DrKid, One that's been sitting for a long while....could be carburetor related, mice could have eaten wiring insulation etc, etc. You need to be MORE SPECIFIC of what we're working with here. Briggs, Tecumseh, Kohler engine?? Could be ANY of the three on an older Wheel Horse. Once we know what we're working on....we can target where you should look next. T-Man

Idle jets are open reason runs idle. When open throttle adds more air flow down carburetor should pull gas through main jet or engine die because air mixture to high with only idle jet working. If do take carburetor apart clean blockage from main jet and passages stick small copper wire through all passage before install carburetor back on engine this easier doing job over. Ways getting small copper wire strip wire all cover take strain from group wires cut wire to about 4 inches long so there finger room on wire. Some plug jet take strong small wire open jet. I would take easier way out if works add 3 cap full sea foam to full gas tank let run on idle 15 minutes so solvent move to crud and soften over night move on through main jet it don't always work if plug to hard. small can carb. cleaner soak according direction on container.

WHOC, I'll stir up some silt with this suggestion (I'm sure). When you are running the plow, does snow ever blow back and land on the engine or exhaust? If so, the airborne water vapor (produced by the "flash boil") might possibly get drawn into the air filter element, where it can freeze and restrict the inflow enough to cause a rich condition. Since the air temp was around 30 degrees, it would be easy for icing to occur if water vapor was available. I have no experience in the "snow handing" business but I can theorize this happening under certain conditions. I'm not sure how you could determine whether this is the cause. Possibly you might install a new air filter element and run the horse around without stirring up powder and observe whether the rich condition persists or disappears. The fact that you have only just noticed the condition would imply that something is related to the work you are doing...OR that something else has occurred since you used it last (like possibly the float has perforated or come loose in the carb??). If the condition is somehow related to the filter element freezing over, you may need to experiment with shrouding the hood and grille areas to limit how much snow can get to the hot surfaces of the engine compartment. It wouldn't need much more than cutting an old bed sheet up to make a cover. Fastening it in place might offer a challenge. I might end up being laughed out of town for this, but what the heck? 'Tis the season (snow, that is).

Hi JUdith; What a great story.I do hope these seeds will germinate and grow some beautiful daylilies for you,as they will be very special for you. Jean