Easy enough to check, pull the hose that goes into the carb, crank the engine, should see gas almost immediately. If that doesn't work, check the hose that goes into the engine for the vacuum connection. Interesting how those work, they experience both positive and negative pressure and use both. Negative pulls gas from the tank, positive pushes it to the carb. Add a diaphraghm and a couple of check valves and you have a fuel pump. I just replaced a fuel pump on a '88 Roper, think it was $15 from Amazon. You can buy them cheaper, but get the one with the "brass" circle in one corner.

Depending on vintage, you probably also have a solenoid valve on the bottom of the carb which shuts off fuel flow.

Did you do the manintenance to correct this problem, or was it running OK prior to?

good luck,

Ev

Usual maintenance prior to first grass cutting of year and then I discover the problem. I'll follow your suggestions. I'm also thinking it might be blockage in line within gas tank, before it even gets out of tank into line leading to fuel filter. A couple of years ago, I had problem with not starting and discovered a stinkbug had somehow gotten into the fuel line between tank and filter. You'd be surprised how easily those pests can get into places you'd never think possible.

Forgot to add, they changed my username after completion of registration from original iowastate66q.

EUREKA !!! As a last resort, before doing further testing, I unhooked the fuel line at the fuel pump and blew into into it (towards the fuel tank, via the fuel filter). I heard bubbling in the tank and fuel begin to flow towards me. I reconnected the line and tried starting the engine. It started !! Apparently, there was an obstruction in the line within the fuel tank (the tank's interior one leading from the top of the tank, where the connection is, to the bottom), because I had already tested the visible exterior fuel lines. No doubt the damned stinkbug (I'm guessing....safe guess) is still inside the gas tank. Maybe when I totally fill it, it will come floating to the top where I can fish it out. Thanks for your help exmar. I might need it in the future if the fuel pump ever craps out.

Can't encourage you on that one. Stinkbug or whatever had to have sunk in order to g down the fuel line. It'll probably happen again unless you run it dry or almost and disconnect the fuel line at the tank, THEN blow through the fule line and hope "whatever" isn't up in the tank waiting to clog the connetion again. Ideally, pull tank and go from there.

Now you know the issue and it's just a matter of deciding when and what you're going to do for short or long term resolution.

Ev

I think when it happened was at end of last mowing season when I ran it dry. That's when the bug/whatever got sucked up from the bottom of tank. The connection at the top of the fuel tank seems like it can't be removed. I pulled/twisted with pliers...no luck. I'm afraid to go at it more forcefully for fear I'll then have busted fuel tank because of destroyed outlet at top. It doesn't appear to be screw type. Suggestions? I'm still hoping when I fill it later today, the obstruction will be floating at the top. I doubt dead stinkbugs are heavy enough to sink but I'm not a stinkbug expert, only an expert at knowing they're a royal PITA.