engine does have spark. Although one spark plug shows more of an orange spark rather than blue. Both plugs were damp from unburned fuel when I removed them. (They are old plugs.) Engine running: It'll sit and run. I can drive the tractor. However when I slowly engage the mower blades (blades are new, bearings are good, belt is new) the engine dies, unless I quickly disengage the blades and apply full choke. Heading out to store to get new spark plugs this morning. I've already poured quite a bit of money in this beast. I may be the one who has a rolling ball of fire!

Hum, I read there to be some improvements in 1990+ vintage Yamaha, maybe a CD electronic ignition like the one I just replaced. Oh, on rethinking the $2,500.00 USD was for 9.9 HP 4 cycle, I'd bet a 20 HP would be at least $3,500 - a guess only. I got the boat/engine out for a test run this afternoon, it was a little hard to start, started and died when the choke pushed in.. got better. Ran well a both partial and wide open, but wouldn't idle at low rpm without dieing. I recalled I had screwed the idle jet screw on the carb before determining the engine had no spark. So, when I got back to the dock I stood in my hip boots with the engine in the lake and adjusted the idle screw... seems best at about 4 turns out ... much more out than any past engine I've worked on. It now seems to idle well at low rpm. I took sandwich and beer (not allowed, so I didn't really do the beer part if this post is read by a NJ Ranger :( ) and fished for a couple of hours, mostly trolling with a large swim-bait. I got nothing and didn't see much on the sonar either. I didn't use a down-rigger so the swim bait was likely no more than 20 feet down, the fish I saw were mostly 35' or more down.. also threw a jig several times. Any tips on a web site that give good advice on best hooks and rigging for swim bates?

It would be helpful if you would post the actual engine Model number and Type number found on the engine itself. But yes, your next step should be to remove the spark plug and check for the presence of compression on the non working cylinder. It is simple enough and effective enough to just place a thumb over the spark plug hole and see if it has enough compression to force past your thumb and escape when you operate the starter. Be sure you move the spark plug cable far enough away that you don't inadvertently check for spark as well (shocking). If you find that the cylinder has no compression, your next step after that will be to remove the valve cover from that cylinder and look for a pushrod to have fallen out of place. I think that is enough for you to work with for now. Report back as soon as you know something.

DH selected a HydroMassage jet and air tub as his replacement after moving from a more temperate clime where we had a hot tub. He decide to stay indoors and remodel the guest bath instead lol. He really likes being able to focus the jets on his ankle, shoulder, back, etc. The jets have more force and do much more of a massage than the air bubbles. I used the tub too after we cut and split firewood last week and it was *really* helpful to my aching back and arms. With both the jets and air on, it *is* noisy enough like a hot tub, so think about that if a quiet soak is what you're looking for. I had him look at the SaniJet based on olychick's review (love your treetop bath olychick!) but they didn't have a size that could fit in our guest bath without moving plumbing so that was a no go. This HydroMassage has a timer feature that runs the jets/air 15 minutes after you empty the tub so all the water is blown out of the lines, which made me feel good enough. The mfg is in Denver so since we're close enough, we went and examined the tubs pretty closely. He also added an optional ozonator for cleaning and a heater to keep the water hot for longer. I guess the question for you is whether the air bubbles are enough for you to "love your bath" or if you need more power with jets as you've experienced in the hot tubs you've been in. hth, cheers